Chapter 4
After lunch Xander and Vicky head to the mall to relax for a bit. They casually walk around the shops and pick up some clothes to replace their diminished stock.
"Trust me Xan some tight leather pants hugging you ass would look great."
"No thanks Vic I am just going to stick to the nice cotton kind. I see the leather and I think of Deadboy. And I don't want to think of him hugging my ass."
Vic smirks at Xander and smiles, "You could also think it was me and be all the better."
Xander turns to Vic with his grin, "You buy a push up and image it is me holding them and I will think about it."
Vicky just stares at him with a shock look on her face before she recovers, "How do you know I don't already?"
Xander stutters and just looks away. Vicky continues to walk pushing her chest out a little with the smile of the cat that got the canary.
"You win Vic. No more talk of clothing and hugging. We can finish up her and then go back to The Magic Box to meet with the group and talk to Faith."
Vicky frowns a little but is understanding that it has to be done. She can still hope for her own happy ending. "One more stop at V.S. and we are golden."
"V.S. where is that in this place. It doesn't sound familiar."
"The mall map says it is around the corner and to the left."
"But the only thing down there is," a scared look comes over his face, "no Vic not there. Please. You can't make me go in there. I don't go in there for anyone. Men do not belong in that store. Trust me we get looked at funny and pray to god no one walks out of a changing room. You wouldn't make me."
"You owe me Suga. After what I did last night. And besides you're a guy and would know what I would look good in." Vicky say to him with a smile which quickly turns to a pout, "please Xan. If you don't I might not look pretty enough for the college boys and I can't have that."
Xander look at her and already knew he lost this one. "Fine but if I get one strange look I am outta here. No force on Earth could stop me. Not even you Slayer."
"If you say so Suga," Vicky then wraps his arm in hers and together the walk through the archway of Victoria Secret. Her smile never left her face through out the store as she picked out a few things her and there and model two push ups for Xander which he quickly left the store and waited outside. She laughs all the way to the register to pay for her clothes.
"Your boyfriend going to be okay?" said the clerk.
Vicky was going to correct but didn't, "You know men. Talk all big and bad about what would you look good in but bring them in and show a few ideas and they run for the hills. Or at least away from them." Vicky and the clerk just laugh together about the short coming of men.
Tara walked up behind the laughing Slayer, "Vicky how is it going?"
Vicky turned around and smiled to Tara, "Just find actually. Had to bring Xander home from the bar last night. You know men. You let them out for a late night with their friends and they wreck a bar and stupid people get hurt. He was find just needed some TLC this morning. He got it in spades. Of course he wont be going out for a while." With that she started laughing and the clerk joined in for that one also.
"You got that right miss," the clerk said in between laughs.
Tara just looks at the two and chuckles a little. "Willow and I are shopping here for a few things and I saw you and wanted to know about Xander. I guess you two are going to be back to the Magic Shop later."
"Yeah Tara we will. He needs to talk about a few things and such. You know guy things."
"Not really but sounds good. Well I got some things to try on and get Willow. Later Vicky."
"Later Tara," Vicky says with a way to her new friend.
"You wouldn't happen to be talking about a Xander Harris would you?"
"Yeah why do you ask?"
"He saved me a few years ago from a real monster. And I just wanted to thank him for it. Could you two stick around for a bit? I have a break coming up in 15 minutes and I would like to talk to him."
"Sure we can go down to the food court and get some eats. That good enough?"
"That will be great. Thank you very much. It means a lot to me."
"No problems, Xander could probably use the thanks. We don't get it too often."
"You just made an old woman's heart."
"Not a problem," Vicky pauses as she looks at the woman's name tag, "Rachel. Well I got to go or he might venture off on his own. They can't keep still."
Vicky finishes paying for her items and leaves. While Rachel watches her walk away a small tear forms in her eye, "I though I knew him better then anyone." She wipes her eyes and starts getting the area ready to head to break as soon as possible.
Vicky meets up with Xander on a bench facing away from Victoria Secret. She sits down next to him and throws an arm around him. "You okay Suga, the big meanie bras scare you that bad?" she asks in a tone reserved for scared children.
Xander turns to her and looks her up and down, "They weren't that big Vic," he replies with a laugh and a smile.
She removes her arm and smacks him in the shoulder as he laughs out loud. "Let's get some food. I just met a woman that you saved and wants to thank you. So, Mr. Hero lets get some food."
"Okay Vic." They both stand up and make their way to the food court for mall food. They chose a place to sit and ate. Vicky saw Rachel head towards them and just continued eating and chatting with Xander till she was just a few steps away.
"Hello Alexander," Was all she said.
Some color from Xander's face drained away as he heard the words said to him. He stands quickly turning around to see the person. He hasn't seen her in years and is certain it is still too soon for him. Vicky just stares' trying to understand what is happening and if she is at fault for not telling him more.
Xander regains some composure which sets off a chill in Vicky. "Mrs. Harris how are you this fine day." The words were nice but the tone cold enough to stop a lava flow.
"Xander you okay?"
"Just fine Vicky. Just saying hi to someone I haven't seen or wanted to see in years."
Rachel was taken back and could feel her heart start to break again. "Alexander you don't have to be this way. I left him like you said. I got a divorce and cleaned up. You said that before you left you wanted that. I have worked so hard to do it. I though you and I could be together again. Like a family should. It has been so long and so lonely. Please Alexander." Rachel is on the verge of tears.
Xander stares at her indifferent to what she says. "Maybe Mrs. Harris but that was too long ago. My family died years ago. My parents are dead. I was eight when it happened. He hit me while he was drunk and she didn't try and stop him. It was just a bad day for all. Good bye Mrs. Harris." He turned around and walked away from the two women.
Vicky called to him but he kept walking away. She turned to the women with some concern and a little anger. Something was going on around her and with what little she knew was not about to act on it. "You care to tell me what is going? I have seen him do many things but this coldness is very new but I guess it is actually very old just not shown often."
Rachel sat down where Xander was sitting and wiped her eyes. "I was 22 when he was born. Just married to what I thought was a great man. I don't know when or how it happened but he started drinking. Then it continued to get worse. By the time I was 26 he was a full blown alcoholic. I guess to a four year old it would have been the normal thing. Having no memory of him before that time. At 27 I started to join him in drinking. By 30 I was close but never fully bad. I know I was drunk most nights. Then it happened, Alexander was beginning to understand normal families aren't like this. They don't treat each other this way. It is his 8th Christmas. My god I have been drunk for 3 years now. He wanted an Optimus Prime toy. That was it for his list. One item for a holiday where kids asks for hundreds of things he wanted just one. He told me and his dad about wanting it for weeks. Two nights before Christmas he asked his father if Santa would really bring it to him like his friend Jessie said. His dad just back handed and said something to him. I don't remember what it was. I just watched from the couch. My only child was just hit and I was getting up to get another drink. He looked to me thinking I was coming to save him and just walked by to the kitchen. Oh god," she clasps her hands to her face and cries. It took her a couple of minutes but she was able to bring herself partly together. "Two very important things happened that day. He spent the next decade sleeping outside for Christmas and never asked us for anything ever again. Anthony never stopped hitting him. I heard it at night, on weekends, and in the mornings. It seemed Alexander couldn't get away from it. He has condemned us both for it. Sometime around when he was 17 he walked out after a pretty vicious beating over being late or something. He came back a week later and told me if I wanted to be a family to leave with him now and clean up. I just laugh at him. Told him what he could do and watched him turn around and walk to the door. He opened and turned to me. There was so much pain in his eyes. And then he said the most horrible thing to me I think I ever heard 'Goodbye Mrs. Harris, I won't miss you' and he walked out closing the door. A year later it finally hit home what has happen to me. I left Anthony and got a divorced. I went in to groups and meetings. I cleaned up and I am doing well for myself. Not the greatest but better. I am the manager at Victoria Secret now and have a nice apartment for two. I looked for him all over after I head about his graduation. His friend Willow told me he left town and might not ever be coming back."
Vicky stares at Rachel. She didn't know what to do. She just watched as Rachel cried for her lose.
"Why would Santa bring toys to a bastard like you? That is what he said to me."
Both women spin around to see Xander standing there emotionless and expressionless. Just staring at them. "Vicky it is time to go. I wouldn't want Mrs. Harris to set a bad style by being late for her job. Being a manager and all. Someone to look up to and ask for help. Maybe protection from unruly customers they can't protect themselves from. You couldn't do it for flesh and blood. Maybe for strangers you can do it for. Come on Vicky I don't leave my family behind."
"Xander I think." she was cut off with a hard glare from Xander.
"Don't Victoria. Don't ever get involved in this. That woman will never be in the right. She had here chance and through it away. I owe her nothing and want nothing from here. She had a very basic thing to do about her child. She failed and can't make it up." He turns to Rachel. "I buried my parents years ago. I suggest you do the same to your son." He turns and walked off.
Vicky looked to Rachel, "I am sorry Rachel I didn't even know about any of this. He never mentioned a family here other then his friends. I never asked him. I can't do much about it but I will try something. You shouldn't expect anything from it though. He could be right about the family thing."
"I won't give up on it. I did over a decade ago and I can't do it again. I was so lucky to have him. He was a one in a million chance. He was my beautiful baby boy. So happy and carefree. I through it away for a bottle. He is almost nothing like his father. My son is walking away from me now but someday he might walk towards me with a smile."
Vicky nodded to her and walked off to catch up with Xander. She met him by the truck and the both got in and drove off. Vicky turned to Xander and opened her mouth to talk, "Xan."
"Don't Vicky I told you not to get involved and I am serious. Not in this."
"Okay Xan."
They drove off to the Magic Box. In silence.
After lunch Xander and Vicky head to the mall to relax for a bit. They casually walk around the shops and pick up some clothes to replace their diminished stock.
"Trust me Xan some tight leather pants hugging you ass would look great."
"No thanks Vic I am just going to stick to the nice cotton kind. I see the leather and I think of Deadboy. And I don't want to think of him hugging my ass."
Vic smirks at Xander and smiles, "You could also think it was me and be all the better."
Xander turns to Vic with his grin, "You buy a push up and image it is me holding them and I will think about it."
Vicky just stares at him with a shock look on her face before she recovers, "How do you know I don't already?"
Xander stutters and just looks away. Vicky continues to walk pushing her chest out a little with the smile of the cat that got the canary.
"You win Vic. No more talk of clothing and hugging. We can finish up her and then go back to The Magic Box to meet with the group and talk to Faith."
Vicky frowns a little but is understanding that it has to be done. She can still hope for her own happy ending. "One more stop at V.S. and we are golden."
"V.S. where is that in this place. It doesn't sound familiar."
"The mall map says it is around the corner and to the left."
"But the only thing down there is," a scared look comes over his face, "no Vic not there. Please. You can't make me go in there. I don't go in there for anyone. Men do not belong in that store. Trust me we get looked at funny and pray to god no one walks out of a changing room. You wouldn't make me."
"You owe me Suga. After what I did last night. And besides you're a guy and would know what I would look good in." Vicky say to him with a smile which quickly turns to a pout, "please Xan. If you don't I might not look pretty enough for the college boys and I can't have that."
Xander look at her and already knew he lost this one. "Fine but if I get one strange look I am outta here. No force on Earth could stop me. Not even you Slayer."
"If you say so Suga," Vicky then wraps his arm in hers and together the walk through the archway of Victoria Secret. Her smile never left her face through out the store as she picked out a few things her and there and model two push ups for Xander which he quickly left the store and waited outside. She laughs all the way to the register to pay for her clothes.
"Your boyfriend going to be okay?" said the clerk.
Vicky was going to correct but didn't, "You know men. Talk all big and bad about what would you look good in but bring them in and show a few ideas and they run for the hills. Or at least away from them." Vicky and the clerk just laugh together about the short coming of men.
Tara walked up behind the laughing Slayer, "Vicky how is it going?"
Vicky turned around and smiled to Tara, "Just find actually. Had to bring Xander home from the bar last night. You know men. You let them out for a late night with their friends and they wreck a bar and stupid people get hurt. He was find just needed some TLC this morning. He got it in spades. Of course he wont be going out for a while." With that she started laughing and the clerk joined in for that one also.
"You got that right miss," the clerk said in between laughs.
Tara just looks at the two and chuckles a little. "Willow and I are shopping here for a few things and I saw you and wanted to know about Xander. I guess you two are going to be back to the Magic Shop later."
"Yeah Tara we will. He needs to talk about a few things and such. You know guy things."
"Not really but sounds good. Well I got some things to try on and get Willow. Later Vicky."
"Later Tara," Vicky says with a way to her new friend.
"You wouldn't happen to be talking about a Xander Harris would you?"
"Yeah why do you ask?"
"He saved me a few years ago from a real monster. And I just wanted to thank him for it. Could you two stick around for a bit? I have a break coming up in 15 minutes and I would like to talk to him."
"Sure we can go down to the food court and get some eats. That good enough?"
"That will be great. Thank you very much. It means a lot to me."
"No problems, Xander could probably use the thanks. We don't get it too often."
"You just made an old woman's heart."
"Not a problem," Vicky pauses as she looks at the woman's name tag, "Rachel. Well I got to go or he might venture off on his own. They can't keep still."
Vicky finishes paying for her items and leaves. While Rachel watches her walk away a small tear forms in her eye, "I though I knew him better then anyone." She wipes her eyes and starts getting the area ready to head to break as soon as possible.
Vicky meets up with Xander on a bench facing away from Victoria Secret. She sits down next to him and throws an arm around him. "You okay Suga, the big meanie bras scare you that bad?" she asks in a tone reserved for scared children.
Xander turns to her and looks her up and down, "They weren't that big Vic," he replies with a laugh and a smile.
She removes her arm and smacks him in the shoulder as he laughs out loud. "Let's get some food. I just met a woman that you saved and wants to thank you. So, Mr. Hero lets get some food."
"Okay Vic." They both stand up and make their way to the food court for mall food. They chose a place to sit and ate. Vicky saw Rachel head towards them and just continued eating and chatting with Xander till she was just a few steps away.
"Hello Alexander," Was all she said.
Some color from Xander's face drained away as he heard the words said to him. He stands quickly turning around to see the person. He hasn't seen her in years and is certain it is still too soon for him. Vicky just stares' trying to understand what is happening and if she is at fault for not telling him more.
Xander regains some composure which sets off a chill in Vicky. "Mrs. Harris how are you this fine day." The words were nice but the tone cold enough to stop a lava flow.
"Xander you okay?"
"Just fine Vicky. Just saying hi to someone I haven't seen or wanted to see in years."
Rachel was taken back and could feel her heart start to break again. "Alexander you don't have to be this way. I left him like you said. I got a divorce and cleaned up. You said that before you left you wanted that. I have worked so hard to do it. I though you and I could be together again. Like a family should. It has been so long and so lonely. Please Alexander." Rachel is on the verge of tears.
Xander stares at her indifferent to what she says. "Maybe Mrs. Harris but that was too long ago. My family died years ago. My parents are dead. I was eight when it happened. He hit me while he was drunk and she didn't try and stop him. It was just a bad day for all. Good bye Mrs. Harris." He turned around and walked away from the two women.
Vicky called to him but he kept walking away. She turned to the women with some concern and a little anger. Something was going on around her and with what little she knew was not about to act on it. "You care to tell me what is going? I have seen him do many things but this coldness is very new but I guess it is actually very old just not shown often."
Rachel sat down where Xander was sitting and wiped her eyes. "I was 22 when he was born. Just married to what I thought was a great man. I don't know when or how it happened but he started drinking. Then it continued to get worse. By the time I was 26 he was a full blown alcoholic. I guess to a four year old it would have been the normal thing. Having no memory of him before that time. At 27 I started to join him in drinking. By 30 I was close but never fully bad. I know I was drunk most nights. Then it happened, Alexander was beginning to understand normal families aren't like this. They don't treat each other this way. It is his 8th Christmas. My god I have been drunk for 3 years now. He wanted an Optimus Prime toy. That was it for his list. One item for a holiday where kids asks for hundreds of things he wanted just one. He told me and his dad about wanting it for weeks. Two nights before Christmas he asked his father if Santa would really bring it to him like his friend Jessie said. His dad just back handed and said something to him. I don't remember what it was. I just watched from the couch. My only child was just hit and I was getting up to get another drink. He looked to me thinking I was coming to save him and just walked by to the kitchen. Oh god," she clasps her hands to her face and cries. It took her a couple of minutes but she was able to bring herself partly together. "Two very important things happened that day. He spent the next decade sleeping outside for Christmas and never asked us for anything ever again. Anthony never stopped hitting him. I heard it at night, on weekends, and in the mornings. It seemed Alexander couldn't get away from it. He has condemned us both for it. Sometime around when he was 17 he walked out after a pretty vicious beating over being late or something. He came back a week later and told me if I wanted to be a family to leave with him now and clean up. I just laugh at him. Told him what he could do and watched him turn around and walk to the door. He opened and turned to me. There was so much pain in his eyes. And then he said the most horrible thing to me I think I ever heard 'Goodbye Mrs. Harris, I won't miss you' and he walked out closing the door. A year later it finally hit home what has happen to me. I left Anthony and got a divorced. I went in to groups and meetings. I cleaned up and I am doing well for myself. Not the greatest but better. I am the manager at Victoria Secret now and have a nice apartment for two. I looked for him all over after I head about his graduation. His friend Willow told me he left town and might not ever be coming back."
Vicky stares at Rachel. She didn't know what to do. She just watched as Rachel cried for her lose.
"Why would Santa bring toys to a bastard like you? That is what he said to me."
Both women spin around to see Xander standing there emotionless and expressionless. Just staring at them. "Vicky it is time to go. I wouldn't want Mrs. Harris to set a bad style by being late for her job. Being a manager and all. Someone to look up to and ask for help. Maybe protection from unruly customers they can't protect themselves from. You couldn't do it for flesh and blood. Maybe for strangers you can do it for. Come on Vicky I don't leave my family behind."
"Xander I think." she was cut off with a hard glare from Xander.
"Don't Victoria. Don't ever get involved in this. That woman will never be in the right. She had here chance and through it away. I owe her nothing and want nothing from here. She had a very basic thing to do about her child. She failed and can't make it up." He turns to Rachel. "I buried my parents years ago. I suggest you do the same to your son." He turns and walked off.
Vicky looked to Rachel, "I am sorry Rachel I didn't even know about any of this. He never mentioned a family here other then his friends. I never asked him. I can't do much about it but I will try something. You shouldn't expect anything from it though. He could be right about the family thing."
"I won't give up on it. I did over a decade ago and I can't do it again. I was so lucky to have him. He was a one in a million chance. He was my beautiful baby boy. So happy and carefree. I through it away for a bottle. He is almost nothing like his father. My son is walking away from me now but someday he might walk towards me with a smile."
Vicky nodded to her and walked off to catch up with Xander. She met him by the truck and the both got in and drove off. Vicky turned to Xander and opened her mouth to talk, "Xan."
"Don't Vicky I told you not to get involved and I am serious. Not in this."
"Okay Xan."
They drove off to the Magic Box. In silence.