It was only 8 in the morning when Xander awoke. He was somewhat surprised to find that he felt so full of energy. He had figured that he would be up all night thinking about what he had experienced, and learned, last night.
'I can't believe that I really met Batman!' That was the first coherent thought that greeted him. Just after that came an influx of memories and the emotions tied to the memories from the events that transpired last night.
He had almost done the Snoopy Dance when Batman had informed him that Tony Harris wasn't his biological father. In fact, had the Dark Knight not been present, Xander figured that he would still be dancing. As great as the feeling being associated with knowing that the passed out drunk of a man was not his father, it was the next bit of information that took some of that good feeling away.
It wasn't a bad feeling. Actually it was far from it. Tonight, he could meet his father. Again, that was definitely not a bad feeling. But it was one that made him extremely nervous, perhaps even more so than he had been in a long time.
This mystery man seemed to want to know him. It was up to him to go through with it or not. And for the life of him, he was scared of doing the wrong thing. This was someone that he didn't know. This was someone who apparently never even knew that he had a child, well; he never knew he had Xander as a child. Xander's eyes lit up with that thought.
'Oh my god, do I have any brothers or sisters?' He quickly swiveled up in bed and placed his feet on the floor while he sat at the edge of his bed. 'Can I really bring people into this world?' He placed his head in the palm of his hands as he let out a small groan.
It was a safe bet that, whoever he was, he knew about things that went bump in the night. And if he didn't, Batman would be sure to tell him. Especially since his 'Son' was apparently in the thick of it.
'Is he going to try and pull me away from everyone here?' There would be hell or high water before he ever abandoned his friends. Especially for someone he didn't even know; biological ties or no biological ties. His friends, the 'family' he made, would always come first.
There was one thing for sure, he did have friends, and to him they were more like a family than those he had called family. They had a right to know all of this. And at the very least, they could help him make a decision on just what to do. This wouldn't be a simple question of whether or not he should meet the man; there was also the subject of how much the guy would know, and how much he should be let in on.
With that thought in mind, he quickly and quietly made his way out of the room. Xander crept down the hallway without making a sound. As he neared the steps to go downstairs into the den, he peeked down to get a quick glimpse into the room.
Xander almost snorted in disgust. It looked as though he could have gone banging a marching band drum for all the effect it would have had. There was Tony Harris, lying face down, passed out, on their family couch. Xander shook his head in disgust, once again thankful to whatever kind deity saw fit to inform him that he was in no way biologically related to that pile of human excrement.
Shaking his head, Xander made his way to the bathroom intent on a quick shower, a change of clothes, and few quick calls before heading out for a bite to eat. He would set up a meeting at the library for a few hours from now. Then whatever would happen, well, would happen.
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Xander sat in one of the wooden chairs inside the library. He seemed to be staring at nothing, his mind a million miles away. Whatever it was that he had been musing about was quickly forgotten as doors to the library burst open, and all of his friends seemed to herd in all at once.
A tired looking Rupert Giles held the door open for a red eyed Joyce Summers. He quietly followed her into the library. Oz was holding the door open for Willow, and if those two weren't a couple by now, they would be before thee week got out. And, somewhat to Xander's own surprise, Cordelia Chase actually made her way in behind Willow, while Oz was still holding the door open. It wasn't to his shock that she was the first to speak, before any of them had sat down.
"Ok Dweeb Boy. Why the hell are you interrupting my beauty sleep?"
Xander just smiled at her while trying to be as charming as possible. "As if you would need any sleep in that case, Cordy."
That didn't seem to mollify her. She just hardened her glare. "Well I still need time to pack. I leave for my family vacation in a week and a half." She huffed. "Not that you would know anything about needing to pack, dweeb."
Xander just shook his head while muttering, "Perhaps a few more hours wouldn't have killed her?"
"What!"
He looked up at her and smiled sheepishly. "What? I didn't say anything."
Her glare just intensified, causing Xander to roll his eyes and stand up. "I'm sorry Cor." He pointed to a seat and asked her to join the rest of them.
When she noticed that she was the only one standing she rolled her eyes and made her way to sit down.
Xander looked over to the two adults and gave them apologetic smiles. He knew that they were both desperately looking for Buffy. He didn't know how long they could keep this up. From the looks of it, they hadn't gotten any sleep since she left those few weeks ago.
With a sigh, Xander began. "I'm sorry for waking some of you up. But some important things have happened, and some new information that is important to me just came to light. And I felt it was important to share it with you; especially since it has the possibility of affecting everyone here."
He glanced at Willow; her attention was entirely on him, like the old days, bringing a small smile to his face. Oz had the same stoic face that spoke of controlled emotions. Xander couldn't help but to wonder what had caused the young musician to wear such an unreadable mask, well that and to remind himself to never play poker with the man. Cordelia, on the other hand, seemed to be trying to show how little she cared for whatever it was that was saying, though her eyes betrayed her apparent indifference.
Both Joyce and Giles seemed to just sit there, and try to take whatever was coming; the fact that they both had slept so little in such a long time wasn't helping him out at all. So, it wasn't that much of a shock when Giles spoke up.
"I do not mean to sound rude, but if this doesn't have anything to do with an apocalypse, would it be possible to hold this meeting off for another day, or another time? I am ever so much in need of some sleep, and I believe that there are more pressing concerns at the moment." The last statement was made with some furtive glances in Joyce's direction.
"I promise you, G-Man, if there wasn't a timing factor, I would have waited to tell you." Xander sighed as he glanced down at the table; thereby missing the quick glare sent his way by Giles. The man really didn't enjoy his 'G-Man' moniker. "But this really does need to be discussed now." He glanced back up to shoot both adults an apologetic glance. Giles simply nodded while Joyce actually smiled before speaking to him.
"It's ok dear. Please let us know what's on your mind. And thank you for including me."
Xander simply nodded. "Ok, where to start?" He sighed as he leaned back in his seat. "Well, to start of with, my mother recently took off from home, leaving just me and my father." He would have continued if not for Willow's gasp of surprise and what can only be called Willow-babble.
"OhmygodXander!Whydidn'tyousayanything?Youcan'tpossiblyliveinthatplacewithjustyouandthatmanthere!" The last part was 'spoken' with an indignant screech.
Xander smiled to his oldest friend as he let out a small chuckle. Everyone else had shock written across their faces. Whether it was because of his news, or because of the 'Willow-babble' he wasn't sure.
"I didn't say anything, Wills, because there was already so much going on. And it wasn't anything that I couldn't handle."
Willow, who had finally taken the chance to breathe, looked at him as though he were crazy. "Don't you give me that, Buster! You should have told me." She shook her head indignantly. "There is no way in Hell that you are living alone in that house with that man."
Before anyone else could ask what was going on, or inquire into his home life, Xander spoke up.
"At the moment, that's neither here nor there. Some new information has come to light, and that is why I asked for this meeting."
Giles began to stutter as he cleaned his glasses. "Wh-what is it that you wish for us to know?"
Xander took in a deep breath. He knew that some of this wasn't going to go over all too well. He only hoped the shocked factor would work in his favor.
"I met Batman last night."
"Good Lord!"
"What?"
"You met…wait. Last night? You were patrolling weren't you?" Yep, leave it to Willow to jump from one thing to another like that.
Once again the Giles' glasses came off as he began to clean them, but before anyone could begin with the new line of questioning, Xander raised his hands in protest.
"First of all, yes. There are still vampires out there. You know, the type that needs to kill people in order to feed. I have absolutely no intention of leaving people out there to die, and you all should know that." Seeing that the yelling was still coming full force, he decided on another tactic. "Look, can we hold off on the 'Xander you can't do this' conversation for another time, it's not what we're here to discuss."
Giles sighed. "Very well, but do not believe for a moment that we will not be continuing this discussion at a later date." Xander simply nodded in defeat. "And just why is Gotham City's protector in Sunnydale?"
Xander smiled at them sheepishly. "He was actually here to see me."
"Oh dear."
"What!"
"Was it because of the rocket launcher?"
Joyce's head snapped around at him as a look of shocked confusion covered her face. He sighed, he really needed to thank Willow when this was all over. Not to mention the sudden look of panic that overcame Cordelia's face when that was suggested was something he could have done without.
"No Willow, it wasn't for anything like that." He could feel Joyce's gaze on him, but this was definitely not the time for this particular conversation. "He was here on behalf of my father." Before any more gasps, or cries of surprise could be uttered, he stood up with his hands held high, warding off their replies. He looked to each of them in turn.
"Before any of you ask me how it's possible for Tony Harris to know Batman, you should know something that Batman told me last night." He glanced at everyone there, and he was somewhat pleased to see the rapt attention of everyone present. "Tony Harris is not my father." With that he sat back down and waited for the questions to begin.
After a few questions, ones Xander didn't have any answers for, such as 'Who is your father?' He was able to tell the events of the previous night undisturbed. He then proceeded to inform them of how he was to meet his father tonight, producing both the invitation and the electronic communication device Batman had given to him.
There had been a moment or two of silence as everyone reflected on what they had been told. It was quickly decided that if he wished to meet his father, he had everyone's blessing and best wishes to do so. How much to tell the man was a different matter. As was whether or not to hold off on the meeting until more thought could be put into this.
Apparently that decision was taken out of his hands as a squeal could be heard in the room. Suddenly all eyes were on Cordelia, who seemed to be bouncing in her chair as she stared with side eyes at the invitation. Xander stared at her in amazement. 'I never knew that Cordy could make a sound like that.' That brought a grin to his face.
Cordelia began to breathe hard as she finally looked up and towards Xander. "Oh we are so definitely going tonight."
Xander shook his head. "Cor, I don't think…wait…We?"
Cordelia looked at him in outrage. "Do you have any idea of what this is?" She asked him while waving the invitation. "The Belmont charity event is where the Who's who of the elites gather. The richest of the rich, the best fashion designers, models, actors, producers, movie stars, the best of the best all go to this thing. Hell, no matter how hard my daddy tried, he could never get an invitation to this place. And your daddy just gives you one?" She shook her head as she glared at him. "Don't you think for a second that you are going to leave me out of this! You owe me. You even woke me up early this morning. I am so going with you."
Xander stared at her in mute shock. 'Is my father one of elite?' Xander mentally snorted. To him it wouldn't matter if the guy was a waiter or a janitor working the gig. He had to be better than Tony was. Either way, the nervous feeling was back, and stronger than ever. More than likely his biological father was a Who's who of the elite. After all, the man knew Batman, and had the guy running errands for him. It was with these thoughts running through his head that Xander spoke without truly thinking.
"But I don't even have anything to wear."
Cordelia's eyes lit up at this. "Oh shopping!" That snapped Xander out of his musings, with terrified eyes he looked at the cheerleader. She didn't seem to notice. "Willow, Oz, how about it, my Daddy's treat!"
Willow and Oz looked at each other. Oz just shrugged, causing Willow to beam a smile in his direction, before smiling at Xander.
"I wouldn't miss this for the world. "
Both Joyce and Giles declined to go, saying they needed as much rest as possible. Though should Xander need them, they would of course be there for him.
Xander just stared around the table with wide eyes as he thought about the shopping that was about to be done before the big event tonight. 'What the hell did I just get myself into?'
