Disclaimer: Not mine, never were. Slash E/V, if you don't like don't read.
A.N. Huge apologies to everyone for the loooooong delay in updating and the short chapter. Real life has been mega stressful lately and I've barely had time to do things like eat and sleep, let alone write. But, I thought you guys would want a little something to let you know I'm not giving up on this story, rather than more silence while I worked on a longer chapter. So here you go.
Xander nodded in agreement and whispered, "thanks". He watched Ezra and Vin walk further down the hall and open a door on the right-hand side of the hallway. After they went inside, Xander shut his door and looked around the room. It was nice, done in light blues and pale creams. The bed was just a small twin, but it looked real comfortable, and Xander pulled down the sky blue covers, toed off his shoes, and snuggled into the pillows. He was asleep almost before his eyes shut.
Down the hall Vin was talking to Chris, "Yep, that's what I said, brother. Wanted to let you know I was gonna take the rest of the day off and help Ezra get this sorted out. Uh huh, I'll tell him. Thanks, Chris". Vin snapped close his cell phone and turned to see Ezra staring off into space. Vin knew his lover was thinking hard about everything Xander had told him. "Hey," Vin whispered, "What's going on in that big brain of yours?"
Ezra turned troubled green eyes on his lover; "I was considering how much our lives would change if a teenager moved in. I can not in good conscience send him back to an abusive household. And if I am his only option, which showing up here with a bag of necessities would seem to suggest, then he would have to stay here, with us. How would you feel about that, my love?"
For a moment, all Vin could do was stare at the wonderful, generous man he had fallen in love with; then he replied, "Of course, he can stay with us. We'd have to make a few changes, but we could do it." He smiled at Ezra's relieved expression, then leaned in and gave him a kiss. "You are a wonderful human being, Ezra P. Standish," he said, "and I love you dearly."
"And I you," Ezra reverently whispered. And then, for a while, no more words were spoken.
It was nearly two o'clock by the time all occupants of the condo finally woke up. Xander was pulled from sleep by two male voices raised in argument about something. Reluctantly leaving the very comfortable bed, he grabbed some clean clothes from his bag and went to take a shower. He should, at least, look presentable when Vin and Ezra decided his fate. He had to admit that he was worried. He didn't want to tell them the whole story, but he might have to if they decided that he had to go back home; or worse, if they called family services. What if they tried to get a hold of his parents? Really, one phone call was all they'd need to find out that he was lying to them, that his parents were dead. By the end of his shower, he'd half made up his mind to tell them everything. Squaring his shoulders, he headed for the kitchen.
Ezra was flipping pancakes at the stove, the lovers having tabled their discussion about jobs, safety, and schools when they heard the shower click on, and Vin was reading the newspaper when Xander walked into the room. Vin looked up with a smile, "hope you like pancakes, they were about the only thing we had the ingredients to make. Ez was supposed to go to the store today."
Xander nodded, "Sure, I like pancakes just fine." He wandered over and sat down at the table, "Um, have you decided what you're going to do about me yet? I mean, I don't want to be any trouble." Silence greeted his question as Vin and Ezra glanced at each other, communicating over his head. He sighed and stared at the table. Maybe he could get Willow to hide him. And Jessie's mom always seemed to like him. Suddenly, a plate of pancake was slid underneath his nose. He looked up at his brother's serious face and tried not to show how nervous he was.
"Vin and I have decided to let you stay here, with us," Ezra said, "I wouldn't send any child back to an abusive home, especially not my brother. We will, however, need to contact your parents and a lawyer to gain custody of you."
Well, there it was, Xander thought. Now he had to tell them the truth. But what it they didn't want him enough? What if they decided that they didn't want a screwed up kid who had lied to them? He felt the tears well up in his eyes and tried to blink them away. "You can't," he choked out, "you can't contact them."
Vin had watched the kid closely and when the tears had threatened, he'd known that this was going to get bad. He gently touched Ezra's arm to stop him from saying anything too abruptly and softly asked, "Why not Xander?"
"They, They're dead," Xander burst out, visibly shaking. He glanced up, and haltingly continued, "They... they were in a c...car accident yesterday. I...I was going to t...tell you but I thought it'd b...be too much all at once. I...I didn't mean to l...lie to you. I...I was going to tell you today I swear." His shoulders slumped at their shocked faces, "I'll l...leave if you want me to." He didn't even feel his tears anymore.
Vin looked over at Ezra who seemed to be fighting some great emotional upheaval. He felt the same way, now they really had no other choice. They had decided to keep the boy for his safety, but now they would also keep him because he had no place else to go. It didn't matter, Vin figured, the boy already seemed to belong with them. He reacted a lot like Vin thought Ezra would in that situation -- hedging his bets until he was sure of his place.
Ezra rose from his chair, then walked over to crouch in front of Xander. He gently raised the boy's chin, "Hey," he quietly said, "It's okay. I might have done the same thing in you position. It doesn't make a difference if your parents are dead or alive; well it may make the paperwork easier. The point being, that you can and will stay here. I'll call my lawyer tomorrow morning and get the proceedings started. Now, why don't you get started on those pancakes?"
Xander nodded with relief and reached for the butter as Ezra retreated to his own chair. Xander felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders for the first time in days. He was going to stay. His brother really wanted him. Maybe, just maybe, this would be the start of something really good.