Part 7
Angel gave Cordelia a reassuring hand squeeze before she went to the front.
"You can do this," Angel whispered.
"Thanks," Cordy responded.
She stood up and made her way to the podium.
"It's been a long time since I've seen Xander," Cordy began. "The last time we had a half decent talk was after Graduation. As many of you know, I use to date Xander. After something happened we broke up, and I hated him."
"But," she continued. "It was more of what he did, than hating him. Xander is a hard person to hate. Even after he hurts you. Xander is one the sweetest, kindest men I've ever met. He was the first person I dated that treated me right."
Cordelia smiled as a memory formed in her mind.
"I remember our first official date. It was shortly after the whole Valentines Day thing. We both considered getting together when we weren't hiding it from anyone…including the people I thought were my friends. He tried really hard to make it special…"
****Flashback****
Cordelia's House
February 19, 1998
Xander drove up to Cordelia's house in his mom's car. He took a deep breath.
"Just relax. It's just a date with Cordelia. I've done it before."
He got out of the car and walked to the door and rang the doorbell. After a minute, Cordy answered the door.
"Hey Xander," Cordelia said. "Just one sec."
She closed the door grabbed her purse and coat, and left with Xander.
"So…where are we going," she asked. "Is it expensive?"
"Cordelia, you know I don't have much money. Spent most of it on that necklace you're wearing."
"So you didn't get it from Wal-Mart?"
"No…got it from the jewelry store downtown."
"Are you going to tell me where we are going or not?"
"Or not," Xander answered.
"You're evil."
"No…that's Deadboy."
"You've always hated him…haven't you?"
"Yeah," Xander replied softly.
Xander stopped in front of a restaurant.
"I thought this place was closed on Fridays," Cordelia asked.
"Not tonight it isn't."
Xander escorted Cordelia into the restaurant. There was a trail of candles that led to a table in the middle of the restaurant. The table had a candle surrounded by rose petals.
"Oh. My. God," Cordelia said stunned.
A waiter came up to them and took Cordelia's coat.
"This way," he said.
He escorted the couple to their table. Xander pulled Cordelia's chair out for her.
"Thanks," Cordelia said as she sat. "I thought you said you didn't have much money."
"I don't…that's why for the next 8 weekends I'll be here washing dishes."
"You did all this for me?"
"Figured after everything that happened the last few days I'd have to do something big to make up for it."
"You didn't do anything."
"I cast a spell, made every woman in town love me, and they all nearly killed you."
"I'll be eating the lobster then."
"They don't serve lobster here," Xander said.
"Then they'll ship it here," Cordelia said with a grin.
"Funny. Charming and funny."
"I know," Cordelia replied.
They spent the rest of the evening talking about everything from movies to slaying. After dinner, they went for a walk on the beach.
"It's beautiful out her at night, don't you think," Cordelia said.
"Almost as beautiful as you," Xander said.
"Doofus," Cordelia said playfully.
"Wench," Xander replied.
"Momma's boy," Cordelia retorted.
"Spoiled brat," Xander responded.
After each insult the inched closer and closer.
"I hate you," Cordelia said.
"I hate you too," Xander said.
They stared at each other and proceeded to kiss each other passionately. After a moment they broke apart.
"Wow," Cordelia said breathlessly.
"Yeah," Xander replied. "Wow."
"We better get going…it's late," Cordelia said.
"Yeah…we better."
****End Flashback****
"That was the first night I really saw how romantic Xander could be. I think that was the night I fell in love with him. He was always sweet and charming. We always argued, but it was always fueled by passion. He hurt me when he kissed Willow, but because of him, I had the strength to become a better person when I moved to L.A., helping Angel help the helpless. It's because of him I decided to help Angel on his mission. I may have acted like a cold heartless bitch after we broke up, but he helped me see what I was in the inside."
Cordelia looked towards the casket.
"I'll always love him for that."
With that, the tears she had been holding in, finally began to flow.
End Part 7
Angel gave Cordelia a reassuring hand squeeze before she went to the front.
"You can do this," Angel whispered.
"Thanks," Cordy responded.
She stood up and made her way to the podium.
"It's been a long time since I've seen Xander," Cordy began. "The last time we had a half decent talk was after Graduation. As many of you know, I use to date Xander. After something happened we broke up, and I hated him."
"But," she continued. "It was more of what he did, than hating him. Xander is a hard person to hate. Even after he hurts you. Xander is one the sweetest, kindest men I've ever met. He was the first person I dated that treated me right."
Cordelia smiled as a memory formed in her mind.
"I remember our first official date. It was shortly after the whole Valentines Day thing. We both considered getting together when we weren't hiding it from anyone…including the people I thought were my friends. He tried really hard to make it special…"
****Flashback****
Cordelia's House
February 19, 1998
Xander drove up to Cordelia's house in his mom's car. He took a deep breath.
"Just relax. It's just a date with Cordelia. I've done it before."
He got out of the car and walked to the door and rang the doorbell. After a minute, Cordy answered the door.
"Hey Xander," Cordelia said. "Just one sec."
She closed the door grabbed her purse and coat, and left with Xander.
"So…where are we going," she asked. "Is it expensive?"
"Cordelia, you know I don't have much money. Spent most of it on that necklace you're wearing."
"So you didn't get it from Wal-Mart?"
"No…got it from the jewelry store downtown."
"Are you going to tell me where we are going or not?"
"Or not," Xander answered.
"You're evil."
"No…that's Deadboy."
"You've always hated him…haven't you?"
"Yeah," Xander replied softly.
Xander stopped in front of a restaurant.
"I thought this place was closed on Fridays," Cordelia asked.
"Not tonight it isn't."
Xander escorted Cordelia into the restaurant. There was a trail of candles that led to a table in the middle of the restaurant. The table had a candle surrounded by rose petals.
"Oh. My. God," Cordelia said stunned.
A waiter came up to them and took Cordelia's coat.
"This way," he said.
He escorted the couple to their table. Xander pulled Cordelia's chair out for her.
"Thanks," Cordelia said as she sat. "I thought you said you didn't have much money."
"I don't…that's why for the next 8 weekends I'll be here washing dishes."
"You did all this for me?"
"Figured after everything that happened the last few days I'd have to do something big to make up for it."
"You didn't do anything."
"I cast a spell, made every woman in town love me, and they all nearly killed you."
"I'll be eating the lobster then."
"They don't serve lobster here," Xander said.
"Then they'll ship it here," Cordelia said with a grin.
"Funny. Charming and funny."
"I know," Cordelia replied.
They spent the rest of the evening talking about everything from movies to slaying. After dinner, they went for a walk on the beach.
"It's beautiful out her at night, don't you think," Cordelia said.
"Almost as beautiful as you," Xander said.
"Doofus," Cordelia said playfully.
"Wench," Xander replied.
"Momma's boy," Cordelia retorted.
"Spoiled brat," Xander responded.
After each insult the inched closer and closer.
"I hate you," Cordelia said.
"I hate you too," Xander said.
They stared at each other and proceeded to kiss each other passionately. After a moment they broke apart.
"Wow," Cordelia said breathlessly.
"Yeah," Xander replied. "Wow."
"We better get going…it's late," Cordelia said.
"Yeah…we better."
****End Flashback****
"That was the first night I really saw how romantic Xander could be. I think that was the night I fell in love with him. He was always sweet and charming. We always argued, but it was always fueled by passion. He hurt me when he kissed Willow, but because of him, I had the strength to become a better person when I moved to L.A., helping Angel help the helpless. It's because of him I decided to help Angel on his mission. I may have acted like a cold heartless bitch after we broke up, but he helped me see what I was in the inside."
Cordelia looked towards the casket.
"I'll always love him for that."
With that, the tears she had been holding in, finally began to flow.
End Part 7