QUE SERA, SERA (16/?)
 

"Do you think she'd like this one?" Xander asked, holding up a delicate
silver bracelet for inspection.
 

"It's beautiful and charming," Willow said, smiling at her old friend. She
had been rather surprised when he had asked her to go shopping with him.
After they had left the house, he had told her that he wanted to find
something special for Cordelia, for her to remember Rome.
 

"Just like Delia," he said, his love for the girl evident in his voice.
 

"You love her a lot, don't you?" Willow asked as he paid for the jewelry.
 

Xander smiled sheepishly before moving across the street towards a small
bench. He sat down, looking at her and seeing that she was waiting for an
answer. "Yes, I love her. I can see myself growing old and having children
with her. I just don't think she loves me like that."
 

"Oh please. She loves you, Xander," Willow said, having to admit that she
wasn't sure if Cordelia would be the having children kind.
 

Xander smiled wickedly, "As much as you love Angel?"
 

"Probably more," Willow responded automatically before her eyes widened. She
glared at a laughing Xander, "I meant...she loves you a lot."
 

"Uh uh, Wills. You already said it," Xander said, smiling at his best friend.
He had told Cordelia to give him a couple of hours with Willow and he would
know the extent of his friends feelings for the vampire. It had only taken a
little over an hour before the opportunity to trick her had come along. He
felt like doing a small dance right there on the street.
 

"I didn't realize what I was saying," Willow defended, almost smiling at the
look of happiness on Xander's face. "Besides, don't you hate Angel? Deadboy
remember?"
 

Xander shrugged, "You two make sense. What can I say? I'm maturing."
 

"Yes, you are," Willow had to agree. It was strange to see the differences in
all of her friends. They were about to start college though. They were
adults, technically. "So, it wouldn't bother you...me liking Angel."
 

"Liking?" Xander raised an eyebrow deliberately and laughed at Willow's
blush. "I think we are far past the liking stage, my dear."
 

"Oh, like you know anything about it," she said, groaning.
 

"I know more than you might think," Xander said, putting his arm around her
shoulder and squeezing. "He loves you too, you know. Just goes to show the
undead has some sort of taste left."
 

"I'm just a friend to him, Xander," she said, chewing her lip as her eyes
saddened. She sighed, "Enough about that. Do you have an ideas how you're
going to give Delia the bracelet?"
 

Xander shrugged, "I figured I'd just give it to her."
 

"Oh God," Willow said, rolling her eyes. "How romantic."
 

"Quit being so damned cheeky. I think you've been around Faith far too long."
 

"You need a plan, Xander. A romantic dinner, just the two of you. Moonlight
overhead. Elegant music drifting towards you," Willow sighed, imaging the
scene, only substituting herself and Angel as the leads.
 

"You think she'd like all that fuss?" Xander asked. "It's not like I'm
proposing...it's just a bracelet."
 

"Yes, she'd like all the fuss. She's a woman after all. We like romance and
fuss," Willow said, smiling at her old friend. "Come on. Let's start walking.
We can look for the perfect restaurant before we head back."
 

Xander nodded, "Thanks for the help, Will. I want Cordelia to enjoy her time
here."
 

"No sweat, Xan," she said, smiling. "That's what best friends are for, after
all."
 

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