"Shut up, Spike," Angel growled. He didn't want to listen to his former childe's prattle now. "Aren't you supposed to be fighting the Vraiyl?"

"They're not here right now," Xander said as he prowled through the refrigerator.

"Then why don't you go out and find them?" Angel grated out. He wished someone would give him a baggie of blood from the fridge, but none of the three men looked willing to feed him.

"Doesn't work that way," Spike muttered. "Nothing to track yet."

Angel scowled in frustration. He wanted these demons gone, out of his city and his world. These three men were the only way it was going to happen, and he knew he had to accept that. Waiting was something he only did well when it was on his own terms.

"Leave them alone, *Dad*," Connor murmured, accepting another bag of frozen vegetables from Wesley, who put the now-soggy peas back into the freezer.

::Think we should leave them for their father-son bonding moment?:: Xander asked his lovers.

::Maybe, yeah,:: Spike agreed. ::Much as I like to see Angel get strips of hide ripped off his ample posterior...::

::You'd rather give Connor the space to do it properly?:: Wesley surmised. ::Why don't we retreat to the relative safety of anywhere else?::

"Am I missing something?" Angel whined, watching the three men communicate silently. He hated being out of the loop. When they simply turned and left, he growled.

"What's your problem, *Dad*?" Connor snarled. "Can't you leave them alone? They're just doing their jobs, you know."

Wesley winced at Angel's curt reply. The kitchen could be considered a war zone now. He'd be surprised if nothing hit the walls, including Connor. ::Perhaps a walk is in order,:: He suggested, gesturing towards the door.

::Get some fresh air?:: Xander asked. ::Sounds like a plan.::

The three men walked down the street, Wesley and Xander flanking Spike in their usual arrangement. The former vampire still marveled at being outside during the day, taking great delight in seeing things he could never experience as a nocturnal creature. "Can we go in there?" He asked, pointing to a curio shop. Wesley and Xander silently agreed and Spike led them into the cool, dim interior.

::You are *not* getting a Precious Moments statue for my apartment,:: Xander swore as Spike studied the figurines. ::They're... ugh.::

::Was thinking more along the lines of Lladro,:: Spike admitted, turning to look at the glossy clowns and birds. Elegant ladies and children flowed like cream, all smooth and perfect.

::Sure,:: Xander conceded. Something tickled his senses. The statuary in front of him blurred, and then righted itself. The Vraiyl were back.

::That was fast,:: Spike muttered as he reached out to steady Xander. Wesley walked them out of the shop, where fewer things could be broken if something happened.

::Where are they?:: Wesley asked Xander. The younger man blinked a few times, clearing his vision. ::Lilah's got company coming.::

::Let 'em have her,:: Spike growled, holding Xander close.

::The Vraiyl will be there,:: Wesley reminded the redhead. ::It's a fine opportunity to...::

::How do we get there?:: Xander inquired. ::The car's back at the hotel.::

Wesley considered how far they were from the car. ::Perhaps it is time to see how well we travel as the Altenalium is want to do.::

Xander gulped but nodded, as did Spike. They followed Wesley into an alley, where they would draw less attention to themselves. ::So how does this work?:: Xander inquired. ::According to what I remember, we just sort of decide where we want to be, all together and--::

•••

Lilah was just about to answer the knock on her door when it flew open, lock breaking under the force of a mighty blow. Her eyes widened comically as several dozen Vraiyl marched into her living room, all looking extremely menacing. "Excuse me," She said, voice shaking. "But what do you think you're doing? I didn't call for you, and I'm not paying you for uncommissioned jobs."

"You lied to us," The leader hissed, claws coming dangerously close to her face. "They were the Altenalium."

"Oh, that?" Lilah said with false lightness. "It must have slipped my mind."

"On purpose, you sent us to face the Altenalium," The Vraiyl leader continued. "Kill her," He said to his compatriots.

"Wait!" Lilah said desperately, stumbling backwards. "It was just a mistake. I'm sure we can--"

Her words were cut off as one Vraiyl struck her across the throat, smashing her windpipe. The last thing Lilah saw was her own liver, dangling off the razor-like claws of the Vraiyl leader who was licking at it.

•••

Suddenly the three men found themselves in the hallway in front of Lilah's apartment. Spike immediately bent over and experienced for the first time in over a hundred years the sensation of vomiting.

::This sucks,:: Xander moaned as he too lost his breakfast. ::Don't tell me we need Dramamine just to move around!::

::Perhaps a bit of practice would be advisable,:: Wesley replied, managing somehow to keep himself from joining the others.

::Just go ahead and spew, Wes. You'll feel better,:: Xander ordered. When Wesley hesitated, Xander recalled every memory of the high school cafeteria he could find. By the time he hit Friday's mystery meat, Wesley was blowing chunks all over the carpet.

::As much as I'm not enjoying this, perhaps we should deal with the demons currently invading Lilah's apartment?:: Spike said dryly.

They burst into the apartment, stumbling over something in their path. ::I think we're a bit late,:: Xander murmured. The thing they'd tripped on was one of Lilah's legs. The rest of the woman was scattered around the room. Her head was sitting on the coffee table, sans nose.

The Vraiyl turned as a group towards the men. "Altenalium!" They hissed, closing in on the threesome.

Wesley and Spike moved closer to Xander, protecting the open door. The first wave of Vraiyl attacked and the three men drew on their energies to deflect them, pushing the demons back against the row behind them. The demons furthest back, however, began to hurl knives at the men, distracting them as they tried to dodge the blades.

Two demons managed to close in on Spike, bringing him down to his knees. "Stop!" Wesley screamed, freezing the Vraiyl. Spike slipped out of their grasp, slicing their throats open with one of their own daggers. By that point, though, more demons had come forward, intent on separating the men. They were at a distinct disadvantage; these Vraiyl obviously understood how the Altenalium worked and had experience fighting it. So did the threesome, but all their knowledge was inherited; they hadn't had time yet to actually try out all their new abilities in combat. Also, they'd actually avoided some of them, trying hard to live in a world of denial. So long as they ignored certain facets of their abilities, they retained some of their previous humanity. Now, though, that urge to stay normal was hurting them.

Xander clawed his way through four demons, ripping them to pieces in an Altenalium-fueled blood rage. Wesley watched in horror as several Vraiyl circled around Xander, cutting him off. ::Spike!:: Wesley shouted, already throwing off a demon to reach for Xander. He dimly felt a blade sink into his side, ripping through tender flesh and bone. His vision began to fade as Xander was dragged farther away. They needed to be just a little closer in order to work together.

Spike swallowed his pain and beheaded one demon bare-handed before grabbing onto Xander's arm. He knew if he tried to speak now, nothing would come out. Wesley was simply too far away. And that meant that Wesley could no longer see or hear--two very bad things. Xander helped him fling demons out of the way, blasting them with sharp jabs of heated energy, as they got nearer to Wesley.

::At least I can see again,:: Wesley told himself as his vision began to clear. He couldn't see much, since his left eye was a mass of blood and gore, but what did that matter?

::Think safe thoughts, Wes,:: Xander ordered. ::We're outta here.::

Wesley nodded and followed both Xander and Spike's mental lead, focusing solely on *safety*.:: Regardless of where they ended up, it would be better than where they were now.

•••

Safe. They were definitely safe. Spike knew they were out of danger because that horrible, crawly feeling the Vraiyl gave him was gone. Now, if he could just cure the pulled muscles, torn ligaments and broken bones he had. ::Dark in here. Xander, where are you?::

::Right next to you, so it's not that. Besides, the pain I'm feeling ain't because you two aren't close by,:: Xander replied. ::I'm thinking that 'safe' happens to be in a dark place.::

::I think we're in Thraid Alel's dimension,:: Wesley said. ::The Altenalium's dimension.::

::Fuck,:: Xander swore. ::There's nothing here but a cave.::

Spike frowned. That wasn't right. The Altenalium existed in something... well, their memories were all blurred in regards to that. But if it was where the Altenalium was safe, then it should be good for them too. He concentrated harder, blocking the agony of his shattered leg and fractured ribs. There had to be something in their memories.

Wesley scooted closer to where he thought Xander was and gingerly felt the wound in his side. He was losing blood, a lot of it, but oddly enough didn't feel that woozy. ::Perhaps...:: He thought for a moment. ::This place is a reflection of the Altenalium, correct?::

::Yeah,:: Xander muttered. ::In all it's cavy glory.::

::It certainly does fit Thraid Alel, does it not?:: Wesley continued, ignoring Xander's barb. ::She was not... this place suited her.::

Spike and Xander caught on at the same time. ::We can change this place, to fit us!:: Xander immediately began envisioning huge, fluffy beds and deep bathtubs, piles of blankets and food everywhere. Himself, Spike and Wesley, naked and lounging in a steamy bath.

"Aiee!" Wesley screamed as his wounds were suddenly submerged in hot water. He opened his eyes to find Spike and Xander in a similar situation, sitting on a ledge in an enormous sunken tub. They were in a huge, well-lit room that reminded Wesley distinctly of romanticized pictures of Middle Eastern palaces.

Xander winced. ::Maybe we should patch ourselves up first?::

::You think?:: Spike muttered. He focused on his broken leg, finding that the only thing preventing him from repairing it was the pain. It distracted him, making it difficult to concentrate.

::Here,:: Wesley murmured, reaching out to help Spike. Xander joined in and they fused the crushed bone back together, working until the redhead's leg was back to normal. Then they kept going, fixing tears and strains, breaks and bruises. By the time they were finished, Spike was purring happily in the water, completely relaxed.

::You next,:: Xander told Wesley. He could sense the damage done by the knife that had ripped through the man's body. Spike pushed aside his own lethargy and helped the others heal themselves, cursing when he realized the extent of the damage done to Wesley's internal organs by the knife. Only the fact that the Altenalium had turned them into some rare species of demon had saved the man from death; had he been human he'd have died instantly. The knife's blade had pierced a lung and punctured his liver.

::I'm fine now, Spike,:: Wesley assured the former vampire. Spike just gathered the man close, letting Xander do the same to him. They'd almost been killed, and it was their own fault. All this time they'd been 'practicing'... It had been nothing, really. They'd been tapping into just the barest hints of their abilities.

::Then we'll kick ourselves in the ass and get better at it,:: Xander said sharply. ::But a little later, ok? The Vraiyl aren't doing anything right now.:: Spike knew that was true; even in their safe haven he could easily reach out and sense what the demons were doing. And Xander was correct, right now the demons were simply gathering themselves together. They would need time to decide how to ruin this dimension--something Spike was sure they wanted to do.

"Stop," Wesley said in a no-nonsense voice. "Worrying is not doing us any good, Spike."

Xander tightened his hold on the redhead. ::Not when we can think ourselves up some lube and try out that huge bed I thought up for us.:: Wesley closed his eyes and grinned. Perhaps being permanently connected to a hormonal youth was a good thing. Xander reached over to thwap the British man on the head. ::I heard that.::

::I intended for you to,:: Wesley countered.

::Where's the lube?:: Spike muttered, rubbing his hands over Wesley's groin. He wanted Wesley inside him, filling his body and driving away the lingering traces of panic he still felt. Xander produced a container of something slippery and handed it to Wesley. Then Xander turned Spike in his arms, until both men were lying flat against the wide ledge they'd been sitting on. The young man wrapped his legs around Spike's and spread them wide, exposing the redhead to Wesley.

::Is this what you wanted?:: Wesley asked Spike as he thrust two fingers roughly inside the man's hole. Spike cried out and arched against Xander's body, muscles straining. He pushed against Wesley's hand, needing the brutal treatment, the harshness that would tie them back together. He felt Xander's cock grinding against his ass even as Wesley finished preparing him, smearing the thick lubricant over his hole before lining his cock up.

Xander watched Wesley's face as he pushed into Spike, feeling the exquisite burn as he(Spike) was split wide open, loving the way Spike's body took in his(Wesley's) cock. He wanted to be there, inside with Wesley, inside Wesley, thrusting, being thrust inside.

::Then do it,:: Wesley ordered as he shoved himself inside Spike. ::Fuck me.::

Xander wasted no time in worming his way out from under Spike, who was nothing more than a puddle of unresisting flesh in Wesley's hands. He reached for the lube, but Wesley stopped him.

"Just do it, Xander," The British man ordered as he pounded into Spike. Xander shook his head and clenched his teeth, trying to banish the feel of Wesley hitting his(Spike's) prostate almost continuously.

Xander covered his erection with lube and moved to stretch Wesley. After only a minute, however, he gave up on preparations and simply pushed inside that warm cavern. Finally assured that he wasn't hurting Wesley. No, the pleasured scream that reverberated off the walls told him it didn't hurt at all. The nearly orgasmic sensations flooding his system were another clue.

::Please,:: Spike begged, eyes wide but unseeing. He needed more, had to feel Wesley and Xander, crawling up inside him. Wesley drilled into him, bruising his newly healed back on hard marble. Xander gave no quarter, letting his mind go to flood the two men with everything he was feeling, every urge he had. Spike saw what Xander was fantasizing about, how the boy wanted to feel himself and Wesley inside Spike at the same time, stretching the redhead open with both of their cocks. He saw Xander on his knees, mouth full of Spike and while Wesley pounded into his ass. Then he saw himself in the same position, begging for Xander's cum as Wesley fucked him for his own pleasure.

Xander screamed and thrust once more, striking Wesley's prostate in the process. He couldn't withstand the force of Spike's orgasm washing through his mind. Wesley was there, too, clawing his pleasure from Spike's(his) body, mouth wide open but silent.

Spike let the two men on top of him weigh him down for several minutes before beginning to protest. They were really quite heavy. Xander reluctantly slipped out of Wesley's body and pushed himself back to let the older man move off Spike. ::So...that's one thing out of the way. Any takers for the bed idea?::

::Can't you turn the sodding tub into a bed?:: Spike asked. ::I'm a bit tired here.::

Spike soon found himself buried in a mountain of down comforters, Xander and Wesley surrounding him. ::Vraiyl can wait five minutes, right?:: Xander asked tiredly.

::They bloody well better,:: Wesley swore as he slipped off into sleep.