TITLE: Movies & A Bonding Session
AUTHOR: Ragna (writinggoddess@aol.com)
RATING: FRC
CLASSIFICATION: Spike/Other and Xander/Other
SPOILERS: Set in my own little universe. Happens after Cruel & Unusual Punishment.
DISTRIBUTION: Sure, just keep my name on it and let me know.
DISCLAIMER: If you don't recognize it, chances are it's my own creation. If you do, Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, Kazui Sandollar, FOX and the WB own it or them. I'm just holding Spike hostage. Carolyn's got Xander, May's got Oz, Cathryn's got Ethan, Nikki's got Giles and Shelly has Angel. Gillian, for the hell of it, has Ewan McGregor. You may see them by appointment only.
FEEDBACK: Sorry I'm not home right now I'm walking in the spiderwebs so leave a message and I'll call you back...in other words, I want it. Don't care if it's onlist or not.

***

"So...what to watch?"

Alex looked at the TV Guide and shrugged. "There's a bunch of movies, as well as some TV shows that are all reruns."

Gaby laughed. "Nothing like sister bonding over sappy movies."

Alex shrugged. "It isn't just sister bonding, dear," she said. "Our significant others are here too, remember? Wonder what they'll want to watch."

The question was answered quickly. "USA has an action flick marathon going on. Mostly Dolph Lundgren and Steven Segal flicks," Xander said.

"Yay for Segal, nay for Lundgren," Gaby said. "How about Sliding Doors?"

"I want to see Pirates of Silicon Valley," Alex said, perking up.

"Again?" Spike asked. "Why not something like the Sherlock Holmes series on A&E?"

"But they're so old," Gaby protested.

"Love, I was around when the stories first came out," he said with a mock hurt look.

"There, there, Spike," Alex said with a smile. "That just shows the difference between us and you. I want to watch a movie about computer geeks and you want to watch a show about a geek detective."

Xander laughed. "That was a pretty good joke, Alex."

"Aw, Spike, it was only a joke," Alex said, seeing the glare on his face. "You know I watch that and Hercules Poroit all the time. Just, tonight...can we watch something else?"

The glare softened and Spike finally nodded. "All right."

"Besides, I'm taping it on the TV upstairs."

Spike looked at her with a look of gratitude. "Really, love? You're the best. And I don't think I've told you that recently."

Gaby rolled her eyes. "Are you two always like this?"

"Yeah," Alex said, leaning her head on Spike's shoulder. "It's why I like being around him so much."

"But still...what are we going to watch?"

Xander had been looking at the growing video collection Alex and Spike had amassed. It was rather eclectic, with everything from old black and white movies to documentaries to black comedies to foreign films. "I think I have an idea, if we can handle two movies."

***

"Xander, you're a bloody genius," Spike said, looking to Alex, who had fallen asleep next to him. "'Portrait of Jenny' was a good choice."

"I saw it on AMC once. It's a really great movie," he said.

"I thought it was so sweet but so sad," Gaby said. "What's next?"

"Well, I was thinking of either Loaded Weapon 1 or Austin Powers."

"Austin Powers," Gaby and Spike chorused.

"What?" Alex asked sleepily, yawning.

"We're going to watch Austin Powers, love," Spike said, smoothing her hair back.

She nodded lightly. "All right. I may fall asleep through it, though."

Spike smiled and kissed the top of her head. "That will be fine, love. I'll take you upstairs if you do."

"Doesn't Scott Evil look a lot like Oz?" Xander asked.

"Yeah...glad to know I'm not the only one who noticed the resemblance," Gaby said.

"Seth Green," Alex mumbled.

"What?" Gaby asked.

"The actor who plays him is named Seth Green."

Xander looked at the box. "You're right."

"No duh," she said with another yawn. They sat back and started to watch the movie, laughing almost all the way through it. When it was over, Xander and Gaby stood up, saying goodnight with smiles that had been long gone lately on their faces.

Alex had fallen asleep again and was curled up in a ball on the couch. Spike put the video in the rewinder and picked her up carefully, not waking her up. He didn't get to relax much around her lately, and so he enjoyed every chance he got.

Turning off the light, he was glad he had the chance to be a normal human for once.