That evening
Xander knocked on the door and waited for someone to open the door.
"Hello, Xander. Please come in," said the nice and gentle voice of Joyce after she had opened the door.
"Thank you, Mrs Summers."
Joyce smiled. "Would you like something to drink? A lemonade, coke or a cup of coffee?"
Xander chuckled inwardly, thinking about Giles. "A tea would be nice, Mrs. Summers."
Both were sitting down with a hot cup of tea in their hand.
"Xander, what can I do for you?" Joyce asked.
Xander shied away a bit. "Uh, well, I don't know how to ask this . . . but there is a favor I wanted to ask you."
Joyce smiled warmly at him. "You don't have to ask for any favor of me. Of course I grand it you, no matter what it is . . . if it's within my abilities."
Xander blinked, surprised. "Oh, thank you. It's is about, uh, Faith. She is . . . is . . ."
Joyce smile widened and interrupted him gently. "She is good again. Yes, Xander, I know. Faith told me. You brought her back," she said with soft awe in her voice.
"Uh, yes . . . She is, she lived in this Motel and it is lousy and dirty and . . . I . . . when this Mayor thing is . . ." he stuttered.
Joyce face simply brightened. "You want to ask me if she can live here, isn't it? When all this is over."
Xander simply nodded, still a bit embarrassed.
"I expected you to come sooner or later," Joyce confessed with pride in her soft tone and continued, "Of course I will, if you really want. But why not with you, if I may ask? I got the impression that the two of you like each other and have grown close."
Xander blinked again and he flushed. "I live, uh . . . I live in a basement and my parents, well, uh, they are not really the welcoming comity."
Joyce saw the hidden fear and embarrassment behind his words and in his eyes. She stood up and sat down next to him and laid a hand on his shoulder. "You can tell me, Xander," she said sympathetically.
Xander trembled at her touch, but quickly a lot of tension flew away with her words, although some stayed. "I, uh . . . I don't know how . . ."
Joyce looked at him in the eyes. "Faith came here that night with Buffy after the prom. Buffy was completely lost and I brought her to bed. Then Faith and I had a long talk. About her past, her coming here, her lure to the Mayor, about Buffy and her friends and most of all about you. What you mean to Faith and . . . what Buffy means for you. I was shocked to learn what you have done for my daughter . . ." A small tear appeared in her eyes as she swallowed and then she kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you," she barely could speak as his her lower lip trembled.
Xander was completely stunned, this was the last thing he had expected. "I . . . I don't know what to say . . ."
She laid her hand on his cheek. "You don't have too, Xander." Then she looked away, somewhat embarrassed herself, "Faith also told me the way Buffy has treated you . . . If I would have known this earlier, I would have taught her an important lesson in life." She shook her head. "She had a hard time in Los Angeles and then with Angel . . . But that's no excuse. I should have seen her behavior by now. I shouldn't have talked with Angel, I should have talked with her. She really needs to grow up and accept that the world doesn't turn around her alone."
Xander looked at her, not knowing what to say, "I, uh, it's alright, Mrs. Summers. It's not as bad as Faith told you it is and you're a perfect mother, so . . ."
Joyce interrupted him gently. "That's precisely what I thought you would say. But your loyalty doesn't cover it, Xander. Even with that half truth, it's still bad. I need to have a talk with her."
Xander got a bit scared and Joyce noticed it.
"Xander, don't worry. You're not to blame, it's not your fault. I know she cares for you and considers you as family. I love her very much, Xander. It really hurts me to do it, but it's time that I have a talk her, see that you get more of the respect you deserve." She looked at the increased worry on his face and smiled sweetly, it calmed Xander a bit. "Don't worry, Xander, she will not blame you for it. Faith is the one who mentioned it." She shook her head. "And Giles too."
"Giles?" Xander asked nervously.
Joyce nodded. "I talked with him. Faith told me how he has treated you and the rest of the group as well. And he should have informed me what had happened. He should have helped you, Faith and the others. My trust in him was damaged and needed to be repaired."
Xander's eyes widened, when he saw some fury flashing in her eyes. He felt sorry for Giles . . . "He did, Mrs. Summers, he talked with me last night . . ."
Xander saw her calm down. "Good!" she exclaimed.
He wanted to relax, but hesitated. Joyce saw still another worry in his face that didn't want to go away and her face went immediately into a concerned asking mode. "What is it, Xander? Something else?"
Xander looked somewhat embarrassed at her.
"Uh, yes . . . it's . . . it's Willow . . . I had thought I lost her with this whole Faith thing and if I lose Buffy then . . . they are everything I've got, Mrs Summers, I can't live without them, I would lose myself."
Joyce looked very sympathetically at him. How could she made clear that someone like him wouldn't have to worry. "Everything turned out right with Willow, didn't it?'
Xander blinked. "Uh, yes . . . it did."
Joyce smiled at his surprise. "She never told you how, did she?" Xander shook his head. "She is scared and a bit jealous, Xander. She is also afraid that Faith will would hurt you again. She didn't trust her."
She sighed a little. "I knew that there would be problems between them, they are so different, and they both consider you as their best friend. So, I came over to school today and talked to her, together with Faith. I guess she is still embarrassed by it."
Xander was more calm now by her explanation, he even had to chuckle lightly about Willow's embarrassment.
"You see, Xander. Buffy will react the same, I'm sure."
At the more relaxed expression on Xander's face she decided to talk about Xander's request. She sighed. "Faith's past isn't great. It's horrible and she deserves better. What you did to bring her back isn't only about bravery, trust and an amazing heart." She looked more intense at him. "You know what it is what you did that brought her back?"
Xander shook his head. He asked it himself many times, but never figured out why she suddenly joined him. "Uh . . . I . . . I just rumbled somewhat and uh, no, I don't know to be honest."
"You saw behind her mask, what she really is, a strong, but scared woman who needed a capable person to trust. That's *how* you were able to bring her back, Xander. She realized that she finally had found someone she had confidence in, a strong, caring and warm friend." She looked at his face and saw a stunned one and then she suddenly realized why Xander was so scared about her facing Buffy and why he was so loyal. "You're not used to compliments, are you? Or is it something else?"
Xander who came back from his little shock, tried to speak. "N- n . . . Y . . . yes," he confessed. Xander was a bit embarrassed again.
Joyce nodded. "I thought so, you want to have friends who like you for what you are. Not for what you can be or are able of. Not for what you do for them. Not for your past, status or anything else. Simply Xander for being Xander. With all his mistakes included. Just the way you accept the mistakes from your friends."
Xander blinked, surprised and slowly nodded.
"True friendship," Joyce stated. "Buffy sees you that way too, Xander . .. But I don't have to tell you that. You already know it." They were silent for a short moment before Joyce continued. "Do you want to talk about your parents?" Joyce asked again, gently.
Xander face paled again. Joyce saw his scare and continued. "Xander, if you can't stay with your parents, you need a place to stay when you and Faith go to the University."
Xander blinked.
"Yes, I know, Xander. It was Faith's idea, actually. She wants to make something of her life. Giles agreed . . . he talked with you about it?"
Xander nodded. "Faith's idea?" he asked, surprised.
"She saw how you helped Cordelia. You gave your last money for the application for her study at Cambridge. Together with Giles, Wesley and my talk with the Council it was enough to convince Wesley's uncle to arrange for her the grant."
"*You* talked with the Council?" Xander asked, stunned.
Joyce smiled. "They don't face an angry mother that often," she said as she thought back at the face of Quentin Travers, he was even more scared then Giles. "Especially with an pissed off Slayer at my side."
Joyce chuckled at his amazed look and continued. "You have a very positive influence on Faith. She looks at you as her point of light. She said that you are her White Knight." Her face smiled brightly at Xander, when she watched his amazed face and continued. "She wants to sell her necklace, her dress and shoes for money and give it all away. Like you did for Cordelia. She wants to give it to the victims of Kakistos and the victims of the Mayor. She wants to get rid of her past and do good again, Xander. Everything that can bring her through the difficult time she is facing. She even helped Buffy. Thanks to you she able to show how amazing she is. You're a wonderful friend."
Xander didn't know what to say anymore. He was stunned silent, again, by her praise.
Joyce waited for a moment and then continued in a motherly tone, "Please, Xander. Tell me about you parents."
Xander stuttered and was interrupted by Joyce with a nice and gentle tone and her eyes radiated warmth, "I'm your friend, Xander . . ."
*****
"This is in my life in a nutshell, Mrs. Summers," Xander finished his story.
Joyce had no words for it and was shocked and amazed. Shocked about his parents and his youth. Amazed by the way he had said it. He had told her everything, calm and without remorse, only some traces of sadness. His parents stayed his parents and there was no hatred for them. She was silent for a while and then spoke gently, staring in his eyes.
"Xander, you are welcome here, whenever you want. You and Faith!"
Xander was overwhelmed with joy and warmth. Such kindness was unknown to him, except from Willow and from Buffy sometimes.
Joyce saw his wetted eyes and surprised face. "You don't have to thank me, Xander. And please, don't call me Mrs. Summers anymore. Joyce or mom will suffice."
This was enough to let some tears break loose and made Joyce smile.
"Now about Faith. She loves you. I know you love Buffy and no matter how much I would like to see you two together, Faith is the better choice for you. If you love her back and from what I can tell you do."
Xander nodded slowly. "Uh, yes, I think I do . . ."
"Then go talk with to her," Joyce almost demanded with her wide eyes, but sweetly.
"Yes, Mrs . . . uh, Joyce." Xander said while she corrected him with a frowning face.
*****
The moment Xander had left her house she picked up the phone and dialed a number. With a serious tone she spoke, "Hello, Mr. Giles . . . Mr. Giles, you don't have to excuse anymore. I have talked to Xander . . . Yes, I think we have convinced him to go to the university. . . I want speak with Buffy tonight . . . alone."
Xander knocked on the door and waited for someone to open the door.
"Hello, Xander. Please come in," said the nice and gentle voice of Joyce after she had opened the door.
"Thank you, Mrs Summers."
Joyce smiled. "Would you like something to drink? A lemonade, coke or a cup of coffee?"
Xander chuckled inwardly, thinking about Giles. "A tea would be nice, Mrs. Summers."
Both were sitting down with a hot cup of tea in their hand.
"Xander, what can I do for you?" Joyce asked.
Xander shied away a bit. "Uh, well, I don't know how to ask this . . . but there is a favor I wanted to ask you."
Joyce smiled warmly at him. "You don't have to ask for any favor of me. Of course I grand it you, no matter what it is . . . if it's within my abilities."
Xander blinked, surprised. "Oh, thank you. It's is about, uh, Faith. She is . . . is . . ."
Joyce smile widened and interrupted him gently. "She is good again. Yes, Xander, I know. Faith told me. You brought her back," she said with soft awe in her voice.
"Uh, yes . . . She is, she lived in this Motel and it is lousy and dirty and . . . I . . . when this Mayor thing is . . ." he stuttered.
Joyce face simply brightened. "You want to ask me if she can live here, isn't it? When all this is over."
Xander simply nodded, still a bit embarrassed.
"I expected you to come sooner or later," Joyce confessed with pride in her soft tone and continued, "Of course I will, if you really want. But why not with you, if I may ask? I got the impression that the two of you like each other and have grown close."
Xander blinked again and he flushed. "I live, uh . . . I live in a basement and my parents, well, uh, they are not really the welcoming comity."
Joyce saw the hidden fear and embarrassment behind his words and in his eyes. She stood up and sat down next to him and laid a hand on his shoulder. "You can tell me, Xander," she said sympathetically.
Xander trembled at her touch, but quickly a lot of tension flew away with her words, although some stayed. "I, uh . . . I don't know how . . ."
Joyce looked at him in the eyes. "Faith came here that night with Buffy after the prom. Buffy was completely lost and I brought her to bed. Then Faith and I had a long talk. About her past, her coming here, her lure to the Mayor, about Buffy and her friends and most of all about you. What you mean to Faith and . . . what Buffy means for you. I was shocked to learn what you have done for my daughter . . ." A small tear appeared in her eyes as she swallowed and then she kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you," she barely could speak as his her lower lip trembled.
Xander was completely stunned, this was the last thing he had expected. "I . . . I don't know what to say . . ."
She laid her hand on his cheek. "You don't have too, Xander." Then she looked away, somewhat embarrassed herself, "Faith also told me the way Buffy has treated you . . . If I would have known this earlier, I would have taught her an important lesson in life." She shook her head. "She had a hard time in Los Angeles and then with Angel . . . But that's no excuse. I should have seen her behavior by now. I shouldn't have talked with Angel, I should have talked with her. She really needs to grow up and accept that the world doesn't turn around her alone."
Xander looked at her, not knowing what to say, "I, uh, it's alright, Mrs. Summers. It's not as bad as Faith told you it is and you're a perfect mother, so . . ."
Joyce interrupted him gently. "That's precisely what I thought you would say. But your loyalty doesn't cover it, Xander. Even with that half truth, it's still bad. I need to have a talk with her."
Xander got a bit scared and Joyce noticed it.
"Xander, don't worry. You're not to blame, it's not your fault. I know she cares for you and considers you as family. I love her very much, Xander. It really hurts me to do it, but it's time that I have a talk her, see that you get more of the respect you deserve." She looked at the increased worry on his face and smiled sweetly, it calmed Xander a bit. "Don't worry, Xander, she will not blame you for it. Faith is the one who mentioned it." She shook her head. "And Giles too."
"Giles?" Xander asked nervously.
Joyce nodded. "I talked with him. Faith told me how he has treated you and the rest of the group as well. And he should have informed me what had happened. He should have helped you, Faith and the others. My trust in him was damaged and needed to be repaired."
Xander's eyes widened, when he saw some fury flashing in her eyes. He felt sorry for Giles . . . "He did, Mrs. Summers, he talked with me last night . . ."
Xander saw her calm down. "Good!" she exclaimed.
He wanted to relax, but hesitated. Joyce saw still another worry in his face that didn't want to go away and her face went immediately into a concerned asking mode. "What is it, Xander? Something else?"
Xander looked somewhat embarrassed at her.
"Uh, yes . . . it's . . . it's Willow . . . I had thought I lost her with this whole Faith thing and if I lose Buffy then . . . they are everything I've got, Mrs Summers, I can't live without them, I would lose myself."
Joyce looked very sympathetically at him. How could she made clear that someone like him wouldn't have to worry. "Everything turned out right with Willow, didn't it?'
Xander blinked. "Uh, yes . . . it did."
Joyce smiled at his surprise. "She never told you how, did she?" Xander shook his head. "She is scared and a bit jealous, Xander. She is also afraid that Faith will would hurt you again. She didn't trust her."
She sighed a little. "I knew that there would be problems between them, they are so different, and they both consider you as their best friend. So, I came over to school today and talked to her, together with Faith. I guess she is still embarrassed by it."
Xander was more calm now by her explanation, he even had to chuckle lightly about Willow's embarrassment.
"You see, Xander. Buffy will react the same, I'm sure."
At the more relaxed expression on Xander's face she decided to talk about Xander's request. She sighed. "Faith's past isn't great. It's horrible and she deserves better. What you did to bring her back isn't only about bravery, trust and an amazing heart." She looked more intense at him. "You know what it is what you did that brought her back?"
Xander shook his head. He asked it himself many times, but never figured out why she suddenly joined him. "Uh . . . I . . . I just rumbled somewhat and uh, no, I don't know to be honest."
"You saw behind her mask, what she really is, a strong, but scared woman who needed a capable person to trust. That's *how* you were able to bring her back, Xander. She realized that she finally had found someone she had confidence in, a strong, caring and warm friend." She looked at his face and saw a stunned one and then she suddenly realized why Xander was so scared about her facing Buffy and why he was so loyal. "You're not used to compliments, are you? Or is it something else?"
Xander who came back from his little shock, tried to speak. "N- n . . . Y . . . yes," he confessed. Xander was a bit embarrassed again.
Joyce nodded. "I thought so, you want to have friends who like you for what you are. Not for what you can be or are able of. Not for what you do for them. Not for your past, status or anything else. Simply Xander for being Xander. With all his mistakes included. Just the way you accept the mistakes from your friends."
Xander blinked, surprised and slowly nodded.
"True friendship," Joyce stated. "Buffy sees you that way too, Xander . .. But I don't have to tell you that. You already know it." They were silent for a short moment before Joyce continued. "Do you want to talk about your parents?" Joyce asked again, gently.
Xander face paled again. Joyce saw his scare and continued. "Xander, if you can't stay with your parents, you need a place to stay when you and Faith go to the University."
Xander blinked.
"Yes, I know, Xander. It was Faith's idea, actually. She wants to make something of her life. Giles agreed . . . he talked with you about it?"
Xander nodded. "Faith's idea?" he asked, surprised.
"She saw how you helped Cordelia. You gave your last money for the application for her study at Cambridge. Together with Giles, Wesley and my talk with the Council it was enough to convince Wesley's uncle to arrange for her the grant."
"*You* talked with the Council?" Xander asked, stunned.
Joyce smiled. "They don't face an angry mother that often," she said as she thought back at the face of Quentin Travers, he was even more scared then Giles. "Especially with an pissed off Slayer at my side."
Joyce chuckled at his amazed look and continued. "You have a very positive influence on Faith. She looks at you as her point of light. She said that you are her White Knight." Her face smiled brightly at Xander, when she watched his amazed face and continued. "She wants to sell her necklace, her dress and shoes for money and give it all away. Like you did for Cordelia. She wants to give it to the victims of Kakistos and the victims of the Mayor. She wants to get rid of her past and do good again, Xander. Everything that can bring her through the difficult time she is facing. She even helped Buffy. Thanks to you she able to show how amazing she is. You're a wonderful friend."
Xander didn't know what to say anymore. He was stunned silent, again, by her praise.
Joyce waited for a moment and then continued in a motherly tone, "Please, Xander. Tell me about you parents."
Xander stuttered and was interrupted by Joyce with a nice and gentle tone and her eyes radiated warmth, "I'm your friend, Xander . . ."
*****
"This is in my life in a nutshell, Mrs. Summers," Xander finished his story.
Joyce had no words for it and was shocked and amazed. Shocked about his parents and his youth. Amazed by the way he had said it. He had told her everything, calm and without remorse, only some traces of sadness. His parents stayed his parents and there was no hatred for them. She was silent for a while and then spoke gently, staring in his eyes.
"Xander, you are welcome here, whenever you want. You and Faith!"
Xander was overwhelmed with joy and warmth. Such kindness was unknown to him, except from Willow and from Buffy sometimes.
Joyce saw his wetted eyes and surprised face. "You don't have to thank me, Xander. And please, don't call me Mrs. Summers anymore. Joyce or mom will suffice."
This was enough to let some tears break loose and made Joyce smile.
"Now about Faith. She loves you. I know you love Buffy and no matter how much I would like to see you two together, Faith is the better choice for you. If you love her back and from what I can tell you do."
Xander nodded slowly. "Uh, yes, I think I do . . ."
"Then go talk with to her," Joyce almost demanded with her wide eyes, but sweetly.
"Yes, Mrs . . . uh, Joyce." Xander said while she corrected him with a frowning face.
*****
The moment Xander had left her house she picked up the phone and dialed a number. With a serious tone she spoke, "Hello, Mr. Giles . . . Mr. Giles, you don't have to excuse anymore. I have talked to Xander . . . Yes, I think we have convinced him to go to the university. . . I want speak with Buffy tonight . . . alone."