I have recently been wondering...

Joss has said that in the early seasons, he wavered between Willow and Xander as to which one he would have 'come out' as gay later in the series. Does anybody know if there any fics out there that have Xander doing the Season Four 'reveal' as gay by falling for another guy (wouldn't it be hilarious if it was one of the Initiative soldiers?) instead of Willow with Tara?

I can't get my mind off the way that this would change the whole dynamic of the group. Willow would still be single when Oz returned and Xander would have completely let go of his crush on Buffy, which would reduce his interference in her personal life.

And for that matter, if there aren't... why not?

Wonderful idea. I've read several storys where Xander 'comes out' in season five, but none like your describing. You should totally make this a challenge.. or write it yourself. It's definitely something I would read!

If nobody can make a suggestion for an existing story, I might just make it a challenge.



Apart from the whole Oz/Willow relationship and Xander's reduced influence over Buffy's dating choices, what do you think that Anya would do if Xander spurned her advances - or better yet, dated her for a little while and then dumped her for a guy?

Lol! Poor Anya. I guess she'd have to turn to Giles (or someone else) for her pleasures.

In Herself's Bittersweets Series one of the stories has a Xander/Spike pairing as one of the possible futures for Buffy. Not sure which one it was or if that would fit your need. It is a spuffy series. There are a lot of Spike/Xander fics that are truly wonderful but they aren't spuffy at all. The only other stories I've seen where Xander is gay are where Xander is also a vampire and I don't think that's what you are going for either. I've never seen a regular spuffy story where Xander is just gay like Willow is in canon. Interesting concept though.

I'm decidedly not a fan of Spike/Xander. Spike belongs with Buffy, or if that's not possible for some believable reason, Willow (who is clearly bi, not exclusively gay).

I have to admit that now my imagination has been piqued, the thought of Xander/Riley, or possibly Xander/Forrest, has reared its ugly head. An interracial relationship would add something to the dynamic that was missing until Wood's appearance in S7. Xander/Riley would also have the benefit of precluding Buffy/Riley, and Anya would be free for Giles.

Of course there's also the possibility of Xander/Andrew or Xander/Clem....

I still haven't figured out how best to secure Tara's role within the group in this scenario...

{begins making notes for potential challenge requirements}

I'm not sure if this is what you are looking for but in the story Healing by Pet, found on this site, there are brief mentions in chapter 83, 94 and 95 of Xander being with Jesse. This is an AU all human story though.

Thanks for the suggestion, katkot81, but I don't do AH.
Buffy is the slayer and Spike is a vampire. To make them human is to make them not Buffy & Spike and is to my way of thinking, totally pointless. It might as well be an 'original' story using different names/locations that have nothing to do with BtVS.

http://www.dark-solace.org/elysian/viewstory.php?sid=2004

This is the only gay Xander fic I can think of.

What they deserve by uncaged Muse.

Apart from Xander being gay it doesn't really fit the rest of your criteria, it's a do over/time travel/fix it fic that starts post series and goes to series 5.
Such a good story tho, very funny and well worth a read.

Thanks for the suggestion, Autezma_mete, but I already have that one.

It's beginning to look as though there isn't a story with Xander being gay instead of Willow. I can feel a challenge coming on...