growing pains

One thing Xander learned from his husband Ducky was to stay calm.

It seemed it had been ages since he'd seen his brother Simon, in spite of spending Christmas together. Xander felt Simon was a whole new person. The last he'd heard was Simon deciding to help his pregnant friend Ivy, but she'd made up with her boyfriend and had moved back home.

Honestly, it was a relief to Xander since he had enough to worry about with Matty. Although, he knew Matty was doing OK at school. He just wished Matty could be more open with him. Maybe it would happen one day, until then he would be there hoping Matty would let him be his dad.

"So, how did you meet?" Xander asked when he wanted to tell Simon to take this relationship slowly, but they were already holding hands. He'd even seen Simon kiss her in front of Matty. Naturally, the schoolboy gasped and went to his room right after dinner.

Simon and Candy giggled about it. Something about her moving in.

"You? You've moved in together?" Xander's eyes sprang a bit wider. Ducky grasped his arm and pulled him closer as if it was nothing to make a big deal about.

Then Simon mentioned something about her old car breaking down and she didn't have a bed.

Xander pressed his lips tight trying to keep his cool. This was not the way he wanted his brother to meet the love his life.

"What were you expecting? He'd meet a princess who'd help him get into the royal guard?" Ducky asked later when they were getting ready for bed and Simon and Candy were back at their place.

"Don't be ridiculous." Xander gritted. "I just want him to be happy." They'd had such a rough year with Simon's mother gone and Simon's parents' divorce.

"Oh, he looks pretty happy," Ducky smiled with a shrug.

"Poor Matty, he had to witness-" Xander started.

"Poor...poor..poor Matty." Ducky shook his head with a grin. He kissed Xander on the mouth. It wasn't long until Xander gave in. Xander guessed it wasn't that detrimental to Matty.