*****

Xander awoke with a start, well actually with a slap that his father had laid across his face to wake him up. He had fallen asleep on the couch while his parents had gone out, now they were back, they were drunk and they had Xander at their disposal to take their problems out on again.

********

After Anya had left he couldn't afford the rent on his own and had been forced to move back in with his parents. This was his last night here however, he was moving in with Spike tomorrow, not into his crypt but into a penthouse that he had surprised Xander by actually owning. Apparently over the past hundred-plus years the vampire had actually built up quite the bank account in various ways he'd assured Xander was legit.

After Buffy died and Anya left, he and Spike had become close friends. He'd found out about the penthouse several days ago, they had been at the Bronze and Xander told him he didn't really want to go home Spike had said ok and took them to the Imperial Tower, the only set of condos in the downtown area of Sunnydale. Xander was surprised to say the least, especially when the doorman acknowledged him with, "Good evening Mr. Stewart."

"Hello Edward," he returned the smile and headed for the elevator with Xander stumbling behind.

"You live here?!" he'd asked in disbelief.

"Yeah. I didn't tell anyone because it kinda destroys the whole 'grrr Big Bad' image ya know?"

The elevator door opened and the two men stepped inside, Xander's mind was working slowly due to the alcohol that was in his system when he finally realized something, "Mr. Stewart?"

He snorted at Xander's drunken state. "Yeah mate. Did ya think I was known as William the Bloody when I was alive too?"

When the elevator finally let them off it was on the top floor, Xander turned to look at the hallway as Spike unlocked his door and noticed that there was only one other door that was directly opposite of them. "Are there only two apartments per floor?" he asked in confusion, this building was huge!

"Only on this floor. The others have eight per floor." Spike replied as he opened the door and pulled Xander in.

Alexander Lavelle Harris' jaw hit the floor. They had walked into the entryway which opened into the living-room that was bigger than his parents first floor! The furniture was black leather, no surprise there, and the accents were blood red, again no surprise. What did surprise the young brunette however was a large Persian cat that emerged from the hallway and entwined itself around Spike's legs.

"Hello Precious, you miss me?" He picked up the cat and stroked it as he waked over to the kitchen. He set the beautiful creature down on the counter and walked over to one of the cupboard pulling out a can of cat food. He allowed the electric can-opener to do its job, then emptied its contents into a small dish and set it in front of the cat, who began to eat it as delicately as a queen.

At a loss of words, which for Xander Harris was quite uncommon, he walked over and began to pet the soft fur.

"Her name is Precious but I think maybe I should have named her Queen, she can certainly act like one." Spike commented as he joined Xander in worshiping the cat's softness. Then, "Xan, what's wrong? You've spent the past two weeks drunk as often as possible and that's not you."

"Spike let it go, there's nothing you can do about it anyway." He let his hand drop from the cat's back and moved away form the counter to the couch and sat down on the soft leather. He let his hand caress the surface understanding why the vampire loved it the way he did; it felt good.

Spike watched as Xander turned from him and went to the couch sitting down on the soft leather. There was something bothering him that he didn't want to talk about but maybe he should, maybe it would help him feel better. He cared about the brunette and didn't like seeing the pain in his eyes that had been so apparent over the past few weeks.

He ran his hand over the cat from head to tail one last time then moved over to sit next to the brunette. "I know you don't want to talk about it mate, but did you ever consider that maybe it would make you feel better?" he put his hand comforting on the denimed knee trying to soothe the younger man beside him.

Xander looked at the pale hand that was resting on his leg. Long slender fingers squeezed slightly trying to assure him that things would be okay, but Xander knew differently, he knew they wouldn't be okay for a long time. Tears began to form in his eyes and he wondered why was this happening? Why couldn't he at least get a small chance at happiness? He looked up into the blue eyes that were watching him, the slender hand that wasn't on his leg came up and gently wiped away the tear that had escaped.

"Tell me." he urged quietly.

Xander couldn't say anything words were lost to him. He couldn't think of anything but that soft gentle touch on his cheek and that maybe...maybe...

Spike was surprised when Xander leaned in and kissed him though he didn't react physically except to return the kiss. He had wanted to do this for so long but had been afraid of scaring the other man who was now wrapping an arm around him. Spike shifted closer to Xander and pulled him into a tight embrace letting his tongue explore the mouth that was now open to him. Their tongues explored and teased as they both pressed into each other. Finally Xander had to stop to breathe but Spike simply moved his kisses to his jawbone and down his neck, enjoying the moans of pleasure that were coming from the brunette.

"Spiiiiike," the tongue was dragging up his neck and behind his ear and teeth began to nibble on his earlobe.

"Xander."

Xander moved his head to catch Spike's mouth with his own then pulled the vampire into his lap wrapping his arms tightly around him clinging to the blonde like a life preserver. Finally he pulled back and looked into the deep blue eyes "Spike, I..."

Spike put a finger to his lips, "Stay. Xander stay with me. Get away from your parents, stay here."

And with that he'd gone from being alone in this world to being the center someone else's unlife, and having that unlife be the center of his own world. He was welcome at Spike's, all he had to do now was move his things out of his parents house...

*********

Another slap and Xander was on the floor on his hands and knees trying to keep himself from shaking. He could hear his father muttering, "Useless child, good for nothin'. Moochin' off us." He grabbed Xander by the hair and pulled him to his feet, just as he got his balance the senior Harris threw a punch that sent Xander flying into the lamp table across the room. He crashed into the table breaking both it and the lamp that sat on it. "Look what you've done," his father growled.

Arguing was useless. He'd learned years ago to not argue and only spoke when he was told to and it would be over quicker. He also knew from experience that because he hadn't been around for his father to beat on he would most likely end up beating on him for a long time before he passed out. He was pulled up by his shirt and flung down kneeling in front of the couch with his face pressed into the seat cushions. "You just don't learn do you, boy? You need to be reminded." He could feel the weight of his father as the older man pressed against him. His wrists were held together behind his back with one hand while the other undid his jeans and pulled them down to his knees, his legs were forced apart as far as his jeans would allow. Xander bit back a scream as his father penetrated him dry, pounding into him over and over again. This wasn't the first time this happened but Xander swore it would be the last, he would go homeless before he would go through this again.

After a few minutes his father stopped releasing Xander's wrists and pulling away. He felt like his insides were coming out with his father's cock. "GET UP!" his father shouted at him.

Sore and bleeding he stood up pulling his jeans on fastening the button and pulling up the zipper, only to be knocked down again by another fierce blow form the elder Harris. Then the kicking and punching began. After about an hour Xander breathed a sigh of relief as his father passed out on the couch.

Quietly he walked down to the basement to get his bag, there he found his mother asleep on his bed. He tiptoed over to the corner and picked up his bag, if she woke up she would continue what his father started and he knew he didn't have the strength to deal with that now.

Every move he made seemed loud to his own ringing ears, every rustle of his clothes, every movement of his bag on his shoulder, yet fortunately his mother didn't stir. Once he got up the stairs he realized he was more than a little light-headed, but he couldn't sit down, not yet. Not until he was far enough away from his parents house to pass out without worrying about being found by them.

He was only a few blocks from the house when his legs gave out from under him and the blackness began to take over. Before he hit the ground he felt a pair of large hands catch him and a deep voice above him, "I've got you Xander." Before the world turned black he remembered thinking that it wasn't Spike's voice...

****

Xander slowly drifted into consciousness.

"Drink," he was commanded by a voice he didn't recognize. His mouth was brought to an open cut on someone's neck, without thinking about it he began to follow the instructions. There was a low pitched moan released from the neck's owner, he could feel it under his lips. The sound was one of lust and desire, one he recognized as Spike. He released his neck and looked into the deep blue eyes in front of him.

Spike licked the blood off Xander's lips and then kissed him soundly. Xander hadn't even remembered that there was someone else in the room until he heard, "William."

They both turned to the voice and for the first time Xander laid eyes on someone he thought was nothing but vampire legend...

*****
tbc