Title: The Love of the Bullied 10/?

Author: Forsaken2003

Pairing: S/X

Rating: R

Disclaimer: I own none, all belong to Joss Whedon

Comments: Always welcomed!

Summary: Life sucks for Xander but when Spike moves to Sunnydale will things get better or worse?

Warnings/Spoilers: None

Beta'd by: Unbeta'd

Note: I feel like this story is possibly over dramatic. Not what I really write but it just kind of went that direction.

Part Ten

Spike rolled onto his side reaching for his phone to check the time. It was almost eleven in the morning. "Bloody hell," he cursed and climbed out of bed. His dad wanted to go pick out a tree today. It was the twenty-third of December the day they always got their tree. Xander thought it was weird but then told Spike they never put up a tree so what did he know?

There was a knock on Spike's door. "William, are you awake?" his father asked.

"Yeah, dad. Let me take a quick shower and I'll be right down," Spike promised.

"Alright. You're mother has a plate of food on the table for you," James said before leaving.

Spike opened the camera and took a selfie of himself with his bedhead. Xander went crazy over Spike's bedhead or his towel dried hair. He thought he looked like a dork but if Xander liked it, it couldn't be that bad, right? He sent the picture with a heart emoji before he jumped into the shower.

Xander would still be sleeping because of the time difference but he'd have the picture when he woke up. He hadn't talked to Xander the night before, the time difference was keeping them apart. And with Xander working full hours at the cinema during the holidays it was making it even harder. Sure it had only been a couple days but it was already torture.

When he was done the first thing he did was check his phone. Of course Xander hasn't replied but that didn't mean Spike wasn't hopeful. After getting dressed he sent another text. "Going to pick a tree out today with dad. I'll send you a picture when it's decorated. Don't work too hard. Facetime me when you get off work. I'll make sure I'm up."

Spike left his room. His mom had made a pot roast for supper the night before and if he knew her at all there was a roast beef sandwich with his name on it.

"There's my Little Mouse," Anne said from the kitchen table, a cup of tea in hand.

"Morning, mum." Spike pecked her on the cheek before sitting down to eat. "When me and dad get back I'll help you bring the decorations out."

Anne shook her head. "Don't worry about that, dear. Eleanor is going to help me with that before she leaves for Manchester to be with her boys for the holidays."

"How's Josh and John?" They were Eleanor's twin boys who started their first year of university.

"They're doing well. Still upset that you broke your pinky promise about going to University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology," Anne replied with a laugh.

Spike rolled his eyes. "We were ten, mum. I didn't even know what I wanted to do back then, they already had their lives planned out."

"All that matters is that you're happy, Will," Anne said. By the twinkle in her son's eye she knew he was. "Now show me pictures of Alexander." She held her hand out for Spike's phone.

Unlocking his phone Spike past it to his mother. He had nothing on there that he needed to hide. That stuff was on his laptop. While his mom went through his phone he ate his sandwich.

"He's handsome, isn't he?" Anne remarked. "You two look good together."

"We are both good looking blokes, aren't we?" Spike puffed out his chest.

James walked into the kitchen. "Well, you have very good genes," he replied before kissing Anne on the cheek. "We shouldn't be too long, dear."

"Message me when you are on your way home. I'll have some hot chocolate waiting for you," Anne promised. She saw Spike open his mouth. "With little marshmallows."

"You're the best, mum."

James made Spike leave his phone at home. This was their time together and Spike didn't need distractions.

It didn't take them long to find the perfect tree at a local tree lot, a Fraser fir. The needles were silvery-green and soft to the touch. There was nice spacing between the layers so the ornaments wouldn't be too cluttered together.

Spike was in the car when his dad pay for the tree and delivery fee. As much as he loved spending time with his dad he was itching to get home. It felt like there was a pit in his stomach. Something was wrong with Xander.

"All right, the tree will be delivered just have dinner," James said as he climbed into the drivers seat. He looked at his son and could see he was worried about something. "What's wrong, William?"

"I have this gut feeling that something's wrong with Xan. I never heard from him yesterday," concern colored his voice. "What if he needed to use his epi-pen? I asked him to give him his other one just in case and I forgot to give it back to him before I left."

Spike's intuition was usually spot on. They had a tradition of going for lunch after picking out a tree but seeing his son this preoccupied had him a little worried. "Why don't we pick up lunch and go home?" James looked at his watch and saw that it was only one thirty. It was probably still too early for Xander to be up but at least Spike would have his phone when Xander woke up.

"Thanks, dad. I know it's supposed to be our time but… I really like Xander."

"Love," James corrected him. "You really love him. Have you told him yet?"

Spike nodded his head. "I mean not with words."

"I'm guessing with the credit card bills I've been getting monthly you've been buying him expensive things," James concluded.

A sheepish look crossed Spike's face. "I'll pay you back when I get the club up and running."

"I'm not worried about the money, Will. I do think money has clouded you a little though."

"What do you mean?" Spike asked confused.

James parked in the Harry Ramsden's parking lot. He knew Spike had been craving fish and chips since he returned home. "I just remember you did the same thing with Wesley."

"That was different, dad. I never felt the way I do with Wes like I do with Xan."

"I see that but I'm concerned. No one can accuse you of not having any self-esteem but I feel that when it comes to you having genuine feelings for someone you are anxious they won't like you so you buy them expensive things hoping that it'll make them like you. You don't have to do that, Will. You are more than enough, anyone is lucky enough to call you their boyfriend." By the end of his speech James hand was on Spike's shoulder. "I just don't want to see you to be taken advantage of."

Spike felt the need to defend Xander. "Xan's not like that, dad. He likes me for me."

"I never said he didn't, son. I'm just saying that you don't need people in your life that only cares about money."

Spike remained silent about how that was probably why he was liked in Sunnydale. Some of his credit card bills were when he'd treat his 'friends' to a meal at the Bronze or Doublemeat Palace. His looks were another reason. No one outside of Xander in Sunnydale knew who he really was. No one else cared how he was doing in a new country without his family. "Thanks, dad."

"You're welcome, Will. Now let's get you some fish and chips."