Ten Years

On: Xander

Disclaimer: Post 'Chosen' while also ignoring certain crap elements from 'Angel' season 4 and ignoring season 5 completely. Also, Tara never died but the trauma of her near death experience still put Willow over the edge. And to a guest, there's Roger Burkle, Fred's dad, and then there's Roger Wyndam-Pryce, Wesley's dad. One's a good ol' guy (Roger Burkle) and the other… Isn't.

Summary: He's finally back from Africa after ten years.

A somewhat skinny man with long graying hair, a graying beard, and an eyepatch was seen making his way to the receptionist's desk in a building in Cleveland. Having been told in England that certain individuals could be found here due to it being the annual group meeting get together. The location usually always being in Cleveland on account of the fact there's a Hellmouth there and no one wanted to leave things to chance if they weren't around save for a skeleton crew. And even then, that was still sketchy. "Hi there." Greeted the man once at the receptionist desk.

Making the woman who looked to be in her 50s to pause in what she was doing to look up at him. "Hello, how can I help you?"

Smiling in a disarming manner, the figure spoke up. "I was wondering if you could tell me where Giles, Buffy, or Willow are?"

"The three Senior Heads are three floors above and have asked not to be disturbed. And if I may say, you are being rather too familiar with them." She told him in disapproval.

Chuckling, the man let the disapproval wash over him. "Considering I knew them for years in Sunnydale, I have plenty of reason to be very familiar with them."

"You knew them?" Asked the woman in a doubtful manner.

"Xander? Is, is that you, buddy!?" Came a male voice that kept the man from replying.

Causing him to turn to the source and seeing said source being a Demon by the name of Clem. Who got rather excited when it was in fact, Xander freaking Harris himself! "Holy crap, it is you!" Yelled out the Demon excitedly as he rushed over to Xander as the Receptionist's eyes widened in great surprise before hurriedly going for her phone.

As it'd long been a standing order for her or any other to call and or text the Senior Heads immediately if Xander Harris showed up. Something that some had thought to be unlikely to ever happen given how it felt he wasn't going to be leaving Africa anytime soon after being there for a decade! As Xander and Clem re-united, various onlookers could be seen watching the whole thing, whispering amongst themselves as they did so. "Well, well, the King of the Cretins has finally returned." Came a voice from a hallway.

Causing Xander to freeze momentarily before turning his attention to the source. "Ooh, I think you might be in trouble, buddy." Clem muttered.

Easily seeing the displeased look on Cordelia's face. "I'm not afraid." Said Xander with a smirk as he stepped towards Cordy.

Who stepped towards him as well and then slapped him on the chest before smiling widely and hugging him. "Its about damn time you came home, you ass!" She chided him with little heat as they pulled apart from the hug.

"Yeah, well, I figured at this point I'm unlikely to want to cause Andrew a lot of pain anymore."

Andrew had actually been a deciding factor in why Xander had hauled ass for Africa to help in the search for Slayers there and to re-establish a base of operations on the continent. Though there was actually several bases in a few of the Countries there with one central one that they all reported too. For Andrew had been an unwelcome reminder for the one eyed man that Anya was dead while he was alive and damned annoying. Plus, he felt he needed to be as far as possible from everything he knew to deal with things on his own. Even if he was about as unfit for the job in Africa as possible but that hadn't mattered one bit to him. His time there had been one massive learning experience in a variety of ways and though it had been damned awfully hard at times, Xander didn't regret a bit of it. "Uh-huh, let me guess, they finally decided they didn't want you over there anymore." Teased the woman.

"Oh, that's not true. I'm very much loved."

Cordy rolled her eyes good naturedly at her ex while feeling a huge amount of relief swell up inside of her over the fact he was finally home. "XANDER!" Yelled out several voices loudly and excitedly.

And before he knew it, he was being swamped in hugs by Buffy, Willow, Dawn, and even Giles. Whom simply hadn't been able to contain himself due to how happy he was to see his surrogate son! Those watching couldn't help but smile at the scene and then grow confused (aside from Clem, Cordelia, and a few others who'd come down with the girls and Giles) seconds later when Buffy, Willow, and Dawn started to hit Xander. "Ow! What was that for!?"

"Because you were bad about keeping in touch with us, mister!" Began Willow with a displeased look on her face.

"And all the worry that left us." Buffy added with a displeased look of her own.

"Pretty much what they said." Dawn said with a shrug and a glare.

Cordy then slapped her ex on the back of his head. "Hey!" Protested the one eyed man as she smirked.

"And that was because you're a dumbass who clearly hasn't been taking care of himself since you've lost a lot of weight. And that just looks unhealthy."

Xander grumbled in one of the languages he'd learned during his time in Africa as he rubbed the back of his head and his chest gingerly since those hits had hurt! Faith, deciding to stir up the pot a little more, smirked and spoke up. "Hey, X, ya know, I heard you took on a Lion over there. Decided you wanted to outdo me and the Alligator, huh?"

He glared at her for that as, making her smirk deepen and ignoring Tara's disapproving look as the ladies showed their displeasure over that! "I shoulda stayed in Africa." Grumbled the man in another language.

It was way quieter!

Author's Notes: Heh, that was fun! Initially, I wasn't planning on it, but I got the idea to make this ten years thing into a more expanded idea of sorts that features not only Xander but the others as well. I'll be touching on Xander's ten years in Africa later too as I thought it'd make sense if he had spent a whole lot of time there. Especially given the fact him being there doesn't entirely make sense and it'd be incredibly difficult for him. And apologies if I mixed up the Alligator thing where Faith is concerned. Its either a Croc or an Alligator but its been awhile since I watched the episode so I went with Alligator.