A/N : Well, it's almost the end of this fic. I have one more chapter and an epilogue to write after this. Thanks to everone who reviewed the previous chapter; sweeto3baybee, SpIkEs AnGeL, Shy, SouthernRain, Veggie-Babu-chan, buffspike, Courtney37, nice to know you're all still enjoying this. Now I think it's time for Xander to tell his mother what she really needs to be told... Enjoy! ;-)

(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 19 - Truth Be Told

Lady Joyce's quiet reverie was broken as the double doors burst open, making her physically jump in her seat. She turned to see her son framed in the doorway, arms firmly folded over his chest.

"Mom" he said sternly "we need to talk..."

"Alexander, whatever is going on?" his mother snapped in outrage, planning to stand up but finding she didn't have the strength right now, so she stayed seated as her son came toward her.

"Your daughter just did the most sensible thing she ever did in her life" he informed her "She left this place, with the man she loves, William Giles"

"That ruffian!" Lady Joyce wailed "He assaulted the O'Connor's boy"

"Assaulted?" Xander reached incredulously "He hit him once, and I don't blame him" he explained "Angel hit him first, and he basically called your daughter a whore! You expect Spike to stand by and not do something about it?!" he was appalled by his mothers attitude, and had been for so long. All the emotion had built up to a point where it had to escape and my God how Xander was going to enjoy this.

"She may not be what he called her" his mother said nastily "but she's a disgrace to this family, our good name will be dragged through the mud because of her and her unsavoury boyfriend"

"Unsavoury?" Xander would have laughed if he wasn't so angry "He's the son of a wealthy man same as Angel, not that it matters" he made sure he added that "And falling in love is disgraceful now? Think about what you're saying Mom" he begged her, before adding "that's if you can think at all after all that alcohol"

He didn't see her hand coming, just heard the sound and felt the impact as she slapped him right across the face. He blinked at her, as she covered her mouth with her hand, shocked by her own action.

"Oh Alex" she said, with tears in her eyes "I'm sorry"

"My name isn't Alex" her son told her, feeling less angry and more upset than anything else right now "it's Xander, and your daughter's name is Buffy. If you'd have spent any time with us then you would know that" he said sadly, turning his back on her as he tried to retain his composure.

"I'm sorry" she mumbled again, but it was all too late.

"Do you even care about us at all?" Xander had to ask as he turned back to face her, tears in his eyes as well as hers.

"Of course I do..." she forced out but his anger was fast returning, he was a child again, being ignored by the one person he really needed...

"No, no you really don't, do you?" he said, getting louder again "This is all you care about" he told her, holding up the nearest bottle of spirit "and you can't keep blaming dad..."

"He left me" she interrupted sharply as her son slammed the bottle back down on the table.

"He died Mom" Xander reminded her "Yeah, he left all of us, and when we weren't even seven years old" he choked out, emotions running almost too high to handle "but he never wanted to, you know that" his volume dropped as tried to make her see why he was so upset and why Buffy had not turned out the way she thought "Back then we needed you but you didn't want us, just a few glasses of Smirnoff's finest and you were just great. All that mattered was who we married and how much money we ended up with" he said sadly, watching as she forced back tears and put down the drink that had been in her hand until now.

"Liam was a good match for her" she said, her voice quiet and unsteady. Xander shook his head.

"No, Mom, his money was a good thing for you" he repeated "She doesn't love him, she loves Spike and he loves her. I've never seen her so destroyed as she was when she thought she'd never see him again. I don't think she could live without him now she's found him"

"Don't be ridiculous" Joyce said without thinking, just like she always did. Xander laughed, mostly at her and how ironic it was for her to be calling him ridiculous, when the other way around would be closer to the truth.

"I'm ridiculous now?" he said with a shrug "Well, there are worse things to be" he sighed in defeat, heading for the door. He thought he could get through to her, but clearly she was never going to see what he meant. "You want my advice" he said, turning back from the door briefly "call your daughter and make your peace with her now before it's too late, if you don't, you'll regret it" he didn't quite make it out the door before he decided to add one final thing "Oh and by the way, Willow Rosenburg, y'know the housekeepers daughter?" he asked his shocked mother, who nodded dumbly "I'm in love with her, and one day I might just marry her, with or without your consent. Just thought you might like to know" he ended practically in a whisper as he swept out of the door, slamming it behind him.

On the other side, he took a deep breath and ran a hand over his face. His cheek burned from the slap she'd given him and his eyes stung with unshed tears, but he'd said what needed to be said, and that was all that mattered right now.

"Hey" a voice said off to his side and Xander had never been so pleased to see Willow in his life. He hugged her close, so grateful for her presence in that moment.

"I heard some of what you said" she admitted as they looked at each other, still holding on tightly "Did you mean it?" she had to ask "What you said about loving me and...everything?"

"Every word" he promised her, further proving the sincerity of his affections with a kiss that made her knees go weak.

"So what do you think?" he asked her afterwards "You wanna marry me one day? Even though I might be disinherited as of now" he smiled and rolled his eyes.

"Xander, I never loved you for your money, never" she told him truthfully "And yes, I will marry you, if you want me too" she smiled, practically giddy from the excitement and love she felt.

"Oh Will, I've never wanted anything else so much in my life" her boyfriend told her, right before he kissed her again.

* * * * *

Over at the Giles' residence, Buffy and Spike had finally finished telling his father the entire story of how they met and everything that had happened. From Lady Joyce's drinking to Buffy's escape for what should have been just one night, her engagement to Angel and neither of them ever knowing that the other was of their high social standing. It was a long story full of ups and downs, and they both learned a thing or two about each other too. The most shocked person though had to be Giles.

"My heavens" he commented as he polished his glasses for what must have been the hundredth time "that is quite a tale the pair of you have"

"I can't believe you're allowed to go out the way you do" Buffy said to Spike, having learned that his father allowed him to go out whenever he liked without worrying about a reputation at all.

"I wasn't born into this gig like you were, pet" Spike pointed out "Dad made his millions whilst I was growing up. There was no way I was ever going to be some respectable ponce twenty-four seven!" he looked disugted at the very idea and Giles rolled his eyes at what he believed to be his son's hideous abuse of the English language.

"Indeed" he nodded "I see no reason why William should not be his own person and do what he chooses, just because I was lucky enough to make my fortune"

"I wish my Mom thought the way you do" Buffy told him somewhat sadly. She'd been born and brought up like a lady should be, never being a real child or an average teen. She was almost jealous that Spike had that chance.

"My dear, Miss Summers..." Giles addressed her formally and she giggled.

"Call me Buffy, please" she told him, not wanting to be that lady anymore, and knowing she could be who she really was with these people.

"My dear Buffy" Giles amended "if William cares so very much for you, I have absolutely no problems at all with you staying here as long as you wish" he assured her with a smile "It is not as if we are lacking in space or funds" he pointed out unnecessarily, Buffy had noted for herself that the house was almost as big as her own "but I do think you will have to face your mother at some point" the Englishman reminded her and Buffy nodded.

"I know" she admitted "and thankyou Sir Giles, I appreciate all that you're doing for me. This must seem really crazy to you" she realised.

"Please Buffy, just call me Giles" he corrected her "and in any case I have come to redefine words such as crazy since I fathered this boy" he gestured towards to Spike who made a kind of snorting sound and looked mock-offended.

"If loving her makes me crazy, lock me up now" he declared, "Cos I don't ever want to be sane"

Buffy blushed as he squeezed her hand. It was kind of embarrassing having him say such things in front of Giles, but she did appreciate the sentiment. As impossible as it ought to be, she had fallen in love in such a short time and with someone she hardly knew, but now they had all the time in the world to be together and be happy.

"Well, I think it might perhaps be a good idea if we all got some sleep" Giles pointed out as he glanced at the clock. He stood up as he continued "Buffy, I'll have a spare room made up for you close to William's if you would like"

"Thankyou Giles" she smiled, also standing up and reaching to place a kiss on his cheek "You're very kind" she told him with a smile, which he returned in kind before leaving the two young people alone for a moment.

"I can't believe all this is happening" Buffy shook her head in disbelief at the nights events as Spike stood up beside her.

"Not exactly how I planned my evening either, luv" he admitted, taking her in his arms "Can't tell you how much it hurt when you left me standing behind that cinema" he said, expression almost as pained as it had been then, as his fingers played with her hair.

"I'm sorry" she told him again, knowing how much she had hurt herself and having no doubt it had been just as bad if not worse for him, not knowing why "I never wanted to, but my Mom..." she tried to explain, tears in her eyes that Spike hated to see.

"It's okay, pet" he interrupted "I understand that now, it's just at the time, all I knew was I loved you and I was losing you" he said quietly, looking into her eyes.

"Well, you'll never lose me again" she told him, her hand on his cheek "I promise" she added as he dipped his head and kissed her softly, making her forget, for a while at least, that she would probably have her mother to face in the morning...

To Be Continued...