Author: BmblBee
Rating Adult overall
Paring: S/X
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters in this story and make
no profit from them
Summary: Set in the early 1940's, Spike is a G-man sent on
a mission in the Appalachian mountains to search for
and destroy illegal alcohol when he has an accident.
Xander is a moonshiner who takes him in.
His legs ached and his body shook from the damp cold.
Why in God's name did he think it would be a good idea
to climb a mountain in the middle of the night?
His pants were torn on thorns that had scratched his legs,
and at one point he could have sworn a bat was nesting
in his hair.
Maybe he took a wrong turn. Maybe he missed the path.
Maybe....
Spike stopped dead in his tracks squinting his eyes to
assure himself that it was not a mirage.
There it was up ahead.
Just as he remembered it.
Tightening his grip on his bag he ran.
The cabin was dark and looked deserted, but it didn't
matter.
He was here.
He was really, finally here.
Rushing on, Spike jumped the three steps to the porch and
grabbed for the door. He would wake Xander.
He would talk to him and convince him to give them a
chance.
Taking a deep breath, he opened the door and hurried in.
It took only seconds to realize the cabin was empty.
It looked like no one had been here for some time.
Knowing how careful Xander was about the fire, Spike
was dismayed to find it cold.
If he was just out on a delivery run he would have warm
coals.
These had been out for days.
Checking around, he was somewhat reassured to find
all of Xander's belongings still here.
Where ever he had gone, he would be coming back.
Spike would wait.
Spike took off his hat and jacket. He set aside his
suitcase and rolled up his shirt sleeves.
Xander would want a fire started so the house would
be warm when he came home.
Spike set to task.
He lit the oil lamp and turned the wick low.
He was pleased to find the kindling ready and logs piled
up.
He started the fire and banked it for the night.
Checking the shelves, Spike found a jar of soup beans
and poured them in a kettle which he set to the side of
the hearth to warm slowly.
With everything done, an exhausted Spike sat in Xander's
chair and rocked himself to sleep.
He had never felt such peace.
He was amazed he had not been stopped for excessive
speed.
Xander chuckled and patted the Lincoln as they turned
onto the path to home.
"We are still the best aren't we old girl?"
Though still down in the dumps at the failure of his trip,
Xander decided he was just too tired to think about
it tonight.
A good nights sleep and everything will look better in
the morning.
He wasn't sure he believed that, but admitting defeat
meant admitting he may never see Spike again.
Turning the car onto the path he felt it immediately.
Something wasn't right. He slowed his advance to a
crawl and eased it into the barn, engine rumbling low
like the warning growl of a threatening guard dog.
Quickly going through the motions of a habit, he parked
the car and locked the barn.
When he approached the cabin, he could see the dim
glow of the oil lamp through the windows.
Sneaking up to the porch he gingerly cracked open the door.
What he saw inside caused his heart to try to burst from
his chest.
The cabin was warm and welcoming with the smell of food
bubbling in the kettle. The golden glow from both the
lamp and fire bathed the room in a soft loving light.
But all of that was peripheral.
The only thing Xander could see was the man sleeping
in the chair by the hearth.
'Please God don't let this be a dream' Just in case,
Xander eased forward for fear of waking them both.
The weight in his lap slowly brought Spike to wakefulness.
Looking down he saw Xander sitting on the floor between
his legs.
He had his head resting in Spike's lap and his arms
around Spike's waist.
Reaching down he ran his hands through the silky softness
of the rich brown hair.
"Xander?"
Lifting his face, Spike could see the tears on Xander's
cheeks
"Are you really here?" He whispered.
"I'm here" Spike continued to comb his fingers
through Xander's hair.
"Is that all right?"
Xander sighed and laid his head back down
"I think I'll die if I wake up and it isn't true. I've hunted
for you for days. I'm so tired I'm afraid I'm asleep
and you are just another version of the same dream
that comes to me every night."
Xander tightened his grip around Spike's waist.
Sliding off the chair, Spike went slowly to his knees on
the floor facing Xander.
He wiped the tear streaked face and kissed his lips lightly.
"I've come a long way to be here Xander. Am I home?"
Finally convinced Spike was real, Xander held the other
man's face in his hands.
"You are home, Spike" Xander leaned in and captured
Spike's mouth in a kiss that was filled with all the pent
up passion that they had both lived with since the day
they parted.
With each break for air one would confess his heart.
"I promise no more drinking."
"I don't make or sell it anymore."
"I'm sorry about your car."
"I don't care about the car."
"I missed you."
"I love you."
That was the one Spike had been waiting on. He sat
back with a smile on his kiss swollen lips.
"I love you more."
Slowly Xander unbuttoned Spike's shirt and ran his
hands over the slim body. He was shocked by the
change the work on the docks had caused.
Spike's body was now hard and his chest
and stomach chiseled.
Xander burrowed his nose in the side of Spike's neck and
breathed in the smell of the man.
It matched his memory exactly.
This was pure Spike. This was his Spike.
Spike rolled his head to the side.
"Take me to bed, Xander."