Chapter Text
Hardships Make the Heart Fonder
calikocat
word count: 2925
Disclaimer: Diagnosis Murder and Buffy the Vampire Slayer do not belong to me. : )
XXX
Christmas 1997
Jenny hesitated outside Rupert's door. She still couldn't believe she was about to do this. It needed to be done though, she couldn't stay, not in good conscience. She'd given her two weeks’ notice, her apartment was empty and her car was packed. So, very carefully she slipped the envelope between the bars of the little window in the door.
Then, just as quietly she turned and walked away. The letter she'd left him explained everything. Who she was, who her people were, and why she had been sent to Sunnydale. Hopefully he wouldn't try to look for her, they both needed a clean break. Not because of the close call with his past, they were lucky Eyghon hadn't managed to possess any of them. However, that was when she really started to pull away, because her own secrets would have eventually blown up in their faces.
As if the Slayer's life hadn't blown things up enough. Those assassins had really shaken things up. They'd all almost died when Spike had sent the Order of Taraka after them. Buffy had killed one assassin with a machete. Their practicing witches had conjured a fireball to kill the bug man, and Kendra had killed the third.
The show down with Spike had ended with Drusilla turning to dust and Spike buried in flaming rubble in the factory. Hopefully he was dust too, but she didn't want to play the waiting game. Sunnydale was too dangerous for civilians. Jenny just hoped the kids didn't get themselves killed. That Giles didn't put them in danger.
Only Jonathan and Amy had her contact information, a cell phone and an email address. And that was to be used in case Rupert started to neglect their magical studies, since he tended to be oblivious toward anyone but Buffy and Willow.
As she got to her car she sighed, Jenny had a destination in mind, sort of. She just wasn't sure if that was where she would go. Her uncle said that Angel was in L.A... stalking a boy. Jenny had a pretty good idea who the boy was. Should she go to L.A.? Keep an eye on Angel? And Xander too?
Angel was definitely suffering now, which is what her people wanted. Jenny didn't care one way or the other. Though if she was honest, punishing a human soul for something a demon did was...evil.
Screw it. She was done. She had her own life to live; she didn't want to waste her life on vengeance. Like Xander she wanted a fresh start. All she had to do now, was pick a direction. Maybe she'd head east.
xxx
Xander was making his rounds at Community General, he'd already handed out gifts and candy to the kids in pediatrics. He'd sat with each kid, held a lot of hands, and even held one little girl in his lap while he told them stories about heroes.
The parents there had smiled, but then they always liked it when he came in to cheer the kids up. And he felt good doing it, like he was actually accomplishing something that mattered.
It felt good making the kids smile, he'd been going there since Thanksgiving and it was great. Besides seeing the kids when he did his 'rounds' he never had a real plan. He just went wherever his feet took him.
He'd tap on open doors, come in, speak to patients, hold their hands. Whatever they needed; whether it was a friendly ear, a joke, or a little company. By now all the nurses knew him, and so did a lot of long-term patients. He was able to pretty much wander wherever he was allowed to go. Xander wasn't sure he was really helping people, but he hoped he was. It felt like on some level he did, and that was enough for him.
Suddenly a chill went through him, and he turned, because he thought he saw a familiar form. However, when he looked, the brooding menace was gone. Xander shook off the feeling of discomfort. Why would Angel be at Community General? Nah, he had to have imagined it.
xxx
Carol Sloan parked her car in the driveway, taking in the newer model truck that was there. That's right, Steve's old truck had been destroyed in the forest fires. However, her dad's car wasn't there. Was he out shopping she wondered? Steve was the one who usually left his Christmas shopping to the last minute.
She got out of the car, then retrieved her bags from the trunk...the gifts would have to wait. And there were more than there had been last year, because now she had a nephew. A sixteen-year-old nephew that she was eager and curious to meet.
The door opened and her dad gave her a big smile. “Welcome home Carol.”
“Hey Dad, I'd hug you, but my hands are a little full.”
“You need any help?”
“If you'd get the gifts?”
He rounded the car and peeked in the trunk. “I think I can handle them.” He did, picking up each bag and then closed the trunk. “I'm glad you made it.”
“Me too.” She followed him inside, surprised to see a security pad by the door. She was even more surprised to watch him close the door, lock it, and then key in a code. “That's new.”
“We've had a break in and it...affected Xander deeply. Go ahead and put your bags in your room. Xander has Steve's old room.”
Carol did as he suggested and came back to find him putting the gifts she'd brought under the tree. She waited for him to finish, then she hugged him. He hugged her back fiercely and that sense of home enveloped her. “I missed you, Daddy.”
“I missed you too...at least we didn't wait six years this time.”
“I'm sorry.” Carol pulled back. “I worked through Thanksgiving; the clinic was overrun.”
“I understand. You look good, Portland agrees with you.”
“It does...so where is my nephew?”
Dad smiled, and it brightened his whole face. “At the hospital, volunteering.”
She smiled back. “Pediatrics?”
“That's one of his stops.”
They moved to the couch and sat down side by side. “I wasn't sure you were home; your car wasn't outside.”
“Well,” her dad sighed. “Xander has my car, he doesn't have one yet.”
The sound of a key turning in the lock made them turn toward the foyer. A moment later the door opened, was locked again, and the code was put into the key pad. When the boy came around the frosted glass of the entryway Carol was surprised. Xander didn't look a thing like Steve...but there was something familiar about him.
“Xander, this is your Aunt Carol.”
Brown eyes. Deep brown eyes that were like warm chocolate, that were just like her mom's. Especially when he smiled at her. “I've heard a lot about you.” Xander said.
Carol couldn't help but smile back as she stood. “Nothing bad I hope?”
“Nope, nothing bad.”
“You have Mom's eyes.” Then she tilted her head, something else popping into her mind. “And you look just like the pictures of Uncle Cody.”
Xander's grin got brighter. “I've seen those, it’s kinda weird to see a version of me in black and white. Eerie even.”
xxx
Xander wasn't expecting a lot for Christmas, personally he was just glad to be in Malibu instead of Sunnydale. Dad had gotten a real tree and they had it all decorated before Aunt Carol had arrived. There was already a bunch of presents under the tree for everyone, all that was left were the gifts Xander had bought with his allowance. Heck he was just happy to actually have an allowance.
Quietly he crept out of his room, not wanting to wake everyone up, and made his way down the hall to the living room. All the lights were off, except for the outside light on the back porch, which was all the light he needed. Carefully he knelt by the tree and reached into the bag of gifts to put the first one with others.
For his dad he'd gotten a new gun cleaning kit, since he was still getting to know them, it seemed like a good option. Jesse had actually bought the kit and Xander had paid him back. For Aunt Carol he'd bought a simple pair of gold studs. She was a nurse so she couldn't wear a lot of jewelry on shift.
CJ got a stuffed animal, a cat, since they had a real live dog at home. For Amanda he'd gotten a locket and put a tiny picture of CJ in it. Jesse got a sample thing of cheeses and Xander had already vowed to do better next year. However, he'd noticed that all three doctors got busy, so having access to ready-made food wasn't going to hurt.
The last gift he put under the tree was for Gramps. It was a new pen set to keep in his office on his desk. His allowance, which he'd been getting since September was pretty tapped out, but he figured it was worth it...and he'd do better next year.
Satisfied he got up, and quietly folded the gift bag before creeping back to his room. He'd seen a couple of small gifts with his name on them, and he was happy. After all, Dad had already practically given him Gran's old dirt bike. He'd gotten it up to code and everything so he could safely ride it on the weekends they did motor-cross.
It wasn't his favorite activity, but it was fun, and Xander already figured the dirt bike from Dad and the surfboard from Jesse were his 'big gifts'. So, he was satisfied.
xxx
Steve was the first one up on Christmas morning. He'd gotten a box of pastries the day before and hidden them in his kitchen downstairs to keep them from being devoured beforehand. So that morning he put them in one of the upstairs ovens to warm them, knowing the smell would wake everyone up.
He was right. Just as he opened the oven to retrieve the freshly warmed pastries Xander wandered into the kitchen. His hair was mussed, and he was still in his Scooby Doo pajamas. “Ooo, bear claws.”
“At least he didn't make them himself.” Carol murmured.
“Yeah, no.” Xander agreed. “Dad baking is a disaster. He's not bad at fixing breakfast for dinner though.”
“Are we having breakfast first then?” His dad asked with a yawn, wearing his robe over his own pajamas.
Steve shook his head. “Let them cool for a minute, besides, I want to give Xander his first gift.” He headed out of the kitchen and toward the foyer. “Come with me.”
Xander gave the bear claws a hungry look but apparently curiosity won out and his son followed him out the front door. Dad and Carol were right behind him. Once they were all outside and in the driveway Xander stopped and his jaw dropped. “That's a Jeep.”
Steve grinned. It was indeed a Jeep, parked between his truck and Dad's car. He tossed the keys to his son. “It’s a 1995 Jeep Wrangler Sahara Sport to be exact.”
Xander caught the keys and stared at him. “But...Dad...you just got a new truck.”
“Well, its second hand...or rather third hand. It’s a couple years old anyway.” He shook his head. “Don't worry about the cost. You needed a car...we'll talk about a phone in a few months.”
Brown eyes that were now familiar to him watered and suddenly Steve's arms were full of a quiet but emotional Xander. There hadn't been very many hugs as of yet, the fact that his son felt comfortable enough to hug him at all was an achievement. That he didn't want to let go was the best feeling Steve had experienced in a long time.
“Thanks Dad.”
xxx
Eventually Xander had let go of Steve, all of them ignored how misty their eyes were, and they went back inside for breakfast. It was no surprise that as soon as they sat down at the kitchen table Xander practically inhaled his share of the bear claws and milk. Once they cleaned up all the sticky pastry remains, they went into the living room to exchange the first round of gifts.
Carol gave him a new tie, which Mark was glad to get. More than once he'd managed to stain his with coffee, or other more questionable things, at the hospital. To Steve and Xander she'd given matching helmets for their motocross weekends. While they were marveling over the helmets Mark slipped away into the garage to retrieve his gift for his grandson.
Steve saw him reappear first and his eyes were wide in shock. Carol's jaw dropped; her surprise was comical. Then Xander looked up from the helmet, which he dropped onto the carpet.
“Gramps?”
Mark smiled and offered the squirming kitten to Xander. She was a long-haired tortoiseshell, already two months old. Xander's hands were shaking as he reached out, as if afraid to touch the kitten, afraid she'd be taken away before he even got to hold her. Very carefully Mark placed her in Xander's grasp. “She's a cross between a Norwegian Forest Cat and a Maine Coon.”
“Those get to be pretty big, don't they?” Carol asked.
“Where did you even find a cat like that?” Steve added.
“From the shelter, a backyard breeder had all their cats seized.” Mark told them.
Steve looked ready to object, until he saw Xander hold the kitten close. She was already wiggling onto his shoulder and purring. And then...Xander smiled. It was the brightest smile they'd ever seen on him. Still, his son leaned over and quietly asked, “What brought this on?”
Mark whispered back. “His latest therapist suggested it.”
“Okay.” And that was that.
xxx
Gramps and Carol had shooed Xander out of the kitchen and for once he was okay with not helping cook. Instead, he played with his new kitten in his room. For now, the litter box was in his room, and when she got bigger, they'd decided to move it into the upstairs laundry room.
Eventually she fell asleep on Xander's bed and all he could do was watch her in amazement. He had a kitten. He had a pet! Something he'd always wanted but... He pushed away thoughts of the past, a past that was getting farther and farther away.
Then sounds from the living room and kitchen caught his attention. CJ's happy squeals and Jesse wishing Steve a 'Merry Christmas'. That meant the rest of the family had arrived and dinner was almost ready. Xander stood, and headed out of his room to join them. He looked back at his kitten, and smiled.
xxx
Hours later, after Amanda and CJ had gone home and everyone else was bunking down for the night, Mark found Xander asleep on the couch. Carefully he turned out the lights, Carol was already asleep in her room. Jesse was staying with Steve and he was sure they were watching Die Hard and drinking beer, their own little Christmas tradition.
As he turned out the light by the couch Xander whispered. “Gramps?”
“Yes Xander?” Mark asked, pulling down a blanket from the back of the couch to tuck him in.
“Thanks for her.”
“You're welcome.” Mark smiled. “Have you picked out a name for her?”
“Magic.”
“Oh?”
“Because being part of this family is like a wish come true.” Xander whispered, his voice thick with unshed tears.
In the dark Mark couldn't see those tears, but he could still react to them. He leaned down to kiss the top of Xander's head. “Having you be a part of this family has been magical for us too. Merry Christmas Xander.”
“Merry Christmas Gramps.”
xxx
Out on the beach, looking at the Sloan family home, Angel stood guard. Suddenly he was no longer alone and he glanced at Whistler, surprised, but not really at the balance demon's appearance. “Whistler.”
Whistler came to stand beside him, looking up at the beach house. “What are you doing Angel?”
“Looking after the boy.”
“You're supposed to be looking after the Slayer.”
“I got too focused on her, and almost got him killed.” Angel gritted his teeth, but not from the cold. “I put his life in danger on purpose, out of pettiness. His mother and step-father were tortured and murdered because of me. Because of me Spike tried to rape the boy. Spike could still come after him.”
“Spike is still in Sunnydale, alone. Drusilla is dust.”
“I know.” Angel murmured. “I felt her die, just like I felt Darla die.”
“Yeah well, Spike's a bit injured...and loony now. Mad with grief. He could do anything.”
“What do you want from me Whistler?” Angel demanded.
“I want you to do your damn job.”
“I owe the boy.”
“How safe do you think he'd feel if he knew you were watching over him?” Whistler asked.
“Not safe at all.”
“Then why bother?”
Angel didn't have an answer.
XXX
A/N: Hey there! Hope ya'll enjoyed chapter 1 of story 2 in the Sloan Family series. This story fought me for a couple of years, but here we are and I love it to bits. <3 I'm really happy how it turned out.