*********
"You get into trouble..." Xander trailed off, still holding out the flare gun.

Buffy relented and took it. "Okay. I'll flare," she said, rolling her eyes.

"And we'll come a-runnin'." Xander watched her leave and turned back to Giles. "Do
you think Spike will find her?"

"I'm sure of it." Giles sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "But you heard her.
She'll be fine. Alone."

Xander fell back into his seat and shrugged. "Yeah, you know Buff. Good old
independent Buff."

"Yes, quite independent," Giles muttered, half to himself. "She doesn't need the
council, she doesn't need help, she doesn't need --"

"Us?" Xander frowned and nodded. "Guess not. Maybe she'll run into Mr. Party Man.
He can distract Spike by comparing hair tones."

Giles stared off into space, his eyes clouded over. "I suppose."

"Yo, G-man." Xander stood up and flopped down on the sofa next to Giles. "You
okay?"

"I'm fine, Xander." He stared off into space, slowly leaning back into the cushions.
"Just feeling a bit...unnecessary."

"Welcome to Xander-Land. Population now 2." Xander tugged at a loose string on his
pants. "You get used to it. I think. So I hear. Or maybe you just wander the empty
streets forever and keep on wondering when someone will pop up that you can
assist in some way, but nobody pops up and all the buildings start to sag on their
foundations, and --"

"Xander." Giles pressed his hand over Xander's, halting his agitated tugging. "I
understand. The scenario can end."

"Right. Okay." Rolling his head against the cushion, Xander looked over at the former
watcher and shrugged. "It is nice to have company, though. Town's been deserted
for far too long."

Giles smiled slightly, suddenly realizing how warm Xander's hand was under his.
"Company is nice," he murmured, rubbing his fingers gently across the younger
man's skin.

Xander gazed at Giles, his eyes bright and full of expectation. His hand turned over
under Giles' and his fingers curled up to intertwine, allowing Giles to pull their arms
up and lay a soft kiss on his knuckles. "Uh, Giles?" he stammered, unable to look
away.

Giles jerked and dropped his hand, averting his eyes. "I'm sorry, Xander. I --"

"No, Giles, that wasn't --" Xander shifted closer and leaned in, his face just inches
from Giles'. "You were just twisting my arm a bit. In the literal sense."

Giles blinked rapidly, looking back up at Xander and pulling in a sharp breath. "Then
I'm sorry for that," he said softly, his nose brushing Xander's. "Perhaps we shouldn't
--"

"Shouldn't..."

Giles gave in, licking his lips quickly before glancing them across Xander's mouth.
After a moment of silent stillness, Xander's tongue darted out, swiping into Giles'
accepting mouth. The older man curled his upper body, pressing Xander back into
the sofa and bringing his hand up to cup the boy's head. His thumb slid along the
curve of Xander's ear in the same rotation his tongue made along the roof of
Xander's mouth, and his breath caught when Xander wrapped an arm around him.
"Xander," he mumbled, his lips straying across Xander's chin. "Xander, I -- Oh, hell."

Xander let a slow sigh out against Giles' cheek, edging along until he could play the
spot where the jaw blended into the neck with slightly swollen lips. That being the
final straw, Giles lost control, twisted and somehow managed to fall on top of
Xander, crushing him into the cushions with all his weight.

Xander curved his outside leg up, twisting it behind and around Giles' thigh as he
moved, arching up just so slightly to press his growing erection into protruding hip.
Giles tore at his mouth, grinding down and thrusting roughly against him. Moaning,
Xander started to reach between them and release his throbbing dick, but it was too
late. He jerked and came, and the sensation of warm stickiness rapidly faded into
the backdrop of Giles' fingers under his shirt, twisting his nipple with exquisite
insistence.

With one last thrust, Giles groaned into Xander's mouth and sagged, shifting his
weight just enough to let Xander squirm out from beneath him and lay on his side.
They lay in silence for several minutes, until Giles finally brushed his palm over
Xander's cheek and whispered, "Xander...I don't know quite what to say."

Xander had a slight, tiny smile on his face, and his eyes were only half-open, slightly
glazed over. "You give the term 'going to town' new meaning, Giles. I mean...Wow."

"I seem to have discovered a rather very welcoming resident."

"Mmm. Well, my mom offers fruit punch; I have other means of hospitality."
Xander's smile widened fractionally. "So, were you suitably satisfied with your visit
to come back in the future?"

Giles chuckled softly. "If I show you my shower, can I have the official tour?"

"I think that can be arranged." Xander brushed a light kiss across the tip of Giles'
nose. "For a small fee, of course."