QUE SERA, SERA (17/?)
 

"Wow," Cordelia said softly as she followed the maitre d through the maze of
tables.
 

"You like?" Xander asked, his eyes hopeful. He had been nervous all day,
feeling almost as if this were their first date. He was sweating slightly and
kept worrying about saying the wrong thing.
 

"I love," she said, smiling at him. She sat down, her eyes still on him. This
was the most romantic thing that he had ever done for her. She laughed
softly, "This was Willow's idea, wasn't it?"
 

"What?" he asked, suddenly grinning sheepishly, "Yeah. I bought you something
and she acted like I was insane when I mentioned that I was just going to
give it to you. She said all women liked romance."
 

"She was right," Cordelia said, looking around the open air balcony they were
sitting at. The moon was half full and high overhead. A gentle breeze ruffled
her air ever so slightly. She sighed, looking back at his handsome face over
the candles. He smiled at her, the same goofy smile that had stolen her heart
so long ago. She had been crazy for thinking that she could live a life
without him. She could survive, but it wouldn't be living unless she was in
his arms. "I love you, Alexander Harris."
 

Xander lowered the menu, his eyes widening slightly. He smiled, "Love you
too, Cordelia Chase."
 

"I'm glad," she whispered before she looked at her menu.
 

*********

"She's smiling!" Willow squealed, smiling at Angel.
 

"So she is," he replied, his eyes on Willow's face.
 

Willow looked back at the table where her friends were sitting, trying to
forget that it was Angel who was sitting across from her. Trying to forget
how wonderful he looked in the soft glow of candlelight. Trying to ignore the
images of his entire body bathed in that soft glow. "They're talking. Golly,
she looks beautiful."
 

"Very beautiful," he said softly, his eyes still on her face. He watched her
glance at him in surprise, catching his eyes  on her own face instead of
Cordelia's and then blushing. He smiled, glancing at the other table so she
could have time to deal with the awareness that he found her attractive.
"They seem to be happy."
 

"Yeah," she whispered, wondering if his comment had been directed to her or
about Cordelia. She couldn't really just ask if he meant that he found her
beautiful or that it was the cheerleader. She moved her eyes from his face
and looked back at the table where Cordelia and Xander were sitting. She
smiled, watching her two dear friends talk so intently. Their hands met over
the table and she sighed softly, a happy look entering her eyes.
 

"Enough," Angel finally said, looking back at her. "We should give them some
privacy."
 

"You're right," she agreed, looking at him then glancing down at the menu in
front of her. "Did you want to leave?"
 

"No," he said, smiling. He enjoyed the sight of her face across the
candlelight too much to leave yet. "I thought we'd eat then maybe take a cab
to some gardens that I know outside of town."
 

"Gardens?" she said, smiling. "I think I'd like that."
 

"Good," he said, looking at his menu. "So, what would you like tonight?"
 

Willow smiled as she looked back at the menu, listening to his soft voice as
he made several suggestions to her. She forgot about Xander and Cordelia as
she began to enjoy simply being with Angel.
 

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