Bran

 

"Bran, this is...William.  He's a friend," Xander explained.  "He's going to come in and talk for a while, okay?  You can play in your room until I call you for your bed time snack."

 

"Okay."  Bran nodded happily.  He loved playing in his room.  He had a castle built out of legos and he played pretend with dragons and knights and kings and stuff.  He liked it best when daddy played with him, though.

 

Before he ran off he remembered his manners just the way daddy had taught him.  "Nice to meet you, Will'm," he called out before scampering off to his room.

 

After Bran ran off to play, Xander led Spike back into the apartment.  "Coffee?" he asked, needing to fortify himself with some caffeine.  When Spike nodded he gestured for him to make himself comfortable in the living room while he prepared it.

 

When it was ready, Xander brought the tray of coffee and a plate of some store bought cookies Bran had begged for, back into the living room with him.  He set the whole thing down on the coffee table before taking a seat and turning towards Spike.

 

"Guess you're wondering about Bran, huh?"  Xander asked, holding his mug in both hands and blowing softly over the top to cool it.

 

"None of my business, mate," Spike said softly, not wanting Xander to explain anything that made him uncomfortable.  Though he was wondering, and immensely curious as to how a gay man came to have a son.

 

"Yeah, well you're right about that," Xander answered, looking away.  "But you're practically family, right?"  He gave another bitter laugh that made Spike wince.

 

"Xander, you don't have to say anything.  You don't have to do anything but listen, and try to understand why I'd do just about anything to keep Buffy alive for as long as possible."

 

"No.  I told you I'd listen.  You don't have to worry about that.  I never go back on my word."  Xander's tone was serious.  "But, I guess..." Xander paused to try to find the right words.  "I guess I *wanna* talk about it.  I haven't really talked, not about anything important, with anyone since...well, since Willow."

 

Spike found himself leaning forward, wanting to hear more about the man that sat before him, despite his protests to the contrary.  Since the moment they'd met, only hours before, Spike found himself inexplicably drawn to Xander.  There was something in his eyes, something that enthralled him, that made him want to learn more about the different parts that made this man up.  "Willow?" he prompted.

 

"She was my best friend, my only friend," Xander began.  "Growing up, I guess neither of us were really part of the 'in crowd'.  We were from the wrong side of the tracks, you know?"  Xander put his mug down, finding the taste of coffee bitter in his mouth.  "People, they didn't understand us, either of us.  They used to call her a slut, but she never slept around.  Never!  She dressed kind of...she just wanted to piss her parents off."  Xander stood now, pacing the small room, his hand running through his hair in an absentminded gesture.

 

Spike watched, fascinated, as Xander traversed the room.  Finally Xander stopped in front of the fireplace; a framed photograph of a cute redhead smiled back at him.  "Her parents used to hit her.  She never told anyone, not even me.  But I could tell."  Xander kept his eyes on the picture, never once turning back to Spike.  "We had a lot in common."  It took a moment for the full meaning of Xander's words to hit Spike.  When they did it was a like a blow to the gut. 

 

Xander was quiet for so long that Spike thought he might have forgotten the other man was there.  "She fell in love."  This time Xander turned around, catching Spike's eye.  "He was a nice guy.  He actually took care of her, you know?  He proposed and everything.  She was so happy."  Xander had a sort of wistful smile on his face at the remembrance of his friend.  "They had Bran.  He was a beautiful baby."

 

"He's still beautiful."  Spike interrupted.

 

"Thank you."  He gave Spike an acknowledging nod.  "He wasn't even two years old when they had the accident."  Xander closed his eyes as if to block out the memory.  "I got the call just past midnight.  It was a drunk driver.  Willow had me listed as next of kin.  She gave custody of Bran to me."  Xander's eyes were open once more.  "When her parents found out they tried to take him away.  But Wills was smart.  She used to get straight A's, even though some of her teachers accused her of cheating; she never did."  Xander shook his head.  "She made sure that her parents couldn't break the will.  She made sure that nobody could take Bran away from me."

 

"Anyway, I keep pictures of them around, her and Wesley.  Bran knows that they were his parents, but he calls me dad.  I don't think he remembers them much."  Xander's voice trailed off.

 

Unwittingly Spike found his hand stealing out to cover Xander's.  He gave it a comforting squeeze, not knowing exactly what to say.  When Xander smiled up at him Spike felt something inside him twist, though he couldn't say what.

 

After a while Xander pulled his hand away.  "Guess that was probably more than you wanted to know, huh?"

 

"No, I...I want to know whatever you want to tell me," Spike answered in earnest.

 

Xander looked at him, trying to discern the sincerity of Spike's words.  The man was here to beg a favor, after all.  But in the end he nodded, not having the desire or the energy to argue.

 

How do you...how do you do it, Xan?"  Spike asks, amazed at Xander's ability to raise such an obviously happy child in such harsh circomestances and completely alone.

 

Xander raised his eyebrow at Spike's shortened nickname for him, but decided to let it pass. It had been a long time since he'd let anyone get close enough to give him a nickname other than the one Wills had given him so many years ago.  "Do what?"

 

"How do you work around raising Bran?  Don't you have to work most nights?  Who watches him?"  Spike asked, curious.

 

"Bran gets taken care of.  I never leave him alone!"  Xander's tone was defensive.

 

"Course not, luv.  Didn't mean that.  Just amazed at anyone raising a child by themselves, 's all."  Spike was quick to reassure.

 

"Sorry," Xander muttered, still not quite sure what to make of the man that had so recently crashed into his life.  "I don't work most nights.  Usually only two nights a week and always the early shift, like tonight.  The club's open 24 hours and I usually get the day shift while Bran's in school.  When I work nights they always schedule me for the early show, so I'm home by 7.  They like me enough to work around my schedule."  Xander shrugged.  "When I work nights Tara, next door, watches him.  I'd make more if I worked more nights, but I'd rather be here for Bran."

 

Spike nodded, finding himself admiring this man he'd just met.  "Do you still want to talk about Buffy tonight?"  Spike checked his watch.  "Could always come back tomorrow, mate."

 

Just then Bran came bouncing back into the room.  "Daddy!  I'm huuuungry."  He emphasized his words by rubbing his stomach.  "Can I have my snack now?"  He gave his dad his patented puppy dog eyes. 

 

Xander smiled, scooping the boy up in his arms and tickling his stomach.  Bran giggled and tried to squirm away but Xander held him fast.  "Snack, huh?  You want a snack?  How 'bout I snack on you?"  Xander gave a tiny growl before burying his face in Bran's stomach and chomping playfully.

 

"Daddy!"  Bran squealed.  "Stop, no!  Daaadddy!  Stop!"

 

Spike couldn't help the smile that inched across his face at the display of father and child before him.  Spike stood, grabbing his duster from the back of the sofa, figuring it was time to make his getaway.  Before he could get very far Xander's voice rang out across the room.

 

"We're having hot cocoa and cookies, did you want some?"  Xander asked, already on his way to the kitchen, a squirming child in his arms.

 

Spike thought about it for a minute, before following Xander into the kitchen.  "Got any of those little marshmallows?"