Sorry for the long delay!! I was busy with school and I kinda lost motivation. Well here's the next chapter! Do tell me what you think! ^^;; Thanks!

Happiness Will Come
Chapter 16
Start the Plan
By: Tara-Chan

Disclaimers: Slayers belong to the original creators. This fanfic is based of a Korean drama called: Taeyang Un Gadugi: Happiness Will Come. It belongs to the producers of KBS 2. Do not sue me!

Notes: Please ignore the grammatical and spelling errors. PROFANITY! Character may be OOC because it's AU. I apologize for all this! Well enjoy and feedbacks are welcomed!

~*~*~*~

Zelgadiss and Lina sat on his bed in silence for quite a while. Both were in deep thoughts that they didn't even hear Beo coming in the room. Beo cleared his throat and both of them jumped five feet in the air.

"AAAHHHHHHHHHH!" They both screamed, very much startled.

Beo backed away and sweatdropped. "I'm sorry…?"

"Dad! Don't scare us like that!" Lina stood up with her hands on her hips. "Scaring people like that is not healthy!"

Zelgadiss couldn't help himself as he said "Since when did you care about being healthy?"

Lina turned toward him and glared at him. "Who asked for your opinions! Dak chu! (1)

He clamped his mouth shut and looked at the wall humming to himself. Lina glared at his back and was about to just throw him through the wall, when Beo interrupted.

"Well anyways I was wondering why it was so quiet in here, for you two being quiet for more than 5 minutes is quite unusual. Is anything wrong?"

Zel and Lina both sighed. "Nothing dad. Just problems about Xelloss."

Beo raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Zel sighed and told him what had happened. After completing the tale, Beo too felt uneasy and his face told them that as well. "I see…this could be a problem. But I'm sure Xelloss has common sense to not do anything like that." Although I seriously doubt it…

"Well Zel is planning to go talk with Xelloss later. Do you think it's wise dad?" Lina asked worriedly. "I mean I know it's not good to interfere with other's problems, but this could be more than a problem."

He thoughtfully put his hands under his chin and thought for a while. "Well friends do tell each other what is right and wrong, and I think it's Zelgadiss' duty to try to help him out sometimes."

"But…I don't know if he'll be willing to listen to Zel now dad…" Lina sighed. "No offense Zelgadiss, but I did notice how…he kind of changed."

Zelgadiss knew that what Lina said was true, but didn't want to admit it. "I'm sure he got better judgement than that. I mean Xelloss is a kind man. I'll just talk with him and see what happens."

Beo and Lina nodded. "Anytime you need to talk, just come to me son."

"Yeah, if he gives you a hard time, I'll give him hell!" Lina grinned.

Zelgadiss smiled softly. "Of course, and your hell isn't the ninth level or anything. It's the millionth level!"

"Muhahaha! Yep! That's me!" Lina glanced at her watch. "Anyways I have to get going." She made a face. "The bogeyman, as Zelgadiss called them, will be wondering where the heck I went to." She went over to Zel and kissed him softly on the lips, and then went to her dad and kissed him on the cheek.

"I'll see you guys later. I'll come back right away before you know it!" Lina waved and left.

Beo chuckled. "My daughter…can't help loving her."

"Yes…she's hard not to like…"

~*~*~*~

Xelloss stayed late at his office. He was sorting this and that and completing a lot of paperwork. He wanted to go home and see Filia, but then again at the same time he really didn't want to see anyone as of now. He wouldn't mind Zel, but anyone else, he's not in the mood.

I cannot believe that had to happen to Xillia. I knew that woman was bad luck. I should have prevented Xillia from meeting her. Damn…now she's paralyzed forever. For what did Xillia ever do to deserve this? For what did both of us deserved to be motherless? Why us? Xelloss sighed and poured himself more champagne into the glass he had on his messy desk. Working for Gaav, I get endless supply of alcohol. That's good. Now that I got promoted, I got so much work to do, but at least he pay is good. But still at this rate, I'll never become a billionaire like that Gaav…

Suddenly the phone rang. He wearily cleared a path through the papers and picked it up. "Hello?"

"Hey Xelloss, it's me Zelgadiss."

Speak of the devil. "Hey what's up?"

"Not much. I heard about Xillia. I'm sorry man…"

"Not your fault. That bitch's fault."

"I see…" Is it me or does Zelgadiss sound uncomfortable?

"So need anything Zel?" Xelloss tried to sound cheery.

"We haven't hung out in the longest time. Wanna meet and go to Pojang Macha (2) with me?"

"Well…" Xelloss hesitated. He wanted too go, but there was all these works that needed to be done.

Zelgadiss noticed the hesitation and decided to say something about it. "Hey if you are busy I understand. We can go there some other time."

"Yeah sure. Thanks Zel. I am swarmed with paperwork so I'll go with ya some other time okay?"

"No problem. Just don't overwork. Don't become a workaholic."

"Don't worry. I'm a party guy so don't worry. Bye." With that Xelloss hung up the phone. He leaned back in his chair and rubbed his eyes. So much to do and it's nine…I want to just go home, but I got to finish this paperwork…and think of ways to get Lano's company to go down the drain.

Someone knocked the door of his office and he was surprised. I thought everyone left by now. "Come in."

In came Gaav with Phibrizo. "Xelloss, how are you doing there?"

"I'm doing fine boss. Do you need something?"

"Yeah I was wondering. Want to come over to my house for a while and have some wine with Phibrizo and I?"

Xelloss thought for a minute. I really don't want to, but I don't want to give Gaav a bad impression of me. "Sure boss why not?"

"That's the spirit son. Don't worry about the paperwork. Just do them tomorrow." Gaav smirked beneath his inviting smile.

"Yeah, father isn't in the hurry to get those done. Just relax and come with us. It'll be fun!" Phibrizo chimed in, although it wasn't all that necessary to Xelloss' opinion.

Xelloss put down his stuff and grabbed his coat. "Yeah. Thank you for the invitation. I really need some relaxation."

"Well then you are making the right choice. Come now." Gaav beckoned him to follow and Xelloss obeyed.

~*~*~*~

"Haha! That was funny story boss," said Xelloss, slurring his words. Already he was quite tipsy and the same goes to his other two companions. "You sure know how to get a guy that is under a lot of stress relax."

"Of course. I am famous for that." Gaav smiled drunkenly.

At that moment Lina came down to see what all the commotion was about. She was trying to get some sleep, but with Phibrizo and Gaav making all these noises with someone, getting sleep was hopeless.

"Ahh…" Gaav stood up. "You came down at the right time my dear. Look who I have with me."

Lina glanced and saw Xelloss and her mouth dropped open. "What's he doing here?"

"Now now, that is no way to treat a guest of mine. Be courteous for me."

Lina nearly gagged. Be courteous for you? In your dreams!! "I apologize," not really sorry one bit, "But I wasn't expecting him here…"

"Oh I invited him here for some glass of wine." Gaav indicated the empty seat next to Xelloss. "Why not join us Lina? More the merrier!"

She ignored her "father" and turned to Xelloss. "Does Filia and Zel know you're here?"

Xelloss looked up lazily. "Naw. They don't. I don't have to tell them everything do I?"

Gaav and Phibrizo laughed out loud. "Sister, he doesn't need to tell everyone everything about him. He deserves some privacy too don't you agree?"

With a strained smile she said "I'm sorry brother. Do forgive my rudeness for not respecting Xelloss' privacy."

"Forgiven." Gaav smiled none so kindly. "Do have a seat."

"I rather go to bed father…" Lina trailed off but with no other choice sat down. For she knew that she wasn't going to be able to get out of this.

Xelloss reached over and got an empty wine glass and pour some wine into it and handed it to her. "Here, have some. It'll loosen you. You looked stressed by the way."

And who's fault is it may I ask? Lina accepted the glass but didn't drink any. "Thank you."

Gaav leaned over and was going to tell another funny story. "Well couple years ago…"

~*~*~*~

Xelloss staggered into the Gabrieve's household all drunk. It was already two in the morning and everyone in the household was worried sick for they haven't heard from him since he found out about the accident. He ended up spending the night at the office and didn't bother coming home at all. They all decided to leave him be and figured that he'll come home for dinner at least tonight, but to their bewilderment he didn't. Filia anxiously kept looking at the gate to see when her future husband will come in. When she saw that he was drunk, she wasn't happy at all.

Filia walked up to Xelloss and hugged him. "Where have you been? Why didn't you come home for dinner?"

Xelloss looked at her like as if she was someone else. "I got promoted dear. I got promoted. I told you I would. I stayed late and did some paperwork and then Gaav invited me to his house for some drink."

"You could have still called Xelloss." Mr. Gabrieve interjected harshly. "We were all worried about you."

"I'm sorry, but I have my own life so I can do whatever I want. You don't have to worry about me sir." Xelloss said 'sir' very sarcastically.

Mr. Gabrieve clenched his fist but didn't say anything. He went to his bedroom and his wife followed. Before going in, Mrs. Gabrieve turned around.

"Dear, we know the news about Xillia really shocked you, but still you could have let us know that you were alright." With that she went in without looking back. Same goes for Gourry and Sylphiel. They silently went to their room.

Xelloss frowned and pushed Filia aside and went to his room.

Filia shocked by his sudden action, said nothing and just went to her room troubled. This is not good…so not good.

(1) Korean for "shut up".
(2) That is like a street restaurant thingie where you can get alcoholic drink and other food.