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

Something inside Xander told him this was not an hour
that he should
be awake at. What was more worrying to the man,
however, was the fact
that he was now alone in the bed that he had
previously been sharing
with his lover. That struck him as even more wrong
than the fact that
he was now awake.

//Awake at.... Oh God 5.30 in the morning! I didn't
even know there
was a 5.30 in the morning.//

Xander stared at his alarm clock, no matter how long
he stared at the
display the numbers didn't change.

//Yep, definitely 5.30, oh no, now it's 5.31. 5.30
doesn't seem so
bad now. Why am I awake and where is he?//

Xander slowly rubbed the heels of his hands against
his eyes. The
real problem with sleeping with a guy as hot as
Graham, he decided,
was that he just didn't get enough rest anymore.
Xander liked his
rest, in fact the only thing that he liked more, he
thought to
himself, was missing in action.

//Where was he?//

Xander tried waking himself up. He attempted to push
back the covers
to his bed, spent a few minutes untangling himself
from them, gave up
and started to roll towards the edge. Xander was about
to step off
his bed when he answered one of his questions.

//Hello???//

On the floor next to the bed they had just shared, was
Graham. Next
to the bed was Graham, wearing very little, next to
the bed was
Graham wearing very little and doing situps.

All of a sudden Xander was very awake.

//Question number two answered.//

Xander could hear the other man quietly counting to
himself, could
see the muscles in his chest and abdomen contracting
with each
movement. Could see the effect the exercise was having
on him, body
glistening, coated in a thin sheen of sweat. Xander
leaned back,
resting his head on his hand and decided to enjoy the
view. A rather
large grin plastered on his face.

`What are you doing? You want to come back to bed? The
best thing
about having a boyfriend is waking up with him, well
okay, maybe I
should say one of the best things. If you get back in
bed, I'll show
you some of the other ones?'

Graham continued his situps, still counting silently,
but now also
smiling.

`Gotta ? finish ? these ? first.' Graham's voice
coming out strained
in time with the movements.

Xander just shook his head, `at least I get to enjoy
the show.' He
could see a droplet of sweat slowly inching it's way
down the hard
muscle of Graham's chest. He wondered to himself if
Graham would mind
if he tried to stop it's movement with his tongue, was
just about to
try when the man on the floor, in one graceful
movement, flipped
himself over and began to do push ups instead.

`You know those would be so much more fun, if you'd
just let me get
under there? How about it?' Graham seemed to be having
trouble now,
Xander had never seen someone doing push ups,
attempting to keep
count and laughing that much. It was an interesting
sight, well if
Xander was going to be truly honest with himself it
was a pretty
fucking hot sight as well.

Xander also wondered, from his vantage point, whether
or not he'd
ever seen someone "enjoy" exercise as much as Graham
seemed to now be
doing.

`You seem to be having fun? Mind you you'll have to
watch out if you
keep this up you might hurt yourself, and trust me
that's one part of
you I don't wanna see get hurt.'

`Your ? fault ? I was ? okay ? till you ? woke up.'
Graham continued
to exercise.

`Maybe you should have put some shorts on, like I said
you might hurt
yourself if you keep going.' Xander was trying hard
not to laugh now,
he was pleased to see the effect he had on his lover.

That comment caused Graham to stop.

Xander was impressed to see the other man was in no
way embarrassed.
He thought to himself if he had been in his lover's
position, doing
push ups, with a very quickly hardening cock, he'd be
self conscious.
Not Graham.

Xander looked up at his lover before him, entirely
naked, now
standing, hands on his hips. Slowly catching his
breath, sweat
glistening on his body, erection now firmly in place.
The sight was
making Xander hard as well.

`Mmmm looking good. I'm not gonna question the
exercise if the
results are like this.' Xander reclined in the bed
indicating his
lover naked before him. `You wanna let me give the new
model a test
drive?'

Graham was fully laughing at his lover now. Xander had
begun to
absently stroke his hand down his chest, it was easy
to see under the
thin fabric of the bed cover the effect his lover
standing naked
before him was having.

`No, no, no. Since you interrupted me and made me
stop, I'm just
going to go and jump in the shower. I need to leave
anyway, sorry.'

`Don't even think about it. I'm not letting you leave
halfway through
the floorshow. You're coming straight back here.'
Xander decided
there was more drastic action required. He slowly
started inching the
covers off his naked body, his eyes never leaving the
face of his
lover before him.

Xander could see the other man's eyes following the
covers down,
slowly revealing his naked body, his hard cock and
then the covers
were completely off. Xander looked at him
questioningly.

`Xan, I can't. I'm all sweaty and like I said I have
to go.' Xander
could see the other man's eyes had not once left his
body. He could
see the pink flesh of Graham's tongue quickly dart out
of his mouth,
moistening his lips.

`That doesn't sound very convincing to me.' Xander let
his hand
travel down his body. Slowly moving over his nipple, a
gentle
squeeze, moving flat down his stomach and then slowly
inching towards
his now fully hard cock. He let his hand circle his
cock and balls.
He threw his head back and let out a slight moan, eyes
closed as he
slowly began to move his hand up the shaft of his
cock. And back.
Moaning as he began to pump his hips, thrusting
forward.

`Oh god Xan.'

He just moaned in response and continued the movement.
Using his
whole body to entice his lover, he lay further back,
writhing against
the bed, his other hand drifting down and gently
squeezing his
nipple.

He slowly let his eyes drift open, could sense
movement from the
other man. His eyes half-lidded, eyelashes against his
cheeks. He
continued to moan as he looked at his lover.

The other man had moved closer. The fronts of his legs
now touching
the edge of the bed. Xander was pleased to see the
look of ecstasy on
his face.

`I just want you to watch.' Graham immediately froze,
moistening his
lips with his tongue, he simply nodded.

The two men were only inches apart, Xander lay back
wantonly on the
bed they had shared, his lover still standing next to
him.

`Xan, I need to touch you.' He could see Graham's
hands moving over
his own body. One hand pumping his hard cock,
languorous movements in
time with the ones Xander had started. Graham's other
hand trailing
over the sweaty expanse of his chest. His fingers
leaving moist
trails that were making his skin appear to glow.

The two men moaned in harmony as they continued to
jerk off.

The sight before him, the ecstasy in his lover's eyes,
his hand
wrapped around his own cock, Xander knew he would come
soon. He
didn't think he'd even seen anything more erotic than
his lover
standing before him like he was now, pumping his cock,
his fingers
ghosting over his skin.

He began to quicken the pace, one hand, gently
twisting the hard nub
of his nipple, the other hand moving up and down his
cock. The whole
time, moaning.

`God ? I'm gonna come for you Graham.' Knew his lover
could tell he
was close, was pleased to see him quickly stroke
harder. The two men
watching each other, drinking in the sight before
them.

Xander arched upwards from the bed, flat of his hand,
rubbing against
his nipple and down his chest, other hand wrapped
firmly around his
cock as he came. All the time moaning as he slowly
milked his cock.
Hot streams of semen splashing across his chest and
coating his hand
and stomach. Eyes still locked to the other man's as
he gradually
slowed the pace, as he now fucked his hand, slick with
his own come.

Short intakes of breath as he watched his lover,
Graham now desperate
for release, his whole body bucking forward, he knew
Graham could
feel Xander watching him. Knew Xander could hear him
moaning his
name.

Xander reached his hand out to the other man, gently
pulled Graham so
he was sitting atop him. Lying flat on the bed he made
his lover
straddle him, body hovering just inches above his
stomach. Graham's
breathing now more irregular as he continued to pump
his cock.

Xander wrapped his hand around the one Graham
surrounded his own cock
with. As soon as his fingers surrounded his hand and
the hard flesh
of his cock, Graham began to come. Xander steadying
his lover above
him, could feel his come splashing onto his chest,
hot. Mingling with
the come from Xander's own cock. Both men's hand's
slick, gliding up
and down Graham's cock.

Xander whispered soothing words to his lover as his
body was wracked
in orgasm. His breathing hitched in his throat.

Xander moved the hand he had been using to his mouth
and began to
lick Graham's come off his fingers, inserting them
into his mouth and
licking them clean. He could feel Graham's eyes open
and the man
began to watch him, a smile slowly spreading across
his face.

`Like that huh?'

`Oh yeah.' Xander answered as he continued to lick his
fingers and
hand. Graham moved his body down until he was lying
flush, pressed
against his lover. Xander pulled him closer, making
him rest his
weight fully against him. Both were still panting.

Graham began to kiss the man underneath him.

Xander allowed him access to his mouth, loved the
warmth as their
tongues collided. Xander just moaned into the other
man's mouth as he
continued to plunder it, knew he could taste himself
there, the two
men mingling.

Their slick bodies pressed together the two men
continued to kiss.

`Just tell me if I'm too heavy.' Xander thought Graham
looked almost
abashed, knew the other man didn't want to move from
his position,
fully atop his lover, but also knew he was worried his
weight might
hurt him.

`Don't think of moving, I like feeling you like this.'
Xander felt
the blood rush to his cheeks, hoped the other man
wouldn't
misunderstand. `Reminds me that I'm not dreaming.' He
let his voice
trail off slightly.

Graham kissed him again. `Xan, I should be the one
that thinks I'm
dreaming, that was quite a show.'

The dark-haired man knew he was blushing now. Couldn't
meet the other
mans eyes, a large smile broke out on his face though.
`You liked
that?'

Graham rolled off his lover, pulling the other mans
weight with him
so they were lying both on their sides still pressed
together.

`So fucking sexy.' He leaned forward, began kissing
him again.

`Good, I thought I owed you since I got to see you
work out with
nothing on, you do that at the gym as well or is that
just a special
show for me?' Joined in with the other mans laughter.

`Definitely just for you.'

`I'm really gonna have to get up now though, I have to
get back to
the dorm and get ready for the day.' Graham however
didn't move,
allowed his hand to trail up and down stroking against
Xander's back.
Their eyes still locked.

`God knows what Riley thinks, I haven't exactly been
keeping regular
hours at the dorm, he hasn't said anything but I know
he's got to be
wondering what's up.'

`What are you going to tell him?'

Graham was being distracted. Xander had begun to lick
along his
lovers collarbone and neck, burrowing his head against
the warm flesh
there.

`Xan, that isn't helping me concentrate.' Xander could
feel his lover
getting hard again, their slick bodies pulled tight
against each
other.

`Can't resist sorry, you're still all sweaty and you
taste so good.'
Xander gently placed a kiss on Graham's neck then
moved his face
away, back to eye level.

He smiled at Graham. `So?' Knew his lover had lost
track of what he'd
been saying, smiled when he knew why.

`Uh Riley, uh. Not sure. Want to tell him but just
haven't had the
opportunity. Sick of not telling him the truth though.
I owe you more
than that.'

Xander was flattered that his lover was still thinking
of him. He
placed a soft kiss against his mouth, waited for him
to continue.

`Just need the right time, and I really have to get
up. I'm just
going to jump in the shower.' Graham slowly began to
untangle himself
from his lover.

`Yeah?' Graham could hear the question in his lover's
voice.

`Jeez Xan you're a machine.' Laughed in response to
his lover.

`We don't have to ? you know, just thought you might
like the
company?' Graham wondered to himself how anyone could
resist that
pout.

`Come on then.' Graham helped Xander to his feet, the
two men exited
to the shower.

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

Graham managed to arrive back at the dorm only a
little late. He'd
wanted to make sure he got back before there was any
chance Riley was
awake.

//Damn Military training, the boy rose at the crack of
dawn, probably
always would.//

He'd planned on getting up, showering, getting
changed, maybe waking
Xander for a goodbye kiss, well scratch that,
definitely waking him
up for a kiss. But that plan had been thrown out the
window.

Seeing his lover watching him had caused Graham's
resistance to
crumble. He wondered, not for the first time if Xander
actually knew
the effect he had on people. Graham knew for a fact it
wasn't only
him, Boy had charisma, for sure.

So when he'd seen Xander, lying back in the bed they'd
shared, he
knew he was a lost cause. So much for getting up
early. Needless to
say when Graham got back to Lowell House, Riley was
already up and
about.

Graham knew that this particular habit of his friend's
also drove
Buffy crazy. Mind you she'd given up on trying to keep
her boyfriend
in bed and had simply resorted to letting him roam
around for awhile
and then let him wake her up at a more seemly hour.

So Graham wasn't surprised to see his best friend up
and about.
Maybe, just maybe pretending not to be waiting for him
to return.

Riley just smiled at him when he came through the
front door. "Up and
about early, been at the gym?'

`Yeah, I um I've got a pretty full day and I was
probably going to be
busy through lunch so I thought I'd get it out of the
way early.' Not
exactly a lie, Xander had made him promise they'd meet
up for lunch,
and well Graham had had a workout of sorts.

`Hot lunch date?' Riley seemed to be enjoying himself.

Graham dumped his bag on the floor, crossed his arms
over his
chest. //Maybe need to do a little investigation
here?//

`Just you, or is Buffy about?' //Maybe later, change
the subject
first.//

`Yeah, she just grabbed a shower, she's not really in
a great mood.'
Graham was surprised to hear Buffy was awake.

`You must be rubbing off on her? It's not even 7 yet.'

`Don't get her started on that one.' Graham, eyebrow
raised
questioningly, his friend continued. `Only caught the
last of it,
apparently Xander was supposed to help out on patrol.
But he didn't
turn up or even answer his phone. I was busy so it
meant she ended up
doing the rounds by herself. Not a happy camper, trust
me. She has no
idea where he is, I think she's going to go by his
place, try and
find out what happened.'

//Oh great, unhappy Buffy, and I'm responsible, time
for a hasty exit
I think ?//

`Well, I'll ?' Just then the unhappy slayer in
question appeared.
Down the stairs, Graham could tell she'd had very
little sleep. `Hi,
uh ?' Voice trailed off when she looked at him.
//Definitely not a
morning person.//

Graham decided it was time to sort a few things out in
his room.

`If HE,' The intonation Buffy used pretty much summed
up the look on
her face, `If he isn't lying dead in a ditch somewhere
he's going to
be wishing he was, when I've finished with him, it'll
make a vampire
bite look like foreplay, which I guess to some people
I know it
actually is. But anyway, he's still in trouble.'

Buffy flopped down on the couch, she held her head in
her hands and
continued to moan. `You mentioned coffee before Riley?
Please tell me
that wasn't a hallucination due to sleep deprivation?
I'm really not
cut out for this. Not so much the slaying, but the
getting up for an
eight o clock Psych class, although technically I'd
have to go to bed
in order to get up but I think I've made my point,
although it looks
like I haven't since you're still standing here
looking at me and I'm
still sitting here not drinking coffee.'

Well, Graham thought to herself she's not too tired to
talk, a smile
spreading across his face.

//Ouch busted ?//

`Not you too Graham, this is serious. I just want to
crawl back into
bed and now the two of you are laughing at me, why?'
Graham was
suddenly jealous of his friend who'd left to make the
coffee, he
tried answering but was interrupted, the slayer now
fully
concentrating on him.

//Should have been quicker Gray ?//

`Not only am I tired, not only am I gonna, well I
don't think it's
polite to mention what I'm gonna do to him but, oh God
where was I?'
The blonde girl clutching at her head again.

//Come on Riley ?//

`Maybe he was busy? Maybe he got caught up doing
something else, I,
ah, I don't mean anything but maybe you should be
worried about him?'
Something about the way she was sitting there,
obviously not worried
about where her friend was, struck a nerve.

`Oh no, not Xander, Demon Magnet. He doesn't so much
need to be
worried about getting killed by a demon, more worried
about being
proposed to by one, pffft he'll be fine. He probably
just fell
asleep. Not exactly Mr Reliable. More like Mr oh sure
I'll help
patrol, unless I've got something else I'm gonna do,
like stay home
and watch cartoons like a 12 year old, except you
know, he doesn't
need the breath in between when he says it. Don't
worry I'm pretty
much used to Xander bailing on me. Most of his help
usually results
in forcing me to rescue him anyway.' Buffy was shaking
her head now.

Graham came back down the stairs, he wasn't the sort
of guy to lose
his temper easily but something about the girls blasé
attitude was
getting him riled. `Excuse me?'

Now she looked confused. `What? Oh trust me, as much
as I love him,
he's usually more a hindrance than a help. I can tell
you some
stories ? but not now I think, cause you look mad.
Mad? Maybe I am
sleeping and just having an odd dream, you shouldn't
worry about him.
Actually? why are you worried about him? Where's Riley
with my
coffee, I wonder if he'd pinch me? Maybe then I'll
wake up.'

`How can you say that?' Graham now had to clench his
fists, Buffy's
cavalier attitude towards her friend's safety wasn't
on. Graham knew
Xander was safe, but what happened next time when he
was relying on
her?

`Ah Graham, you okay?' Graham had moved closer, knew
he was no match
for Buffy but wasn't pleased at what she was saying.

`Don't worry, I'm going to check on him, make sure ?'
Graham didn't
let her finish.

`No'. He was surprised to see she actually went quiet.
Graham took a
few breaths to steady himself. `I think it's time
someone was honest
with you Buffy, it might not be my place but someone
needs to say
something. I'm sick of you taking Xander for granted,
he doesn't have
any of your special abilities, or Willow's or the
training that Riley
has, but that doesn't make him ordinary, doesn't mean
you can just
take him for granted, make fun of him or just make him
do things for
you. I've seen the way you treat him and I know how it
effects him.
Maybe for once you should just think about what you're
saying to him
instead of making him feel worthless.' Graham was
shocked to hear his
own voice had been raised.

The two were now standing, just inches apart. Buffy
looked confused,
Graham just looked angry. He hadn't meant to react so
badly, had
wanted to just leave but knew he couldn't. Felt a
little scared,
fists clenched, looking down at Buffy, knew her
stature belied her
strength and thought to himself, maybe he'd gone too
far.

Buffy looked past him. Graham followed her gaze, Riley
standing in
the doorway, mug of Coffee in his hand. statement on
his face didn't
fill Graham with confidence, hoped his friend would
support him if he
needed it.

Buffy still hadn't answered. She looked like she
didn't know what to
say.

Graham moved back, `I, I'm ?, I'm just ?' Knew he
needed to get out
of here. Worried he'd said too much.

Riley moved closer, `Look Buffy, Graham, let's just
take a few
moments to clear our heads, Okay?' He positioned
himself between the
two, facing Buffy, his posture worried Graham.

He saw Riley look back over his shoulder at him. `I
think I'd better
leave, I shouldn't have ?' Started to move towards the
stairs, could
hear the other two talking.

`What the hell was that? I don't think I've ever heard
him speak that
much! What does he care? Who does he think he is,
telling me how ?'
Voice lost as Graham quickly moved up the stairs to
his room. Fleeing
the scene of the crime.

Graham closed his door behind him.

//Okay Graham that was cool, no-one's going to notice
anything out of
the ordinary. Who me? Nah Xander and I are just
friends. What an
idiot.//

Graham sat down on his bed, unconsciously mimicking
the position he'd
seen Buffy in before, head cradled in his hands.

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

A knock on the door startled him out of his thoughts.

//Maybe she's come back to finish the job?//

`Uh yeah.' Embarrassed with himself at how his voice
caught.

`Gray? Can I come in?' Pleased to hear it was Riley.

`Just you? Or are you accompanied by your rather
pissed off
girlfriend?

`Just me.' Riley opened the door, moved in. He quietly
shut the door
behind him. Graham could feel his eyes on him. Knew
that his
performance downstairs had alerted his friend
something was wrong.
Wasn't really sure how to diffuse the situation.

//Maybe this is the opportunity you need Graham?//

`Look Ri.' Waited while his friend sat down. `Jeez
what can I say?
I'm sorry for that, I don't.' Another sigh, still
unsure about what
to say. `Look I'm an idiot can we just write it off as
that?' Looked
up at his friend, relieved to see he was smiling at
him.

`S'ok, not sure about Buffy? She's gone. Probably to
Xander's?'
Another groan from Graham. `You wanna talk about it?'

`I thought we just did? Don't worry, I'll apologise to
her later.'
Graham had assumed Riley was okay with what had
happened. Okay and
just slightly embarrassed by what his friend had said.
He looked back
at him, saw Riley staring at him, sombre statement now
on his face.

He didn't need to reply to that, Graham sighed again.
`Yeah I do.'
Riley nodded his head in response. His full attention
devoted.

`Look Ri, you're my best friend and I think I owe it
to you to tell
you. I mean, I would have told you a lot earlier I
think, but you
know, both Marines and all.' Graham took a few breaths
and continued.

`At the moment I get the feeling that this won't be
much of a
surprise, but. Riley. I think you should know I'm
gay.' Graham looked
down at his hands, waited for his friend to respond.
Hoped to himself
he hadn't misread the situation. Knew he and Xander
hadn't exactly
been discreet, even before he'd yelled at Riley's
girlfriend.

Graham still didn't meet his friend's gaze, waited for
him to
respond. Could hear movement, felt Riley put his hand
on his
shoulder, firm grip. Graham looked up at his friend.
Saw the half
smile on his face.

`That's cool.' Couldn't help but smile when his friend
replied to
him. `I can see how it could be hard to tell me, But
I'm pleased you
did Gray.' Riley squeezed his shoulder again.

Graham was impressed at the way his friend was
handling this. He
could feel the emotional turmoil inside, his stomach
churning. He
knew he wouldn't have been able to cope if his best
friend had
reacted badly. Hadn't mentioned to Xander that that's
why he hadn't
raised the subject yet. Could feel the relief pass
through his body
as Riley smiled back at him.

`Not exactly subtle huh?'

`Let's just say Graham, haven't seen much of you
around lately, and I
may be slow at this sort of thing, but it usually
means only one
thing. You're getting some.' The two men now laughing.

`I'm sorry about before ?' Graham let his voice trail
off. Felt his
friend slap him on the back.

`Like I said no worries, I'll talk to Buffy, tell her
you've started
back on the initiative steroids and you're just
freaking out a bit.'

Graham felt such relief, his friend knew and seemed to
have no
problems with it. `Jeez Ri, who would have thought?
Iowa guy's pretty
accepting.'

`Hey don't knock it, you see some pretty weird things
when you grow
up on a farm, let me tell you.' The laughing resumed.

`Yeah. Thanks man. I gotta get ready now, just need
some time to
think things through.' Riley stood up. `You probably
should go, I'm a
bit worried I might do something unmanly now, can't
have that getting
around, ruin my reputation n' all.'

`Unmanly huh?' Slight pause, `too unmanly to get a hug
from your best
friend?' Graham couldn't believe how well his friend
was taking this.
He stood up, smile matched the one on Riley's face.

The two hugged. Riley slapping his hand on his friends
back. `You're
my best friend Gray, nothing about you changes the way
I feel, I just
want you to know that.'

The two broke apart, Graham nodded, his eyes drawn to
the floor
again, large smile on his face.

`Just so you know as well.' Graham looked up at his
friend as he was
speaking. `I think Xander's a really good guy.'

`Thanks Ri, it means a lot.'

Riley moved out the door, closing it behind him.

tbc