A/N: Sorry, I know it's been a long time since I updated this one. It's my usual reasons. Busy busy busy and a MAJOR case of writers block with this story. So, anyway, here is a new one for ya. Hope you all enjoy.

Chapter 23

Tru smiled as she watched Tara and Willow dance a slow dance together. Tara's birthday party had been a smashing success so far, and the birthday girl was having a wonderful time. Nobody had reacted badly at all to she and Willow "coming out". Actually, the two were SO obvious, Tru doubted they had been fooling anyone!

"They really DO look good together, don't they?" came a boys voice from behind her, making Tru jump. She turned to see a boy she'd seen around school, but didn't know. He had unruly black hair and was sporting a kind of goofy grin.

"Uhm, er, yeah," said Tru, blushing a bit and looking away. As well as her sessions with Dr Janine were going, Tru was still shy around boys she didn't know.

The boy seemed concerned that he had startled Tru. "Sorry," he said. "I'm Xander Harris. I'm friends with both of them. Kennedy too." He held out his hand.

Tru looked up and nodded. "I think I've seen you talking to them," she said, staring at his hand. "I'm Tru, Tara and Kennedy's, hopefully, sister to be." She slowly reached up and shook his hand, but only for a second.

Xander smiled. "I know," he said. "Ken told me you Faith and Missy were living here. This has just been my first chance to introduce myself. Nice to meet you."

"You too," said Tru, awkwardly. She found herself drawing a total blank as to anything else to say to him, and looked around the room.

Xander too seemed at a loss as to what to say. "Er, would you like to dance?" he finally asked, placing a hand on Tru's elbow.

Tru froze at the unexpected contact. She looked at Xander, trying to speak, but, her jaw just moved wordlessly. In her mind, she was flashing back to when Martin (She never even thought of him as her father any more) would grab her by the elbow and drag her into his room when she was in trouble and in for a spanking. Sweat broke out on her brow, and she started breathing heavily.

"No!" she screamed as she wrenched her arm away from him and ran out of the living room and up the stairs.

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Xander looked blankly as Tru pulled her arm away and ran up the stairs. He looked over and saw Mr. Gordon and the Mrs. Gordons have a brief silent conference, then Mrs. Pierce-Gordon and Mrs. Fabray-Gordon followed her.

"It's ok, kids," announced Mr. Gordon. He popped the cd out of the player and replaced it. An upbeat tune came from the speakers. "Now, let's speed this up a bit!"

"What happened?" came a voice from behind Xander. He turned to see Kennedy looking concerned.

"I don't know!" Xander protested. "We were talking, and I asked her to dance, and she freaked out."

Kennedy nodded as her father came over. He had apparently heard what Xander had said. "Xander," he said, in a friendly voice. "Did you touch her all?"

"We shook hands when I introduced myself," he said. "And I touched her elbow when I asked her to dance. But I swear, that was all!"

Mr. Gordon put a gentle hand on Xanders shoulder. "I believe you, son," he said. "You've been friends with Kenny and Tara since first grade. I trust you. I assume you don't know all the details with the girls coming to live with us."

Xander shook his head. "No, Sir, just that there was trouble at home," he said. "I mean, there are rumors..."

Mr. Gordon nodded. "Kenny, Sweetie, I'm going to talk to your Mami. I figure Xander has questions." He looked into the boys eyes and smiled. "I think you should answer them. In general though, no details."

Kennedy nodded. "Ok, Daddy," she said. Mr. Gordon clasped Xanders shoulder, and kissed Kennedy on top of her head then went over to Mrs. Lopez-Gordon.

"The rumors are true, aren't they?" Xander asked Kennedy once Mr. Gordon was gone.

"Some of them, yeah," said Kennedy nodding, tears in her eyes. "Their father was a bastard. He hit all of them and Tru...God, it's so horrible!"

Xander nodded thoughtfully.

"Xander," said Kennedy. "I can see in your eyes that you like Tru. I think Daddy could too. That's probably why he gave me permission to tell you that. Tru is probably not ready to date anybody."

Xander nodded again. Kennedy was right. He liked Tru. Well, he was attracted to her, he really didn't know her. But, he felt...something, and wanted to get to know her better. But, her freak out a moment ago HAD unnerved him. He wasn't sure if he could pursue anything with a girl with that kind of baggage.

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Upstairs, Tru cried as Brittany held her and Quinn stroked her back in a comforting manner. "God, Mama!" said Tru. "All he did was touch my elbow! WHY did I freak out like that? I was ok, well, kind of ok, shaking his hand!"

"Baby, it sounds like you weren't expecting him to touch your elbow," answered Brittany, running her fingers through Tru's hair. Tru nodded.

"Sweetie, you've been through a lot," added Quinn. "Sometimes, things just startle you. Remember yesterday, when Daddy yelled at Darla for sassing him?"

Tru nodded again. She trusted her Daddy (And yes, Mr. G WAS her Daddy now) with all her heart, but, she had still nearly wet herself when he'd raised his voice.

"Baby, you are doing great," said Brittany, hugging her more tightly. "But, Dr Janine said we have to expect things like this. I wish I could wave a magic wand and make everything right, but life doesn't work like that. Getting better takes time. But, Baby, you ARE getting better and you'll KEEP getting better."

Tru looked into Brittany's eyes, then looked over to Quinn. "Will I really, Mommy?" she asked.

Quinn wrapped her arms around both of them. "Yeah, Sweetie," she whispered. "I really believe you will."

The three of them sat there for a few minutes as Tru stopped crying. "Feeling better?" asked Brittany, lovingly.

Tru nodded. "A little," she said. "But, I don't think I'm up to a party. Is it ok if i just stay up here with Harper?"

Britt started to tell her yes, but, Quinn spoke before she could. "it's ok," she said. "But, you need to go downstairs and tell your sister goodnight and let your Daddy and Mami know you're ok."

Tru sighed a little, but nodded. "Thanks Mommy, thanks Mama," she said. "I love you guys."

"We love you too, Baby," Britt and Quinn said together as all three stood and left the room.

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After briefly talking to Bill and Santana, Tru stood before Tara and Willow, saying her goodnights. "I'm sorry," she told Tara.

Tara smiled and hugged her. "Sweetie, don't be," she said. "I wish you could stay, but, I understand." Willow nodded.

Tru gave Tara a slightly watery smile. "Happy Birthday," she said. "Love you."

"Love you too," said Tara as Tru turned and headed towards the stairs. She was met there by Xander, who was holding a plate with a piece of birthday cake.

"Hey," he said. "Your Mom, the scary one, told me you weren't staying, but, I wanted to apologize and give you this peace offering." He held out the plate. "I hope we can be friends.

Tru looked down at the cake, tearing up again. She looked at Xander and all she saw in his eyes was concern, no ulterior motives. She gave him a smile and accepted the plate. "Of course we can," she said. Then, she looked more closely at the cake. "An end piece!" she exclaimed.

"Well, yeah," said Xander, in a rather 'duh" tone of voice. "Who DOESN'T love an end piece?"

"You get more frosting!" they both said, then they laughed.

"Well,' said Xander, a touch awkwardly. "Good night. I'll see you at school."

Tru looked at him a moment, feeling much more comfortable. "I think I'll stay," she said. "Keep me company? As friends?"

Xander smiled at her. "It would be my privilege," he said as they walked over to the couch, sitting down next to Kennedy.

The rest of the evening went well. Tru found she and Xander had a bit in common, and he really was charming company in his awkwardness. He was one of those boys who didn't know how cute he really was. Later that night, after all four parents had insisted on actually tucking Tru in, she lay there in her bed, Harper lying on the floor next to the bed, snoring, thinking about her new friend.

New friend, and, maybe, someday when I'm ready, something more, she thought as she drifted off to sleep.

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A/N2: Not really sure this is one of my better chapters, but, I wanted to post something. A certain reader reminded me recently they were waiting patiently, LOL. I WAS going to skip over Tara's birthday party, as I had no real plans for it, but I've always planned for Xander to become at least Tru's best friend, possibly more. and this felt like a good place to plant that seed. Hope you all enjoyed. Please let me know what you thought.