“Because you wanted to get out of Sunnydale as much as I have ever since Farmboy came back from wherever good little soldiers go when they want to blow off steam,” Xander offered as explanation.
“I could have dealt with those two being all kissy-kissy, even if it did make me want to hurl,” Spike threw out.
“You also can’t forget about the price on your head since you killed those vampires that had been using the old candy factory as a headquarters.”
“I could have handled them,” Spike stated, petutualantly. Xander stopped in front of the smaller man, turning to face Spike and wrap his arms around the blonde vampire.
“In that case, you came because you love me and wanted to meet the only family that I have that actually cares about me. You know the ones that wouldn’t rather see me dead that in love with a man.”
“Oh yeah,” Spike grinned, kissing his mate, neither man caring about the disapproving looks they were getting from some of the other people in the airport, they were used to them because of the way their relationship was treated among their group of friends. When air started to become an issue with the mortal half of the pair, they reluctantly broke apart and were surprised to hear clapping coming from behind them.
“Now that’s a sight to see,” a woman’s voice said. Xander blushed, easily recognizing the woman’s voice and turned to face their audience.
“Hi Aunt Debbie,” Xander greeted the red-headed woman who was standing there, two young men with her.
“Just hi, sweetheart? Is that all I get after not seeing you for so long? Where’s my Xander hug?” Xander smiled as he walked into Deb’s outstretched arms, picking her up easily in a bear hug, causing her to laugh. ‘Sometimes,’ he thought, ‘working construction and fighting demons came in handy when it comes to my strength.’
“Damn, but you’ve gotten big, sweetie.”
“So I’ve been told,” the Sunnydale man grinned at his aunt.
“Yeah, working construction during the day and battling dell-spawned demons at night has a tendency to do that to a person,” Spike mumbled, just loud enough for the others to hear him and give the blonde a strange look. Xander saw it but decided not to say anything in regards to the oddness of the statement.
“You have to be Spike,” Debbie said, checking out her nephew’s choice in men. She noted the bleached blond hair and long leather duster that was Spike’s trademark, but considering some of the things she had seen working in the Liberty Diner, didn’t make any big deal about it. As long as the man in front of her made sure her favorite nephew was happy, she wouldn’t complain. “Well, can’t say that Xander doesn’t have good taste when it comes to men.”
“I like your aunt, pet,” Spike grinned, causing Xander to groan.
“Thanks, Aunt Debbie. Just what he needed to boast his already over inflated ego.” Xander turned his attention to the older of the two men. “Mikey, you’re looking good,” he greeted his cousin who finally walked over and joined the trio, the teen beside him coming also. Michael had a smile on his face; although anyone who bothered to look close enough could tell it was forced. Xander sighed silently, realizing that his cousin still held some kind of strange grudge against him. He didn’t know what he had done to anger his cousin and, at this point in his life, he didn’t care. Xander had had it with people who didn’t approve of him for one reason or the other, including those that he had called his friends, and refused to worry about Michael’s problems with him. “You haven’t changed a bit.”
“Well, you know how it is,” Michael replied. “Nothing changes here in the Pitts. Looks like time’s been pretty good to you too.”
“Yeah, well, I can’t complain.” Xander then turned his attention to the teen. “And you have to be Justin.” The blonde’s smile got wider and, unlike Michael’s, it didn’t have to be forced.
“Hey Xander. Good to finally see you in person,” Justin said. Over the past year, while Justin had been staying with Debbie, the two had talked often over the phone and had emailed each other constantly. In fact, Justin had been one of the first people Xander had told about his relationship with Spike, although he had left out a few details about the man he was in love with. Like the fact that Spike was a vampire, albeit one who couldn’t’ hurt humans, and that he had tried to kill Xander and his friends. Repeatedly. Justin, for his part, liked the fact that he could talk to Xander about the difficulties he was having at school because of his homosexuality, not to mention what it was like to be in love with someone so much older than himself.
“Same here.” Justin and Xander stared at each other for another minute, each thinking to themselves that the other one was extremely attractive, before they gave into their youthful exuberance and smiling, hugged the other. “Damn, but after seeing you, I can tell why Brian Kinney fell in love with a twink. If it wasn’t for Spike, I would be tempted to try and steal you away from him.” A growl from the vampire caused Xander to break away from Justin and go over to his mate. “I said, if it wasn’t for you Spike. You’re more than enough for me.”
“Bloody right I am,” Spike said. “Bad enough you’re drooling over Peaches, but now I have to compete with some poofy teen.”
“Now, Spike,” Xander purred, wrapping his arms around the smaller man’s neck and kissing him, “you know full well that the only reason I flirt with Deadboy is because I know it gets you all hot and bothered. It turns you on seeing Angel get all flustered.”
“True, pet. Just like it does to you when I flirt with Slutty, especially when that damn Farmboy is in the same room.”
“Mmmmhmmmmmmmm,” Xander agreed as the two men began to kiss again, once more oblivious to everyone else. After it became apparent that the two weren’t going to stop soon if they didn’t have help, Deb coughed to gain their attention. Xander and Spike separated, although slowly, the younger man blushing again.
“Come on, boys,” Deb ordered them. “Let’s go grab your things and head back to the house. Your Uncle Vic can’t wait to see you again, Xander.”
“I can’t wait to see him, too,” Xander said. The young man loved his uncle. He used to love listening to Vic’s stories of living in New York and Vic made sure to let Xander know that if he ever needed to get away from the horrors that were his parents, that Vic would gladly take him in.
The five people made their way through the airport, heading towards the luggage carousels. Debbie, Spike and Justin walked slightly ahead of Michael and Xander, the two Pittsburgh natives wanting to grill Spike on himself and his relationship with Xander. Michael, on the other hand, felt the need to try and correct a misconception of Xander’s.
“You’re wrong, you know,” Michael suddenly blurted out, causing Xander to look at him.
“Wrong about what?”
“Brian being in love with Justin,” Michael explained. “He’s not.”
“That not what I’ve been told.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Michael said, shaking his head. “I know that Justin, and even my mom, believe that Brian loves the Boy Wonder, and I’m sure he does care for him on some level, but this is Brian Kinney we’re talking about. The epitome of the carefree, no ties to anyone man. How many times have we all heard him say, “I don’t do relationships? I don’t do boyfriends.”
“So? Anyone can change,” Xander pointed out. “Trust me on that one. I’ve seen plenty of examples of that.”
“Not Brian. He enjoys his life way too much. And even if he was ready to change, which I don’t think he is, he’s certainly not going to do it for the Boy Wonder.”
“I wouldn’t be too sure of that,” Xander finished as they arrived where their bags were coming out. He watched as Spike grabbed their bags, remembering when he had thought the same thing about the vampire. Spike had done his best to shove Xander away, going so far as to offer the teen to former lover Drusilla, but the vampiress had seen right through Spike’s charade. She told Xander the he would be good to “her Spikey” and had left, making sure to extract a promise from the mortal to not give up on Spike. And he hadn’t. And, eventually, he got Spike to admit that he was in love with Xander and the two had been together ever since.
“I am and the sooner Justin realizes it, the better we all will be,” Michael reiterated. “He needs to let Brian live his own life and find someone his own age to be with.” That’s when it hit Xander. He could stand there and talk to Michael until he was blue in the face, but it wouldn’t change a thing because Michael Novatny was still in love with his best friend and jealous of the young boy who, in his opinion, stole Brian away from him. Xander knew that until his cousin was willing to face the fact that Brian would never want him in that way, Michael would continue to live in the land of denial. Before Xander could say anything else though, he saw Spike heading their way, lifting their bags in the air, a triumphant grin on his face. He watched as the other three people made their way to them.
“Told ya we didn’t have to worry about the airlines losing our bags, luv,” Spike smiled. “Things like that only happen to other people, not the big, bad.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Xander muttered,” let’s hear you say that after you find out that everything you brought with you was shipped to Auckland, New Zealand instead of Oakland, California.” Everyone laughed at Xander’s comments, including Michael.
“As long as its me and you, pet, I don’t’ care whether we have clothes or not.” Spike kissed his mate, this time causing Deb and Michael to roll their eyes and Justin to grab their bags from the blonde.
“I don’t know about anyone else, but I have this sudden need to get home,” the teen said.
“Why is it, I have a feeling that Brian is about to get jumped,” Xander chuckled, causing Justin to grin.”
“Because it’s true.” The five laughed, although Xander saw that Michael’s heart wasn’t in it. While Xander felt bad about Michael’s situation, he knew that there was nothing that he would be able to do about it. It was something that only Michael would be able to handle.
“Good thing Brian takes care of himself,” Deb chimed in. “He’s going to need plenty of energy to keep up with you, Sunshine.”
“Trust me, that’s one thing Brian has no trouble doing and I’m quite happy about that.”
“I know the feeling,” Xander smiled at his lover.
“It’s great, isn’t it?”
“You know it.”
“Can we please get out of here,” Michael whined, tired of the whole conversation. The others nodded their heads, heading towards the exit, laughing and joking with each other. Xander and Spike were glad that they had taken Debbie up on her offer to stay with her and her brother Vic. It was exactly what they needed. Some time with people that wouldn’t judge them on their past but accept them for whom and what they were.