This is a continuation of 'The Perfect Plan'. Like the first story the timelines are a little messed up. I own nothing of the Buffy universe. Please read and review!

…

A lone figure watched Willow study from outside her French doors of her bedroom. He did this for about a week now. Willow didn't stay away from him but rather asked questions that Angel either refused to or made her feel uncomfortable asking. Angel was too busy with helping Xander adjust to a new way of life.

Spike watched while Willow studied. He didn't like the idea of stalking her like this as it screamed Angelus but it made sure that he always had the answers she was looking for and information that she wanted to know without asking. His grandsire was a greedy bastard but a smart one none the less.

He turned upon hearing Angel climb on the balcony as well. "I told you to stay away from her."

"You've been ignoring her, mate. She has questions and you have that habit of making people feel uncomfortable around you. All I do is go to the Bronze and sit. Willow comes to me not the other way around." Spike leaned against the side of the house a foot from the windows. "I watch her to make sure I have the answers she needs."

Angel threw Spike from the balcony and jumped after him. Spike got up and stepped back. "Just because you turned against your nature doesn't mean I will. Claim her if you don't want me to."

"She is to be left alone."

Spike was growing tired of the same fight over and over again. "Willow is too smart to brush off Angel."

"What do you mean by that?"

"You have no idea what you are doing to her do you? Not a sodding clue." He angrily brushed his fingers through his hair. "She needs answers and some bloody attention and you are ignoring her. I don't need to claim her all I have to do is show up."

Angel understood what Spike was saying to him but he was not willing to let Willow get involved with vampires. Enough damage had been done to her. "Willow has had enough drama for five lifetimes."

Spike was wondering if bringing back soul boy was such a good idea after all. "You're going to prove me right. I warned her about you."

That caught him off guard. "What did you tell her, Spike?"

"Ask her yourself you bloody ponce." With that Spike walked off not in the mood for a fight.

Angel looked up at Willow's window and let out a breath he didn't know he was holding in. He knew Spike was up to something which was becoming a common thing for him. It wasn't in Spike's nature to plan things out and that made Angel worry.

….

Xander was adjusting to his new life but the burning guilt of what he had done in so short a time was still tearing at his insides. The guilt piled on top of the anger he felt for his parents. They filled out the police reports but never went looking for him after they were told the tapes were fakes. He was thrown out like his father's whisky bottles.

Angel told him that they should move to another city. L.A. was a good place to start a new unlife for it was close and far enough away from everything.

Xander was watching his parents from the back yard. He could observe the routine he saw most of his life through the kitchen window. His mother making dinner, his father cursing the dinner and take a drink or two. Next his mother yelling while smoking, dropping ashes into the sink. At this point Xander would have taken his dinner to the living room to eat quickly before locking himself in his bedroom.

He didn't need to look to know who walked up next to him.

"Why do I keep coming back here? It's not like I want to go back to all that fun."

"You know you'll never see them again. I'd go to them and say good-bye Xander. By the time I was able to apologize to my family they were long dead, killed by Angelus." Angel found he was able to speak to Xander about things about his past and in turn Xander grew in confidence.

Xander wanted nothing more than to knock on the door and see their faces again. "I don't know if I can restrain myself. Part of me really wants to hurt them and part of me wants to get answers. I don't know what to do." Tears were pooling in his eyes and he hated feeling so weak. "Aaron said I was weak and always will be."

"You're not weak. Go to them, I'll go with you if you want me to."

Xander shook his head. "No, I have to do this alone."

Angel nodded and watched him approach the side door.

Xander was so scared to enter this house that for most of his life wanted nothing more than to be able to leave. He knocked on the door knowing the doorbell was broken for years. His mother answered the door with a sour look on her face.

"You're back?" Her expression softened a little.

"In a way I guess." Xander almost felt sorry for returning. "It's me."

"Well come on in then. You are not a stranger here yet." She left the door open for him and he walked in feeling the barrier drop with her invitation.

His father just turned on the T.V. and was pouring himself a drink. Nothing unusual there. The place was just as he left it, in shambles with two broken people holding it together. He looked at his parents for the first time it seems and saw how pathetic they really were.

"Well you can't move back again. The basement will be remodeled. I'd get your stuff out now before I throw it away."

Xander was hurt. His father never even asked where he was all this time. He scoffed while shaking his head.

"What are you laughing at boy?"

This was the time Xander had waited for and dreaded. He looked at his father and no longer saw the man to be feared but to be pitied. Xander's mother was not much better, a shell of a woman that could easily leave and make a life for herself but found it easier to enable a weak man to his grave. What a twisted family he came from.

"You charged me rent, a high school student who had to work almost full time to live in a basement. That sad but what's really sad is that you used that money to get drunk and buy mom cigarettes. Not to use the money to fix this dump or, oh I don't know invest in my education. Can't do that as that would require believing in the person you wanted to destroy since birth." The words left his mouth in a smooth motion that he didn't believe was possible.

Xander's father stood up. "You little bastard! I ought to kick your ass."

"Then do it already!" Xander stood up only inches from his father. "That's all you are good for!" He shoved his father back into the chair.

"I'll call the police."

"Yes, do that and tell them you've been charging their son rent to live in his home. I'm sure there are some laws against that considering I'm under voting age."

The house went quiet.

Xander looked at his mother who was nothing more than a broken woman. "Mom, leave dad and get on with your life or just let him devour you. I'm leaving soon. You won't see me again. Dad, you're everything I hope I never become."

Xander waited for a response and only received sobs from his mother. He walked over to her and held his mother who smelled of old cigarettes and mint candies. His words hurt her more than anything her father could have said but they freed him from this house. There was nothing left of him here and his things in the basement were remnants of a life that no longer represented who he was.

"I'll be fine Mom, just take care of yourself."

She nodded while sobbing. "I'm sorry I was a horrible mother."

Xander hated her just then. "No guilt trips. I am not having it. I'm gone and you can feel whatever you want. You were my mother and were here. That's more than most mothers do in this town." His thoughts went to Willow then. She had parents that where little better than his own but at least his mother was there.

He gave one last glance at his father who only gave him an angry glare. "Dad if I hear that you took your anger out on mom I'll be sure to let the police know about the extra income you earned off your son. I head its called fraud."

Whatever wind was in his father it left him. Xander walked out of the house and didn't look back again. He walked up to Angel who waited the whole time. "Let's go it's done."

Before they left the yard Xander's mother ran out of the house with something in her hand. "Xander wait! Please honey I have something for you."

Xander stopped and took a moment to turn around. She handed him something he almost forgot about. "I know you loved this and made sure your father didn't get rid of it."

She handed him a small yellow box.

"Thank you, I didn't know you knew about this."

"I'm your mother, Xander. I'll be fine. I'll take care of your father, the good for nothing that he is."

Xander have his mother one last hug then turned and left the property.

He knew Angel wasn't going to ask so he waited until they were far enough away to show him. He opened the yellow box to reveal a drawing that was folded a few times. "Willow drew this in elementary school. I didn't get a valentine that year and she felt really bad and drew this for me. I loved her every day since then."

Xander sat down on a bench. Angel sat beside him listening to his story. "I knew she wanted to date me. I may be thick but not that thick. She deserved better than me. There was no way I was going to drag her into that mess I had to call a family."

"She never cared about that."

"I know and now if I make love to Willow and tell her how much I love her I'll be happy. Aaron won't kill her. He'll do much worse than that."

Angel knew that type of sorrow well. "Let's go, I need to plan for L.A. I could use your help."

…

Willow waited at the mansion for Angel and Xander to get back. She got the strangest message from Spike and she wanted to know what was going on.

She didn't wait long before she heard footsteps approach. Xander and Angel were a little surprised to see her. It's been almost two weeks since she last came to the mansion. The last time she spoke with Angel the conversation didn't end well.

"Willow, how are you?"

"Fine Xander, how are things with you?"

"Oh you know keeping the night alive the Xan man way. Enjoying reading in the dark. Spiderman comics are really interesting to read in the dark. Colors seem to come alive."

Willow started laughing then she remembered why she was here when she saw Angel. "Sorry Xan, I need to ask Angel a few questions. I'll be at the coffee pump tomorrow if you want to chat."

"I'll be there."

Xander entered the mansion leaving Willow and Angel alone.

"I found this note from Spike. He said he won't answer any of my questions for a while. What did you say to him?" Willow couldn't help the accusatory tone in her words. She was still angry with him from the last time she came here with questions.

"The same I always do, to stay away from you."

"He does. I go to him to get answers. For a demon that wants to possess me he's far more forthcoming than you." Willow knew that this wouldn't lead to anything good but she was so tired of always begging for information. Tears started to form. She hated this, everything and simply didn't have the strength to fight anymore. "I need to know the answer Angel."

"It's better that you didn't."

"Don't answer as if you know me. You never tried to know me. I was simply there as you ran after Buffy. I need to know the answer!"

Angel realized that Spike had set him up. "You really want that answer? Then ask it again."

Willow took a deep breath. "Would I be safer if you claimed me instead of Spike?"

….