The Faerie's first instinct was to follow when Ashley leapt to her feet. He would have, if he didn't understand what she was going through. It wasn't the same for him, but being able to peek at her thoughts helped him greatly in this moment. Xander remained seated, gaze pensive as he turned to watch her. There was a lot that she needed to work through, not only what he'd just revealed to her, but she was also going to have to determine what it all meant in the grand scheme of who she was.
However, Ashley still didn't have the full picture. It wasn't exactly her fault. She couldn't fully understand the things she'd never known. "The Cranes scare you because they're not like you. You're not like them. And...as much as you don't want to hear it right now, it's possible that the decision your grandparents made on your behalf has something to do with that." Xander held his hands up in a show that he wasn't trying to spark her temper further. "Power, especially in this world, has a tendency to corrupt. I know that you feel like your life has been a lie, but consider the person you've become. You're strong. You're compassionate. You believe in honesty and fairness, and yes, that's part of why this hurts so much, but all of that…. It's not a lie, Ashley. It's who you are." He stood up, but he continued to let her have her space. "Maybe you'd still be this person if you'd been allowed to grow up with all of your powers, your knowledge, your memories. Your grandparents didn't do this to hurt you. They did it because they were afraid. They were afraid of what had happened. They were afraid of what could happen. They were afraid because, in the end, they weren't able to protect your mother. And because if you'd had your powers, your father's side of the family might have fought much harder to claim you." He shook his head, unable to fault her for her feelings, but wishing he could take away at least some of the anger. "I would imagine the more time passed by, the more they were afraid to tell you the truth. That doesn't make it right. That doesn't make any of this right. But they love you, Ashley."
He wasn't entirely sure she'd depleted her restless energy by the time she flopped back down on the couch, but seemed a bit more restrained. At least, that was Xander's first thought. When she sat forward, he barely reined in the urge to take a wary step back. He'd seen that look in the eyes of countless men and women, and it was just as daunting coming from her. That feverish, compulsive stubbornness that meant that, for better or worse, a decision had been made. Usually a bad one.
He was slightly relieved when she told him what she wanted. His stance relaxed and he eyed her thoughtfully before offering her a nod. "That can be done. But it will not undo the debt your grandparents owe."