Disclaimer: I don't own any thing remotely related to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I hope this is easier to read then the first post. I'm truly sorry about that my computer is wigging out seriously and screwing up just about everything.

Chapter One

The whole gang was sitting around a table in the library, all Angel noticed but one. Buffy, Willow, and Giles were researching this week's latest bad guy while off to the left Xander sat alone ideally flipping through a large tome. Angel doubt the boy even realized what he was looking at he was so deep in thought. For the last few days every time Angel walked into the library this was the scene he saw, and Angel was finally ready to find out what was wrong.

Its about time to I've been telling you to do this for days! Angelus screamed in the back of his mind, but Angel ignored him. He walked over to the table that Xander sat at and took the seat across from him. Xander looked up at him oddly, but showed no outward emotion,

"why you over here? The party's over there." But his usual bit was missing. Angel tilted his head, "That's what I was going to ask you."

Xander just snorted and looked back at the book in his hands. Angel sighed, "Xander, I can smell something on you and it worries me, I just want to make sure that you're alright."

Xander's eyes became guarded, well more so then they were. "Is this some kind of joke? Another way to make fun of the worthless Zeppo?"

Xander's voice was so cold that it made Angelus shudder and Angel

was amazed that it was the same voice that used to laugh and joke just a few days ago.

Angel shook his head confused "No, I just want to help." Xander slammed his book shut drawing everyone's attention "I don't need or charity, pity, or handouts!" he yelled.

Buffy was there in the blink of an eye, "Listen buddy, you're on my shit list right now so don't yell at my boyfriend and make it worse!"

Buffy turned to a stunned Angel with a sweet smile on her face, "What are you doing over here anyway?"

Xander snorted and throw the book into his backpack "yeah we wouldn't want your perishes pet vampire to become infected with my 'disease.' I'd hate to see you have to throw away your boy-toy like you did your 'best friend!" With that he slammed out of the library without a backward glance.

Buffy's face was red with anger, Angel could smell it rolling off her like a poison. Angel glanced around at the other two occupants of the room "someone care to explain?" he asked mildly even as he was having a hard time trying to control his demon, who wanted to follow the boy.

Buffy gave a long self suffering sigh, "Well on Monday Xander decided to tell us he was gay, broke poor Willow's heart he knew she had feelings for him and…"

Angel held up his hand to stop Buffy before he lost the losing battle against Angelus to hurt them and protect the boy. "You're telling me that because Xander refused to be what you wanted him to be and what he wasn't you're all treating him like he was the plague?"

He asked with a hard won calm, as he met everyone's eyes. Giles looked confused and Angel figured that he was so focused on his slayer that he doubted the man would realize if the sun blew up. Willow was looking sheepish; she probable just realized what she was doing to her childhood friend. Buffy on the other hand was looking self-righteous, she knew what she was doing and didn't feel sorry about it. Angel turned on his heel and left with a mumbled curse, ignoring Buffy's cry's for him to come back.

Once outside Angel tried to decide where the boy would go. Drawing a blank Angel took a deep breath taking in the sent of sunshine, chocolate, and sadness, the sent of Xander.

He tracked the sent to an abandoned building not far from the school. Angel cautiously entered the building, he didn't trust abandoned buildings they were breading grounds for new vampires, even though he didn't sense any he'd been wrong before.

The sound of a match striking drew his attention to the left and there sitting in the soft glow of a single candle was Xander. His shoulders were slumped, his face was etched with defeat, and tears fell from his eyes. Angel slowly crept up to kneel beside the young man.

"Xander?" He whispered but Xander reacted as if it had been a shout. His head snapping up and jumping away from the voice, "Xander are you alright?"

That was a great question, Caption Idiot, let me handle this! Angelus scolded his voice thick with sarcasm.

Back off! Angel inwardly growled.

We need to take care of the boy. Angelus screamed at Angel.

And you care why? Angel asked him, he felt Angelus shrug so he turned his attention back to Xander.

Xander refused to meet his gaze, "Why do you care?" Xander's voice sounded emotionally dead.

Angel sighed "You're my friend," it was a simple answer but a truthful one Angel realized. His answer caused Xander to look at him as if he had grown two heads and a forked tail.

Then he snorted probably thought it was a joke, "No physically I'm completely fine."

Angel nodded "and emotionally?" Again Xander snorted, "Like anyone cares."

Angel, with his hand under Xander's chin, he forced him to meet his eyes, "I do." He whispered.

Xander's eyes widened then he started to sob and Angel pulled the boy to his chest and whispered soothing nonsense until Xander's body relaxed into an uneasy sleep.

Angel stared at this young man and felt his face shift and his eyes glowed a golden yellow, if Xander woke now he would know that it was Angelus not Angel that held him and carried him so carefully to their mansion.

After putting the boy into bed he gently brushed the hair from his face, "Doona worry m'lad we shall care and protect ye." Angelus/Angel promised before he curled himself around the boy and he himself fell asleep.