Title: Facing Their Pasts Prologue+1/9+Epilogue
Author: Forsaken2003
Pairing: Spike/Xander
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I own none, all belong to Joss Whedon
Comments: Always welcomed!
Summary: A Sequel to 'Imprisonments'. The past comes back for both boys.
Warnings/Spoilers: Human verse and OOC
Beta'd by: Whichclothes

Part One

A week later found Xander, Buffy and Willow decorating the small apartment while William was in class. It was nothing fancy, a few streamers and balloons. There were some gifts, with Xander's on its way… he hoped. He hadn't heard from Elliot and had his fingers crossed that he was still coming.

Soon the front door opened and William walked in startled by the sight before him.

"Surprise!" they all yelled at the stunned blond.

"Wow…" William said, stepping further into the apartment. "This is amazing," he declared with a smile. "Thank you."

Xander came over to William, pulling him close and into a heated kiss.

"Damn… did it just get hotter in here?" Buffy asked and Willow nodded. "Present time!" Buffy declared, making the couple separate.

"I was giving him a present," Xander said with a mock glare.

Willow grinned. "And you can finish that when we are not here and out of hearing range."

"Yeah, so five blocks," Buffy added making both William and Xander blush.

William cleared his throat. "So... presents?"

The girls let them off the hook and William sat on the chair with Xander on the arm. Willow handed over her gift and watched as William tore into it. It was a state of the art laptop. "I downloaded everything you need," Willow reassured him. "I know that it's not always comfortable doing your papers and other things on a desktop. I also know that Xander isn't the quietest person no matter how hard he tries."

Xander pouted and William patted his knee but didn't say anything to contradict Willow's statement. "Thank you, Willow. This is great," William said and stood up to hug Willow.

"Me next!" Buffy declared, and thrust a blue-wrapped box into William's waiting hands.

William unwrapped the gift and discovered an Apple iPod touch. He was absolutely speechless; he had wanted one for months ever since he saw Buffy's. "This is amazing. Thank you."

Buffy grinned and stuck her tongue out at Willow. "He likes mine better." Willow just rolled her eyes without commenting.

"One part of my present is kind of personal…" Xander said blushing. He and William hadn't had sex yet; they were waiting for the right moment and Xander decided that William's birthday was the perfect moment.

"There are multiple parts?" William asked excitedly. He hadn't celebrated his birthday since before his mother died.

Before Xander could answer there was a knock on their door. "You should answer that."

With a curious look to his friends, hoping for some clue, William walked to the door. Xander grabbed hold of Willow's hand and held his breath.

"Dad?" William's voice drifted into the livingroom.

"William." Elliot nodded his head in greeting. "It's been a long time." William looked a lot like his father; they had the same bone structure and blue eyes. Elliot was taller and his hair was brown with tints of grey on the sides.

"What are you doing here?" William asked. he was unsure how to react to his father being on his doorstep.

Xander walked up behind William and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Why don't you invite him in?"

William shook himself out of his stupor. "Dad, come in."

"Thank you." Elliot stepped through the door and looked around the tiny apartment. "How… quaint."

"It's small but it works for us," William said, feeling the need to defend his home. "Um… this is Xander."

Xander extended his hand and Elliot accepted it. "Thank you so much for coming."

"You did this, Xander?" William asked, unsure of if he was thankful or upset about this decision being made without him.

"I think we should be going," Willow said. Both she and Buffy gave the boys pecks on the cheeks and gave a nod to Elliot before sneaking out the door.

All three men stood uncomfortably. "Mr. Pratt, would you like to sit down? I can put a pot of coffee on or maybe tea?"

"No, thank you. I should get to my hotel and settled in." Elliot explained.

"Oh…" Xander said disappointedly. "I actually thought you could stay in William's room and he could bunk with me."

William blushed at the look Elliot gave him, as his father finally understood the exact relationship between them. "No, thank you. I think I would be more comfortable in a hotel."

"How long are you here for, Dad?" William asked. He was going to have a long discussion with Xander.

"A few days." Elliot looked at Xander before looking back at William. "Perhaps we could have supper tomorrow?"

William nodded and Xander replied. "That would be great!"

"I actually meant William and myself," Elliot clarified, ignoring Xander's disappointed look.

"Fine, what hotel are you staying at?" William asked, also ignoring the look from Xander wanting him to insist that he come along.

Elliot wrinkled up his nose, "The Best Western. This town doesn't have a Ritz!"

"It's Sunnydale, dad," William said frustrated.

"Of course. So I will pick you up at say seven?" Elliot asked.

William nodded; he knew there was no way out of this. "Sure."

"Wonderful," Elliot said. "I'll see you tomorrow. It was nice meeting you, Alexander."

William closed the door when Elliot was half-way down the hall. He rested his head against the door.

"So… that was your dad," Xander said stupidly. "He um… seems nice."

"Why?" William asked as he turned to face Xander. "Why would you purposely go behind my back and get in contact with my father?"

"You said that you wanted to talk to him," Xander defended himself. "I just thought I'd… move things along for you."

William shook his head. "Did I push you when you were terrified to go out to dinner with Willow when she got a promotion a month after I moved here?"

"No," Xander said meekly. He remembered that night. He ended up in the bathroom half the night.

"Or how about the night Buffy's new boyfriend asked us to go for a couples picnic?" William asked.

Xander shook his head. The thought of going to a park where there would be lots of kids who would stare and him with their parents scolding as they too stared sent shivers down his back. "I'm sorry, Will. I just wanted to help."

"Did you even think that maybe I didn't want to see him? This isn't any of your business. You should have stayed out of it!" William snarled and stormed past Xander to his room.

"Wait… I thought you were going to sleep in my room," Xander said, though he already knew that plan was shot to hell.

William stopped, not bothering to face Xander. "I really don't want to look at you right now." He walked into his room closing the door behind him. A soft click echoed in Xander's ears as he realized William locked himself away and Xander out.