Title: The Love of the Bullied 22/25 + Epilogue

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 Twenty-Two

When Spike got home after school it was clear that Xander had been pissed. His backpack was across the room as if it had been thrown. He could hear cupboards in the kitchen being opened and slammed. He'd never seen Xander like this before. It was kind of scary. He walked into the kitchen and looked at Xander and instantly saw red burns on his face. "What the hell happened?"

Xander's head snapped sideways he hadn't heard Spike come in. He had to force the glower off his face. "Fucking Larry. He pinched my ass and I dropped my pork chop into hot oil."

"Have you put anything on them?" Spike asked trying his hardest to remain calm. The last thing Xander needed was for Spike to get angry, it wasn't going to help. What Xander needed was to be taken care of. When Xander shook head Spike disappeared for a minute before coming back with Neosporin. "You don't want those getting infected." He applied the ointment to each burn on Xander's face and hand. "Are you looking for food or just need something to slam?"

"Both," Xander said honestly. "I don't want to be like my dad but I just wanted to beat the shit out of all of them. No one cared what Larry did or that I was hurt it was all about Larry. I got suspended for a week because of that asshole! And Snyder is going to have someone bring me my homework. How is that going to happen if I'm not even at my parents house?"

Xander's anger and frustration was absolutely warranted. Spike desperately wanted to find Larry and beat him to a bloody pulp but he couldn't. So instead he pulled Xander into a tight hug. "I'm sorry, Xan. You don't deserve any of this. We'll figure out how to get you your homework." Spike didn't have a damn clue as to how but through hell or high water he'd make sure Xander didn't fall behind.

"I think I at least embarrassed, Larry." Xander told Spike what he had said to Larry and how the entire class heard Xander calling him out on his crush and unwanted attention,

A laugh erupted from Spike. "That explains the look on his face the rest of the day and the laughter. I honestly didn't care enough to ask, now I wish I had. I'm so bloody proud of you." He paused. "I can beat him up for you."

"No, you can't." Xander pulled away. His face wasn't as red as it was when Spike had first walked in.

"I could if you would just let me," Spike said more specifically.

Xander changed the subject. "How do you feel about pizza for supper?"

Spike let out audible sigh at the new subject. "Sure, Xan."

"I'll order." Xander kissed Spike feeling a bit better about the day.

Forty minutes later there was a knock on the door. Spike and Xander who were sitting on the couch cuddling looked at each other. Their pizza had been delivered ten minutes ago. Spike put his plate down and went to the door. Cordelia was on the other side. "Cordy?" Spike asked.

Xander almost dropped his plate.

"Hey, Spike. I have Xander's homework for the week." Cordelia said, holding her expensive backpack up that contained hers and Xander's homework. "Can I come in?"

Spike stumbled back, holding the door open for her. When he and Cordelia walked into the living room Xander was standing there looking like he was about to bolt.

"Relax you two." Cordelia placed her bag on the couch to take Xander's assignments out. "No one else knows about you."

"H-how do you know?" Xander asked, his voice quaked with fear.

Pulling out everything Cordelia spoke, "I saw you enter this apartment building like a month ago. It wasn't until last week when I brought Spike his homework that I put two and two together."

"But how did you know he was living here?" Spike was so confused.

"I stopped by the address the receptionist gave me. When I got a face full of door when I asked for Xander I figured I would find him here." Cordelia held out Xander's work. "So I've written which chapters you have to read for social studies and the answer the questions. You also have to finish reading To Kill a Mockingbird and write an essay on it. That is due next Wednesday so you have plenty of time. You also have a biology text next Thursday so make sure you study for that. I had Mr. Jefferson last semester and he is a hard ass when it comes to his tests. As for gym and home ec you can't really do anything here so you'll have to make sure you are giving it your all so you don't fail."

Xander took all the papers. He was glad that in his fury at work he remembered to go to his locker and grab all his textbooks. "Why are you helping me? I thought you hated me."

"It's not that I hate you or anything it's just we don't run in the same circle. Today I realized that just because we aren't friends doesn't mean that I can't be nice to you. Hell, I don't like most of the people I hang out with. Present company excluded."

Spike really appreciated that. He pulled Cordelia into a hug. "Thank you."

"Eww! Don't get mushy on me," Cordelia jokingly complained. "Get your boyfriend off me, Harris. He smells like pepperoni."

Spike released Cordelia and then pulled Xander against him. He didn't know about Xander but he felt some of the weight on his shoulders disappear having Cordelia know about them. "Can you tell Xan that it will be fine to have everyone know we are together?"

"Spike," Xander said as a warning.

"Oh no, I'm staying out of this." Cordelia picked up her backpack. "I have a history paper that is not going to write itself." She left the apartment leaving them alone.

Spike sighed. He was hoping Cordelia would side with him. "Are you mad at me?"

"No, I just don't want someone I am not friends with to try to convince me what I should do when I'm not comfortable doing it."

"All I want is to be able to walk down the hallway with my boyfriend. To sit and have lunch with my boyfriend."

Xander pulled Spike into his embrace. "I know baby but..."

"We can't," Spike finished for him. He was tired of Xander not changing his mind about the situation.

"It's been a really shitty day, Spike. Could we just snuggle and watch TV?"

Accepting defeat for now Spike sat back down and held his arm up for Xander. "I'm not giving up, you know."

Snuggling beside Spike and grabbing his plate Xander said, "I know you well enough to know that you're not, no matter how much I want you to." He watched the TV for a few minutes. "I'm glad that you have Cordelia as a friend. Maybe she's not as bad as I thought."

"Just goes to show you, you can't judge someone you don't know. I think she's starting to realize that too. People can surprise you."

Xander knew Spike was right but his experience with people were they just disappoint you.