QUE SERA, SERA (1/?)
 

Willow stepped into the sunshine, a smile on her face as she looked around.
She was in Rome. She couldn't believe that not a week before she had been in
Sunnydale, anticipating a rather boring summer before college. Now she was in
an exotic country for three weeks. It was fantastic. She walked down the
steps of the home the council had rented for them and turned to wait for her
friends. Buffy had received a call from the council on the Monday after
graduation inviting her to come to Rome for training and meetings. The
invitation had included Giles, Faith and Wesley, the event being rather big
around the slayer circles. Giles had declined, still irritated that he had
been fired after protecting his slayer. Willow had heard him claim it was
because, despite the inactivity expected after the Mayor's demise, he needed
to keep an eye on the Hellmouth. She knew his true reasons and didn't blame
him.
 

It had surprised her when Cordelia had phoned, saying that her parent's
graduation present for her had been a month long cruise for her and three
friends. The May Queen had convinced them that a trip to Rome would be much
more exicting, making the arrangements for her, Willow, Xander and Jamie,
Buffy's boyfriend, to make the trip along with their friends. Angel had come
along at their insistance that he should not be left out. So, now, the entire
scooby gang was ready to take Rome by storm, according to Faith. Willow
wasn't really sure about all that, but she was glad to get out of Sunnydale
for the first time in years.
 

"You ready, Red?" Faith asked, watching as her friend looked at her and
smiled.
 

"I've been ready," Willow said, looking for Buffy. "Where's Buffy?"
 

"She wanted to sleep in. She and Jamie were up all night," Faith said,
wriggling her eyebrows.
 

"That is a horrible image," Cordelia said, making a face. "I think I lost my
appetite."
 

"Where's Xan?" Willow asked the pretty girl.
 

"Eating and watching some stupid movie. It's in Italian and he has no idea
what they're saying BUT he'd rather watch that then go walking around the
city this early in the morning. His exact words," Cordelia said, her tone
miffed.
 

"Well, then. It's just us." Faith said. "We can have fun without them. Too
bad Fang would burst into flames if he came with us. He'd probably have a
good time."
 

"Yeah, Angel really needs to get out more. Since his whole spending hundreds
of years in hell thing, he's been rather down," Cordelia said.
 

"I wonder why," Willow said, rolling her eyes.
 

"Nah, Fang isn't that bad. He's been actually smiling once in awhile lately.
He's all right, for a vampire," Faith said, shrugging. "Wonder what there is
to see in this town."
 

"It's Rome, Faith!" Willow said, laughing. "There is so much to see. I'm so
glad we have three weeks here."
 

"Yeah, easy for you to say. I get stuck attending those damn meetings and
training things. What a thrill." Faith scowled. "At least in Sunnydale, I'd
be able to kick some vamp ass."
 

"Think of the museums and art work," Willow said, her eyes bright with
excitement.
 

"We are in a foreign country with tons of exotic looking men that love pretty
Americans and all you can think about is killing vampires and dusty old
museums?" Cordelia said, shaking her head sadly. "Why am I friends with you
both?"
 

"Why are you thinking about men when you have the one of the only two steady
relationships in this messed up group?" Faith asked, watching the wealthy
girl shrug.
 

"Xander is...Xander." Cordelia said simply. "I mean, he chose to stay inside
and eat rather than spend the day with me. I just plan to keep my options
open."
 

"Trouble in paradise?" Willow said quietly, genuinely upset that her best
friend was having problems with Cordelia. If had told her two years before
that she would think Xander Harris and Cordelia Chase were soul mates, she
would have laughed herself silly. But, now, well, she had seen them together
for over a year. They worked in some weird way that made her envious of the
love they shared. "Maybe this vacation will help."
 

"Always the optimist," Cordelia said, smiling slightly at the redhead. "Who
knows?"
 

"So, where do we go first?" Faith asked, turning to face them as she walked
backwards, excitement evident in her face.
 

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