Family Dinner

 

Spike stood outside Xander's apartment, bag of potato chips and a bottle of soda in hand.  After Bran's bedtime snack last night, Xander had invited him back over for dinner tonight.  They were having hamburgers, and Spike's job had been to bring the chips.  He thought Bran might appreciate a bottle of soda as well, so he'd picked one up while he was at the market.

 

He thought back to last night when he'd first begun to crack the puzzle that was Xander.  When Spike had gotten on the plane to meet this man, he hadn't thought much about the man himself beyond whatever was necessary for him to agree to help.  He'd hoped that Alexander Harris was a decent, caring person; that he'd *want* to help, knowing that he could be another human being's last hope for survival.  Spike hadn't thought beyond those characteristics necessary for the successful completion of his own mission.

 

But watching him last night, Spike realized the complexity behind the man.  The layers that made up Alexander Harris pushing him past the 2 dimensional image that Spike had been working with.  He was a lot more like Buffy than Spike would have thought.  The loving way he cared for Bran, especially in light of what Spike had learned last night about Xander's own childhood.  The strength it must have taken to get past that childhood, to raise the baby of a friend now long dead leaving him completely alone.

 

Spike's own heart ached for the boy that Xander had been.  He had no idea what it was like growing up in a house where no one loved, where parents were cruel and hurtful.  His own da hadn't been especially demonstrative, but Spike had never doubted his love.  Had never cowered in fear of punishment.  He shook his head, trying to rid himself of the dark thoughts.  No wonder Xander was bitter.  No wonder he needed more than just a 'please' to drop everything for a sister he'd never met and a mother that had abandoned him to the life he'd been forced to live.

 

Spike poked at the doorbell and waited.  When Bran opened the door he smiled.  "'ello, bit."

 

"Hi, Will!"  Bran chimed, throwing his arms around a jeans covered leg before racing back into the living room.  "Come on!  My knights are defending their castle from the evil dragons!"

 

Raising his eyes from Bran's retreating form, Spike found Xander watching him sheepishly.  "He's excited to have you over again.  We don’t get many visitors."

 

"'S okay, Xan.  He's a treasure, your Bran," Spike assured him, handing Xander the chips and soda he'd brought.

 

"Thank you."  Spike was surprised to see a faint flush creeping up Xander's neck.  "The burgers will be ready in just a minute."

 

"No worries.  Need help?"  Spike asked.  When Xander shook his head, Spike headed toward the living room, smiling.  "I'll just go help defend the castle then," he called back over his shoulder, making Xander chuckle.

 

Xander made his way back to the kitchen.  As he flipped the burgers he tried to examine the feelings churning inside him.  It had been a very long time since he'd let anyone into his life.  He'd told Spike things last night that he hadn't spoken to anyone about in almost eight years.  Nearly a decade, really.  After Willow had gotten together with Wesley he hadn't wanted to intrude on their lives, so he'd kept his distance.  It felt good to have someone there to listen again.

 

And the amazing thing was that Spike *had* listened.  He'd listened, and cared, and even comforted.  And that was definitely something Xander had missed over all these years.  And something he hadn't been expecting.  So he'd issued an invitation to dinner. 

 

They still hadn't talked about Buffy or his 'mom'.  But Xander found it harder and harder not to care whether she lived or died.  Maybe because he knew how much Spike cared.  What was he thinking?  He'd known this man less than 48 hours and he was already trusting him?  Already wanting to return the help and comfort he'd received the night before?

 

Giggles filtered in from the living room, and Bran's voice, directing Spike on the attack.  Spike was answering with serious 'yes, sirs' and probably even saluting.  The picture in Xander's mind made him smile.  Bran seemed to really like the bleached blond.

 

Xander shook his head.  He was getting into dangerous territory.  Liking the man was one thing.  *Liking* the man was another.  Xander hadn't forgotten his first reaction to Spike.  The jaw dropping sexiness that had assaulted him before he'd even opened the door.  They'd already established that Spike wasn't gay.  So no matter how nice, how attentive he was, or how well he got along with Bran, Xander couldn't hope for anything more than friendship.  If even friendship were on the table.

 

He was still here trying to convince Xander to help Buffy, and Xander couldn't forget that.  All this getting to know each other could be just another load of crap.  Xander would have to be careful.  He'd had enough disappointment in his life that one more wouldn't break him, but he didn't want Bran getting hurt in the process.

 

They ate dinner with Bran firing question after exuberant question at the pair.  Xander only raised his eyebrows indicating with a look that tonight's culprit was the half empty bottle of soda that Spike had brought.  Spike shrugged, smirking at Xander's accusation.

 

"You talk funny." 

 

"Brandon Harris!"  Xander's exasperated exclamation rang across the table.

 

"'S okay, mate.  I'm from across the pond."  Spike answered the unasked question.  "We all talk funny over there."  He smiled.

 

"What pond?  Is it the one in the park?"  Bran asked, oblivious to the chuckles the grownups let loose.

 

"No, luv.  I meant the ocean.  I'm from England. It's on the other side of the world, mostly," Spike answered.

 

"Oh."  Bran wasn't sure what that meant, but it sounded far away.  "Do you have to go back?  Or can you stay with us?"

 

"Well, bit, I'd love to stay with you.  But I was kind of hoping you'd both like to come with me."  Spike answered hesitantly.  "Not to England," he added hastily when Bran started bouncing up and down in his seat.  "Just to another place where I live.  It's by the ocean though.  'S called Sunnydale."

 

"Can we dad?  Huh?  Can we?"

 

"That's something William and I are going to talk about.  After you put your plate in the sink you can go play in your room, while we discuss it.  Okay?"

 

Bran nodded and then ran off to his room, humming happily.

 

Xander brewed some coffee and they both headed out to the living room with their mugs.  They sat, Xander looking at Spike expectantly.

 

"Buffy is my best friend.  We met years ago, when da first moved us here.  She was the sweet girl next door, yeah?  Showed me around the school, and all that bollocks.  Three years ago she was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.  It's a mouthful."  Spike made a disgusted face.  "Basically means she's got cancer."

 

"They tried chemotherapy.  Worked a treat, for a while at least.  It was almost as if she had never been sick at all.  But about six months ago it came back, even worse.  She's so weak now, she can't even..."  Spike stopped, sucking in deep gulps of air, trying to keep the tears from falling.  It worked.  "They said her best bet is a stem cell transplant.  That means we need a bone marrow donor.  But none of us are a match.  They said usually a brother or sister would be the best, so we hired an investigator to find you.  We don’t even know if...don’t even know if you'll *be* a match."  Spike couldn't stop the silent tears this time.  "But I had to try."

 

Xander sat silent for several minutes, absorbing Spike's words.  It was strange to see the man crying.  He seemed so...strong, Xander guessed the word was, or maybe stalwart.  He just didn't seem like the type of guy to burst into tears.  Even without them, Xander could tell from the tremor in Spike's voice how much Buffy meant to him.  And it made him think of Willow.  Of what *he* would have done, would have gone through, if only he could have saved Willow's life that night.

 

Xander nodded to himself before answering the question in Spike's pleading eyes.  "We'll go."  He felt more than heard the quiet rush of breath that left Spike's body at his acquiescence.  "Bran's winter break starts after Friday.  We can leave then."  Xander was already making plans in his head.  He'd have to talk to his boss, the school, just in case they didn’t make it back in time.  Tara would probably water his plants, bring in the paper.

 

"Thank you."  Spike whispered the words.

 

Xander looked up sharply at the heartfelt thanks.  "Just remember, I'm doing this for you, for your best friend.  Not my 'sister', or my 'mother'.  Is that clear?"

 

Spike nodded, grateful for whatever reason Xander gave.