Authors Note: Thanks for the reviews, it's always good to hear feedback from you guys. Enjoy the next chapter. Please continue to R&R.
"So you are really doing this? You're really heading to Orange County?" Willow asked.
"Yeah I guess i am." Xander answered slightly nervously.
"I can't believe all this is happening. It's so weird to find out that your parents weren't you parents, and now you get to meet your real parents." Willow said rambling as usual.
Xander smiled at his friend's quirky rambling. He knew he would miss Willow the most. Willow and Xander had been best friends since grade school, and had never really spent any time apart.
"So how long will you be gone?" Willow asked.
"Will, I am not sure, but I don't think I will be back anytime soon." Xander said quietly.
"What? Xander you can't be gone too long. We have never been apart and..." She trailed off.
"I know that Willow, and I'm sorry, but I need to do this, and I need to find myself. All my life i have been cooped up in Sunnydale in a safe and secure; well a secure place. I mean take out the fact that we lived on a Hellmouth and fought evil I have had a good and sheltered life. I need to meet my family, and I want to get a chance to be in the real world." Xander explained.
"I understand Xander, but I'll miss you." Willow said, her eyes now brimming with tears that waited to be shed.
"Well look before I go I have something for you." Xander said pulling something out of his pocket.
"What is this?" Willow asked looking at her gift as her expression changed to a confused one, "A crayon?"
"A yellow crayon. I never apologized for breaking your yellow crayon, Will. Sorry." Xander said smiling at his best bud.
"I love you Xander." Willow said flinging her arms around him.
"Ditto." Xander said embracing his friend.
When they pulled away from each other Xander's heart broke a little as he saw the tears streaking down Willow's cheeks.
"Don't cry Will, I'll be back. I promise you I'll be back. I would never leave you for good." Xander said trying not to cry himself. "I won't be too long, I just need some time to myself."
"I know. I'll be okay Xander. I will, I'll just miss you, and you know I am a cry baby so..." Willow trailed off again.
"Well don't you go changin' on me when I leave okay Will?" Xander asked.
"I won't. And if you lose your funny side, I'll have to hurt you. Write to me okay?" Willow replied.
"Like I wouldn't." Xander said. "Well I better go now Will, I have to say bonvoyage to Buff and the G-Man. I'll miss you." Xander said hugging her again.
"Bye Xander." Willow said wiping her tears as she watched her best friend leave. "Bye."
"Hey Buffy." Xander said smiling.
"Hey you." Buffy said returning the smile, "Time to go?"
"Yeah it's that time." Xander said, "I just wanted to say good bye for now."
"You're not going to go all weepy on me are yah?" Buffy asked with a grin.
"Nah. Not me. I know I'll be back." Xander said, "But I fear that without me here to protect you, you may get hurt." Xander joked.
"Oh yeah, I better be careful eh?" Buffy joked back to him.
"I'll miss you Buffy." Xander said getting serious again.
"I'll miss you too Xander. I don't know how I'll ever laugh without you here." Buffy said smiling. "I hope you taught Willow some of your key phrases to entertain me." She said laughing.
"Nah, but I taught them to Giles." Xander said as Buffy laughed harder.
"Well you take care of yourself Xander. I mean it; don't get into any sort of trouble. Good luck with your family. I know they'll love you, cuz well who couldn't? And if they don't, don't worry I'll kick their asses!" Buffy said grinning.
"Thanks Buff." Xander said.
"Well I'll see yah when you get back then I guess." Buffy said.
"Yeah and it won't be too long. Tell Dawn and Andrew I said see yah when they return." Xander said.
"Okay, bye then." Buffy said surprising him with a hug.
"Bye Buffy." He replied as he waved and left the room.
"Hey Xander. Are you ready to go?" Giles asked as he pulled his shoes on.
"Yep I'm all ready G-Man." Xander said.
The car ride to the airport was quite short, and there were barely any words spoken between Giles and Xander. Giles hadn't known what to say as Xander was leaving for God knows how long to visit the family he never knew he had. Giles wanted to tell Xander that no matter what happened in Orange County he had always viewed Xander as a son. He had always tried to be his father figure, but he just didn't know how to say it.
"Well I guess this is it G-Man." Xander said as he and Giles dragged Xander's case to the terminal.
"Yeah I suppose it is." Giles said solemnly.
"Well I won't be too long, but take care of the girls okay." Xander said.
"Of course." Giles said smiling at the thought of Buffy and Willow needing to be taken care of without Xander there.
"Look Giles, this will be hard for me, but no matter what I want you to know that you have always been a true father-figure to me. I always came to you for answers and advice, and I will really miss you while I'm gone." Xander said staring at his feet.
"Thank you Xander. I appreciate it more than you know. Well take care of yourself Xander, and good luck." Giles said sticking out his hand for Xander to shake it.
"Don't be silly G-Man." Xander said embracing Giles in a quick hug.
With slightly pink cheeks, Xander smiled and gave a nod of acknowledgment.
"Bye Giles." He said as he turned.
"Bye Xander." Giles called down the terminal as Xander disappeared into the distance. "Bye son."
Xander slouched into his coach seat on the airplane and pushed himself back into the cushiony back of the chair. Well he was actually doing this. He was leaving Rome to see the family he had recently found out was his, and he had no clue what to expect.
TBC...