Title: Quest 1/14
Author: Forsaken2003
Pairing: Spike/Xander
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I own none, all belong to Joss Whedon
Comments: Always welcomed!
Summary: A spin of Wizard of Oz. Xander makes a wish without realizing that it would affect his life forever.
Warnings/Spoilers: Alternate Universe

Part One

Xander hated his life. The kids at school hated him, the teachers ignored him and his parents wished he had never been born. He couldn't wait for graduation and to start a new life. A life where he wasn't considered a burden. He didn't know why people didn't like him, he was nice and funny. Sure he was a nerd and maybe loved his comic books a little too much and his fashion sense was well non-existent. He wasn't the smartest guy in the world but he wasn't the dumbest either.

He shook himself out of his thoughts and came back to the present. It was after school and it was time for the yearly tryouts for the swim team. Xander wasn't trying out because he knew even though he was a good swimmer they wouldn't accept him; he was fine with that. No, he was here for two completely different reasons. The first one being he couldn't pass up the opportunity to watch the hunks of the school in Speedos. They might be jerks but they had amazing bodies.

The other reason Xander was there was to support Jonathan Levinson. They weren't friends but Jonathan was in the same boat as Xander. The other kids bullied him and he never quite fit in. The only difference was that Jonathan had a friend. Andrew Wells seemed like a good guy; he could hold a conversation all by himself, though. Xander had tried being friends with them but they made it obvious they just needed each other. Rumors were that they were dating, another reason for the bullying.

As Jonathan got ready to start his tryout Xander silently cheered him on as Andrew yelled as loud as he could and received dirty looks from the other on lookers. With one final deep breath Jonathan attempted a dive only to do a belly flop. Xander winced knowing that had to hurt. Only two strokes in and Jonathan cried leg cramp. Andrew screamed for someone to help as others just laughed at the pathetic attempt from Jonathan. Knowing no one was going to help anytime soon Xander decided to take matters into his own hands. Jumping off the bleachers he rushed to the side of the pool before diving into the warm water.

Xander reached Jonathan and was able to pull him to the side of the pool where Andrew waited and helped pull Jonathan out before Xander hoisted himself out. Once he got his breath back Xander turned to ask if Jonathan was all right only to be greeted by a fist to his right cheek.

"I didn't need your help!" Jonathan screamed, his face red with embarrassment. He allowed Andrew to pull him away from the crowd.

Andrew threw Xander an apologetic look before he and Jonathan disappeared into the boys' locker room.

With a sigh Xander stood up soaking wet and left. He didn't gain any points with anyone but that was fine, he knew he did the right thing and even if Jonathan didn't appreciate it Xander was damn proud of himself and at the end of the day that was all that mattered.

Xander had been in good spirits until he got home and his mother was instantly in his face.

"What the hell happened to you? You're dragging mud all over my carpets! I spent all morning cleaning them," Jessica screamed. "You wait until when your father comes home and sees the mess you made."

"Sorry, mom. There was a thing at school…" Xander tried to explain even though he knew she wouldn't care.

Jessica scoffed, uninterested. "I don't care. I should have listened to Tony; he told me having a kid would wreck our lives." She shook her head in disgust and walked back into the kitchen.

With slumped shoulders Xander made his way to the basement. He just kept reminding himself that less than a year and he'd be out of the house and out of this town making it on his own. He'd show everyone he wasn't a failure.

Xander decided to skip on the homework. After all he had all weekend to work on it. Instead, he opted for a Star Trek marathon. Just another exciting Friday night for the Xan-man.

After a shower and two episodes of Star Trek Xander heard his father enter the house. In five seconds he could hear his mother screeching about Xander's carelessness. Like he purposely tracked in mud in. Xander then heard his father's loud grumbles and the stomping of heavy steel toed boots. Xander noticed that his mother didn't have a snit over that. It would probably end up being Xander's fault. It always was.

"You upsetting your mother, boy?" Tony demanded to know once he was at the bottom of the stairs.

"I didn't mean to. It was an accident. I wasn't thinking," Xander confessed, and he hadn't been thinking at the time.

Tony snorted. "Like that's anything new with you."

Xander ducked his head. "I'll go apologize." He started to walk around Tony only to be grabbed by the arm and yanked him back.

"Your mother doesn't want to look at you. I don't need you upsetting her again," Tony said pushing his son onto the pullout couch. "Neither of us wants to look at you."

"But what about supper?" Xander asked. His stomach growled as he smelled the roast his mom had in the oven. Dad's favorite.

Tony turned away from his son, tired of looking at him. "Told you, we don't want you upstairs." He made his way back upstairs before slamming the door shut.

With a sigh Xander went over to his dresser, opening the bottom drawer where he had a stash of food. A couple bags of chips and a six pack of Pepsi. He grabbed a bag of Cheetos and a can of Pepsi before plopping down onto his bed.

"I wish… I wish someone would love me," Xander murmured before eating his supper.

A figure stood in the shadows a smile on her disfigured face. "Done."