Page 73 of Pain

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.