Title: Seeking His Place 5/?
Author: Kate R.
Disclaimer: Own nothing and no one used
herein. The X-men belong to Marvel
Entertainment Group; the Angel
characters belong to Joss Whedon. I'm not
making any money off this so
please don't sue me.
'New York malls were cool,' Dawn thought as she sat in the passenger seat next to Wesley in the driver's seat. Just behind Wesley was Giles. Spike was driving Giles' blazer so Giles could ride with Wes. Dawn knew Giles had told him while they were getting clothes and she'd seen the happiness in Wesley since they came out of the Gap and she saw the way Giles seemed to want to stay by him. Two of Wesley's kids were riding in the Blazer probably pumping the rest of their group for information. Dawn just sat and let Giles field all the questions. As they got back to the school, Wesley thought a message to Xavier about the guests he was bringing with him and received an all clear in response.
Everyone piled out of the two vehicles and Giles smiled as everyone on the porch greeted Wesley.
"Hey, Wesley," a voice called. Giles watched him look up at a teenagerish looking kid with brown hair and blue eyes.
"Yes bobby?"
"These friends or assholes?"
"Friends and family Bobby. The Ass holes are from Los Angeles. This is the group from Sunnydale." He said and the boy looked thoughtful for a minute.
"But didn't they hurt you too?"
"It's the past and they were right. I was a stuck-up, snobby, coward then. People change."
"If you say so," Bobby said as he walked over to Wesley and the group from Sunnydale.
"Hurt him again and you'll regret it," Bobby told them ominously. "Maybe you don't care about peoples' feelings but we do. And we like Wesley. Just the way he is. He saved Illyana from a demon the other night and it was an ugly one. His first night here and he saved one of us. He hadn't even been introduced to her but he helped. So, just you remember, Wesley ahs a bigger heart than a lot of people and we wont let it get crushed again."
"I don't intend to ever hurt my son again," Giles said quietly. "I didn't know he was then and I didn't know until after he left LA. Rest assured he is no danger from me."
"And the rest of ya?" a gravely voice asked. Wesley turned to Logan but knew he would finish this.
"What about us?" Xander asked as he felt the Hyena in him respond to the feral gleam he saw in the short, hairy guy.
"You gonna hurt him again? Treat him like dirt? Degrade and berate him every time he tries to do something? Because if you are, get back in that car and get the hell out of here," he said. Wesley winced hearing the rage in Logan's voice.
"I was long used to it by then Logan," Wesley said quietly. "They didn't know any better. They were children."
"Even children can be respectful o' other people Wes. Youth ain't no excuse for what Chuck said these kids put you through. Older British guy who is your real father I could understand being hurt and angry. The rest of these kids? Nope, no excuse. Not for the way they treated you. It wasn't your fault Giles there got fired and it wasn't your fault you were sent there. Anyone here would know and accept that and at least give you a chance. And these kids are form worse places than this group."
"I..." Buffy began. Dawn gave her sister the biggest 'I told you so' look she could which made Wesley to chuckle.
"I'm sorry Wes," Buffy whispered. "I'm really, really sorry. Dawn was right then and your friends are right now. We didn't give you a fair chance."
"It's all right, Buffy," Wesley said. "I...it hurt but I got over it."
"But we were mean. Xander was jealous because Cordelia liked you, I was being...I was mad they fired Giles...Willow just followed our lead..."
"Buffy," Wesley said softly. "Please, let it go. Dwelling on it will not help. Come, lets go inside and eat...Logan, what is it?"
"Kid here is challenging me over you Wes," Logan said. Wesley looked at Xander and sighed.
"What are you doing?" Giles hissed to the boy.
"Wesley belongs in our pack, dammit," Xander said. "I wont let any one else take him."
"Stop!" Wesley said with force. Deal with your issues after dinner. Hello Jean."
"Wesley. I have your training in the morning and your going to do it my way."
"Wanna bet," Giles asked. He could tell looking at Jean she did not like his son. "You got a problem with Wesley?"
"He didn't learn the disciplines right."
"For what?" Guiles asked then looked right at Jean /Mind Speech? /
Jean stared at him in shock. Giles laughed.
"Where the hell do you think he gets it? Wesley learned just fine for his calling. Get over yourself. Now, Come along children, I believe dinner is ready."