Chapter Twenty-Four

Matt made his way down the stairs to the game room, surprised when he got to the bottom and found Faith sound asleep in a large, green bean bag. He quietly walked over to where Xander was playing a game and sat down beside him. "Sorry that took so long." He kept his voice low.

"It's okay. We had fun." Xander ended the game and turned to Matt.

"Everything okay?"

Matt nodded. "Carter needed help getting through some security stuff at one of the new sites he's found. It was a mess, but we got in." He glanced at Faith. "I figured it was safe to bring her here."

"It was. It's good for her to meet the people you work with, but I could use a smoke."

"We can go upstairs. She'll be okay." Matt glanced back at Faith.

Xander had been with her for hours, and it wasn't like him to go that long without smoking.

"You're sure?"

"Yeah. I leave her alone in bed when I get up. It's time she gets used to being alone sometimes." Matt stood, walking up the steps, Xander following behind.

"She mentioned that. She wants a nightlight or something."

"For her room?"

"I think so."

Matt nodded. "We can get one. What else did she say?"

Xander stepped outside and lit a cigarette. "We talked about a lot of things. She's scared, rightfully so, nervous they'll come back and get her."

He blew out a long trail of smoke, then reached over and pulled Matt to him. "I've missed you." He bent his head and kissed him softly.

Matt relaxed against Xander, his body instantly leaning into him, finding comfort in his touch and closeness as he kissed him back. When he broke the kiss, he smiled. "I've missed you too."

Xander continued to hold Matt against him. "Faith is strong, but it's going to take time to open up. She's thinking about a lot, but scared to mention it to anyone. She's trying to protect you, keep you from hurting

more than she already knows you are." Xander brushed his lips over Matt's neck. "She's nervous about school starting, things like that."

"Yeah, I'm not sure how to handle that one." Matt pressed his forehead to Xander's strong chest. "School scares me too."

"At least the job you have now will let you drop her off and pick her up. The sooner you can get her back into normal routines, the better she'll be."

Matt nodded, wondering why Faith would talk to Xander about all this instead of him. "She did well in therapy, but I felt like she was holding back."

"She probably is, but it's all new. Katie hasn't earned her trust yet. In time, she'll get used to her and open up a bit more. It takes time, sometimes even years. She's only been home a week. She's doing pretty amazing so soon." Xander turned Matt, drawing him so his back was to his chest, then wrapping an arm around him. "How are you doing?"

"I'm struggling. So scared I'm going to say or do something wrong. I don't know what she needs. How do I assure her she's safe? I watch her jump at the slightest sound, see her watching over her shoulder. I want to make it all okay." Matt closed his eyes, wondering if things would ever get back to normal, and if not, how did he at least make it easier.

"It's just going to take time. You can't rush healing." Xander lifted his head up as he took another drag off his smoke.

"I'm glad you showed up today. I was worried what I'd do when Becca left."

"You should have called me. I'm always happy to hang with Faith. She kicked my ass on Mario Kart."

Matt laughed. "That's always been one of her favorites."

"It's good to hear you laugh," Xander whispered against his ear.

Matt smiled. "It's been a while since I felt like laughing." He arched his head back. "I miss our time."

"So do I." Xander's palm splayed over Matt's stomach as he bent and kissed him.

"Dad?"

Matt tensed as he saw Faith in the doorway, but Xander's arm tightened around him, refusing to let him step away like he wanted to. He prayed his cheeks weren't as red as they felt. "Hey, you. Get a good nap?"

She looked at him, then up at Xander. "Are you dating my dad?"

Matt wondered why she asked Xander and not him.

"Would you mind if I was?" Xander asked, still not letting Matt go.

She sucked her bottom lip between her teeth, tilting her head as she looked at them. "I didn't know you liked boys."

"Me?" Matt asked, not sure if she was asking him or Xander.

"Well, both of you."

Matt smiled. "Does it bother you if I do?"

She shook her head.

"I like Xander," Matt told her.

She smiled. "I like him too."

Xander kissed Matt's cheek. "So, this is okay with you? You'll let me date your dad?"

"You won't leave me alone, will you?"

Matt pulled from Xander's arm and kneeled in front of Faith. "No, I won't leave you. Not until you're ready for me to, and even then, you'd be with Grandma or Aunt Trish." He hugged her. "It would just mean Xander might be around the house more. He would hang out with us."

"I'm okay with that." She looked up at Xander. "You like my dad?"

"I do." He nodded. "He likes ice cream and pizza. That makes him good enough for me."

Matt laughed as he glanced up at Xander, thankful that he was making this so simple. He hadn't really thought much about letting Faith know they were seeing each other. It wasn't like it had been anything official, but Faith wouldn't understand the casual thing. He hated that this forced Xander to make it seem like it was more than it was, but for Faith, it was best they play it that way.

Matt hugged Faith. "I love you, and no matter what, you come first.

You are most important. I need you to know that."

She nodded. "I know, Dad, and Xander is cool. I like that he might be around more." She smiled up at Xander. "And he might let me have more ice cream than you do."

Matt laughed.

Xander shook his head. "Your dad's still the boss. If he says we can't have it, we can't."

Faith pouted. "I thought he'd be nicer to you."

Xander laughed as he stepped forward and rested his hand on Matt's shoulder. "Nope, he's just as mean to me as he is to you. In fact, I'd bet you

can talk him into things easier than I can." He gently squeezed Matt's shoulder. "Are you done here?"

"Yeah, I'm done."

"Then, with your permission, how about we head back to your place?

I'll stop on the way and pick up a couple of pizzas for dinner, then, if Faith can talk you into it, we can eat ice cream and watch a movie."

Faith nodded. "Can we, Dad?"

"I guess we can do that. I'd planned on having fish for dinner." He grinned at Faith since it was the food she hated most.

"Eww, Dad, pizza is so much better." She shoved him playfully. "So, can we go?"

"Yep, let me walk in and talk to Carter for a second, then I'll be out.

You okay here with Xan?"

"Yep." She leaned against the wall.

As he walked inside, he wondered what the two of them would talk about. This was not the way he wanted Faith to find out, but after seeing her reaction, maybe it was easier this way. Xander hadn't seemed upset, and he'd taken control of the situation by not pulling away like two guilty teenagers like Matt would have done. He treated Faith like an adult, not lying to her or trying to make it look like something it wasn't. The only issue now was how Xander felt about Faith thinking they were dating.

"I'm heading out. You guys okay?" He stood behind Carter and Bryon.

"Yep, thanks for your help. Hopefully, we can get enough information now to take this ring down." Bryon glanced back at him. "Faith okay?"

"Yeah, she's with Xander. She had fun downstairs."

"I bet. That place was built for kids. Maybe big ones like the team, but it's still a cool place."

"Thanks for letting her hang." Matt gave a wave. "Call me if you need anything."

He walked out, excited to spend the evening with Faith and Xander.

He'd missed Xander over the last few days, and it would make it easier now that Faith wouldn't be shocked if they kissed or held hands. He wondered if she was confused that he liked a man now after years of being married to her mother, but that was a conversation for another time. He needed to think about how to bring that up and talk to her about the whole liking boys and girls thing.

"Ready?" Matt gripped Faith's shoulder.

"Yep, can I pick the movie tonight?" Faith walked with them toward their cars.

Matt and Xander exchanged amused glances. "You can pick."

"Yay!" Faith got into the passenger seat of the car.

Matt turned to Xander. "Thank you for handling that so well. I didn't expect her to see us."

"It's for the best." Xander cupped Matt's face. "Now I don't have to hide this." He dipped his head and kissed Matt softly. When he pulled back, he continued to hold Matt's face in his hands. "Anything I should get on the pizzas?"

"Faith hates mushrooms, but anything else is good." Matt pressed his cheek to Xander's hand. "Thanks for being so good to her."

"She makes it easy." Xander kissed him again before stepping back.

"See you in a half an hour."

Matt nodded, watching Xander stride toward his car, wondering when they could steal some alone time together because the taste he'd gotten of Xander today only increased his desire for more. Faith had to come first, but as soon as he found time, he was going to make sure Xander knew just how much he missed him.

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