December 20th 2004
Los Angeles, California.
The two of them sat in her car, in the mostly deserted parking lot. It was early enough that the strip mall's parking lot was fairly empty, setting the mood for the secret meeting.
Cordelia could hear the birds still chirping as she laid her head against the drivers' seat headrest, then she spoke to the man in the passenger seat. "Wesley, please for the love of God, tell me you have some good news for me?!"
But from the apologetic look on the man's face, she knew he didn't. "I'm sorry, Cordelia. Fred and I have looked everywhere we can think of. We even talked to the Council, but without being able to tell them for whom the memory spell is – we've, ah, come up against a impregnable wall, I'm afraid. The dreams, they may go away on their own..."
"Why do you think that?" she asked him.
"Well, the pervious visions, along with the one you had last night, all seemed to go forward in time. Soon, you should catch up to the present..."
The brunette woman shook her head. "No way, Wes. I'm not waiting around to find out if they just stop. Besides, what if they keep on going into the future?"
The British man nodded grimly. That thought had occurred to him too. "Yes, well. I'm afraid the only thing I can think of is for you to talk to Xander about this, since he's the only other person we know of that was – well, 'upstairs', as you like to call it-"
"NO!" Cordelia shouted, before he'd finished speaking. She looked a little sheepish, as she started to speak more softly.
"Wes, I have no clue why, but I have this like certainty that I have to keep it to myself. I want to tell him so bad, if only to have him hold my hand through this. But it's like the feeling I got whenever I had a vision, you know? I mean I didn't always see an address for us to head over to, but I somehow knew where to go..." She then thumped her head onto the steering wheel. "This sucks!"
Wesley nodded. "Yes, I do believe it does."
When Cordelia looked up at him again, he could see her eyes watering a bit. "Wesley, I hate this. I'm lying to my husband. He knows something's up, and..."
"Well, technically he isn't your husband yet."
The former cheerleader was dead serious. "Wes, in my mind he is. Saying the 'I do's' at the wedding is just a formality. But you want to know the worst part of the last vision was?"
The Englishman nodded, and she let out a sigh before continuing. "I know that that skanky hellgod is dead and gone. But after that vision...all I could think of was the thought that she could come after the girls, or Xander! I wasn't scared for myself at all. The only thing that calmed me down and let me sleep at all, was just hearing Xander's heart beat. I've gotten so used to being close to him and hearing his heart beat when I sleep, that I don't think I can go more than a night or two now without hearing it."
The newly-reinstated Watcher laid a hand on her shoulder, trying to comfort her as best he could. And he was expecting her next question.
"Do you think...could we rework that spell that you guys used on me when I came back from the Powers the first time, to restore my memory?"
"No," Wes told her sternly. "That spell is very hard to do, let alone rework to suit our current needs. Lorne's friend who worked it last time is no longer living in LA, and if we did anything wrong – it, it could erase your memory back to when you were in the first grade or something."
He continued, "Now, I'm also wondering about something you mentioned about your most recent vision. You said that Glory didn't attempt to drain your sanity by grasping your head? That she did something near your heart? So, did she say anything about that, which you can remember?"
Cordelia thought for a moment. "Well, she seemed surprised and called me a pre-Immortal. Then she made with the blinding pain, and I woke up squeezing Xander hard enough to leave bruises." She was surprised to see the shocked look come over her friend's face. "Wes, I don't like that expression you're making. Nothing good has ever come after you put on that face!"
The Watcher just looked at her for a few moments, before shaking his head. "No, she – she must have been wrong. You can't be one of the eternals..."
"She looked pretty damn sure of herself in the vision, Wes. And I better not be an eternal or a pre-Immortal, whatever the hell they are! I have enough supernatural crap happening to me already, thank you very much!"
Wesley shook his head, almost talking to himself. "You? An Immortal?"
Cordy held her annoyed look for a while, but cracked after he kept looking at her. "Alright, why can't I be one of these Immortal people?"
***
The Chase Mansion – main living room.
Cordelia couldn't help but smile, as she looked at the sight that greeted her upon her return home. Xander, still in his pajamas and robe, was lying on the floor with the two girls – who were becoming less and less tiny, as time went on – on a large play mat. And they seemed to be having a grand old time.
Both girls were giggling, as their father took turns rubbing his face lightly into their stomachs. Just by the sight of them, Cordy knew Xander would be nothing like either of their own fathers. It might take her a bit to convince him of that, but she was sure she would succeed in the end.
The former seer took off her shoes in the main entrance, and quietly walked to them. Xander didn't notice her approach, or if he did he was making no sign of it. She lay down on the other side of the three members of her family, and sighed in contentment.
Xander cast a smile towards her, "And how is the lovely Ms. Chase this morning?"
She reached out and ran her hand over his arm, "A lot better, now that I'm back here with my family."
Her fiancé tickled Kelsey as he spoke again, "I got a call from General Martinson this morning, while you were out."
"That's your boss's boss, right?" the former May Queen asked as she played with Erica.
"Yeah," Xander responded. "He approved a request that I made the other day."
"And what's that?" Cordelia asked, as Erica tried to grab the stuffed animal in her hand.
"You know the X-304? My own little space ship that still freaks me out?"
"Yeah?"
"Well, they started working on it unofficially last year. They only just named it now. It's only about 45% done, and it should go faster now that they can work on it in the open and get money for it from the Appropriations Committee. So, uh, it should be ready to launch for its shakedown cruise in about 6 to 11 months. And I requested that you be the one to christen it when it's launched."
Cordelia looked at him sharply, albeit very surprised. "Xander, I would be so honored!" Sitting up, the woman smiled, then leaned over to give him a kiss.
***
Los Angeles, California. 12:13 pm
Lieutenant Vince D'Amata walked out of the small diner with one old girlfriend, Mary-Beth, and two old friends Kristy and Julie. "Now, that's what I call lunch!"
Mary-Beth shook her head at him. "You just went right back to junk food after we broke up, didn't you?"
"Oh, come on Mary-Beth," D'Amata grinned, "You know I can't go for long without a triple-decker bacon cheeseburger! Besides, it did have lettuce and a tomato slice on it..."
Rolling her eyes as she linked arms with him, the woman added, "Yeah, and you took those off just to add more barbecue sauce!"
Walking a bit behind the pair, the two girls had different reactions. "Oh my God!" Julie whispered. "She's walking arm in arm with him! Mary-Beth didn't say anything about putting the moves on him again..."
Kristy just laughed her perky laugh, as the redhead whispered back, "Hey, why not? Vince is one of only three serious boyfriends she's ever had. That Chris guy hasn't been heard from in years, and when's the last time we heard anything from Hammer?"
"True," Julie admitted. "Oh! If she keeps true to form, then she'll be laying her head on his shoulder right about...now."
And that was just what Mary-Beth did. She smiled to herself as Vince acted like he didn't even notice, plus she tried to act like she didn't notice how more muscular his arms had gotten. "Vince, why don't you come with us to the lodge? I know my Mom and Dad would love to see you again..."
Well, of course they would, Julie thought. On account of everyone hated Mary-Beth's last boyfriend! Wonder where that idiot Parker is nowadays, anyway?
Vince gave Mary-Beth a questioning glance. "Both your parents are going to be there?"
"Yeah, along with Arnold and Mattie." At his glance, she added, "My step-brother and sister from my dad's new wife."
"New wife? Step-kids?" Vince said to himself. "Jesus, it has been a long time since we were together, hasn't it?" He looked at her, suddenly narrowing his eyes. "Wait a minute, is this the same lodge that we were at when you..."
Mary-Beth looked down. "Yeah, the same place that I found out they were getting a divorce." She relaxed a bit, as he put his arm around her. "I still remember the tiny rash you got from the glue..."
Vince shrugged. "Hey, I'd never glued a mustache onto my face before! There was no way I could have known..."
"Sure, Vince, and the big red letters on the tube didn't give you any hints..." She then shut up as the Immortal stopped very suddenly, and began looking around. Julie and Kristy – well into their own conversation – almost ran into them and caused an accident.
"Vince! What is it?" Mary-Beth asked, concerned.
But he didn't answer; the soldier was looking at the woman who'd just come out of the alley in front of them.
Mary-Beth could only look on, as Vince broke away from her and walked a few steps to the woman who appeared to her to be in her 30's. Mary-Beth was also shocked at the level of anger that came from her maybe-boyfriend, when he spoke, "Penelope..."
The woman flashed a grin. "Ah, dear Vince. I hear you're out of the planet-jumping business now? What's the matter, you lose your nerve after your time in that slave labor camp?"
The woman quickly smirked, as she heard the three female friends gasp behind them. "Oh, don't tell me – you didn't tell your friends here about your time with the SGC?"
"Vince, what in the hell is she talking about?"
He didn't look back. "Not now, not here, Mary-Beth."
"Ah yes, Mary-Beth Pepperton. Your old girlfriend from high school, right Vince?" Penelope asked, her eyes slitted as she examined the woman's expression. "Y'know, if I'd have had any idea you two still had some chemistry – I would have just taken her and sent you one of her fingers in the mail every other day, just to get your attention..."
Vince could almost feel the girls backing up in fear. The most dangerous thing that'd ever happened to them up until now, was when Kristy had gotten mugged once. "That's enough," the warrior seethed. "When and where?"
Penelope shrugged, as if she could care less. "I could just cut off your head right now, but I'll let you have some time to say goodbye to the stick-figure Barbie doll you used to call your girlfriend here." The female killer tossed a card to him. "Be there in 30 minutes, or I will come looking for the Three Stooges here."
With that, she turned and quickly got lost in the crowd on the sidewalk.
"Vincent D'Amata, what the hell is going on here!?"
The Immortal looked back to his friends. "There isn't time to explain everything, Mary-Beth. It'll take me a good twenty minutes to get there, so please listen and do something for me." He took out his wallet, and gave her a card from it. "There's an address on the back. Go there and tell Dina what's happening..."
"How? I don't know what's happening!"
The man sighed. "Just wait for me there, and with luck maybe I'll survive this."
"Survive what? And maybe!?" Mary-Beth yelled.
Vince ignored her and took off down the street, leaving the three women behind. "Damn it!" his ex yelled, as she lost sight of him in the crowd.
***
Hyperion Hotel – The Main Ballroom.
'Thwack!'
The sounds of the combat staffs hitting each other came in rapid succession, as the two Slayers moved over the mats that covered the floor.
Sitting on a bench, watching the training session, were Willow and Gunn. "She's pretty good," Willow observed as she watched.
"Yeah, she is." Gunn agreed. "Hey, ten bucks says Kristen takes the small fry down."
Willow looked at him in surprise. "What? You're kidding, right? Buffy has years of experience on her. There is no way she'll ever beat my best friend!"
"So it's a bet, then?"
"Sure..."
Gunn shouted over, "Hey, Kristen!"
"What?!" the Slayer in question yelled back, as she blocked a blow from Buffy's staff.
"I've got money with the redhead here that says you can kick Blondie's ass, so quit playin' around!"
Both Slayers shook their heads at that, but for very different reasons.
'Thwack'
"Guess he's going to lose some dinero today," Buffy told her sister Slayer.
'Thwack'
"And why's that?" Kristen asked, as she ducked a heavy blow.
'Thwack'
"Sorry Kristen, but I am the oldest living Slayer – and you're still a newbie."
'Thwack'
"Newbie!?"
'Thwack'
'Thwack'
'Thwack'
"You don't have to take it personally! I've just had more practice at this sorta thing than you."
'Thwack'
"Please, you're only doing the basics here. Kids in martial arts classes can do better!"
'Thwack'
'Thwack'
"Hey! I just don't fight with a staff as much."
'Thwack'
"It's made of wood, you know..."
'Thwack'
"...it could..."
'Thwack'
"...come in handy..."
'Thwack'
"...with the vampires!"
'Thwack'
'Thwack'
"If you can do better, Kris, then show me!"
'Thwack'
"Fine."
Kristen instantly knocked Buffy back with a powerful blow. And instead of capitalizing on her momentary advantage, she backed up and snapped the long wooden staff over her knee.
"Hey, what-?" Buffy asked, surprised.
Spike's lover didn't have time to understand why Kristen had broken the staff, when suddenly the younger Slayer was on her again. Kristen was moving both pieces of the staff as clubs, attempting to hit Buffy at a lightning pace.
'Thwack' 'Thwack' 'Thwack' 'Thwack' 'Thwack'
The elder Slayer was frantically blocking and getting pushed back, as Kristen continued to attack her.
Then without warning, the younger Chosen One did a back flip over Buffy's head. Before she'd had time to react, Joyce's daughter quickly felt the impact of a solid kick from the still-airborne Kristen on her upper back...
The force of the impact threw the senior Slayer to the ground, causing her to hit her head on the staff she was holding as her body hit the mat. She used all of her strength to launch a blind backward kick in an attempt to make contact, but Kristen was no longer there.
Buffy had no time to ponder her opponent's movements, as she felt an elbow slam into her back very painfully. She was then forcefully rolled over, to find a sharp piece of broken wood placed at her neck.
"You give?" Kristen asked, slightly amused.
"I give," Buffy groaned out.
Willow looked at her friend, annoyed, as she handed over the ten dollars to the grinning Gunn. For her part, Buffy just plopped down on the bench as she rubbed her back.
"Oh, and Buffy?"
"Yeah?" the Sunnydale Slayer asked, as she reached for an ice pack.
"You were just kidding before, right? I mean you do know you're not the oldest Slayer on record, don't you?"
Both Buffy and Willow's heads shot up. "Yes she is!" Willow said with conviction.
Kristen just shook her head, as she grabbed her towel. "Girl called Thessily, in ancient Greece. Grew up a slave, then she was called as the Slayer – at 12 years old. She died at the age of 29, during 490 BC; killed by a poison arrow, after running 300 miles in 3 days. She bought it after helping ask the Spartans, who were werewolves, to assist the Athenians fight the Persians – who were vampires."
Buffy's mouth was hanging open. "How did you know-?"
Kristen smiled. "You haven't read the past Watchers Diaries much, haven't you? Well, okay, only reason I know is Xander told me about her one day, while we were on the run. He was missing Oz then, for some reason..."
Willow looked away, assaulted by past memories.
***
Dina Alexander paced the width of her large upscale Los Angeles penthouse, with an occasional look at the three women sitting on her couch. "I can't believe he would be so stupid! Penelope is way out of his league!" she shook her head.
Mary-Beth had had enough. "Okay, that's it! Quit bitching, and tell me what the hell is going on!"
Dina looked at the thin, perky, raven-haired girl in mild surprise, as Mary-Beth continued, "That crazy chick said she would have kidnapped me and cut off my fingers, just to get to Vince! Now I want to know who the hell that bitch is, who the hell you are, and why the hell anyone would want to hurt MY Vince!"
Despite the seriousness of what was happening, Dina could not help but laugh. "Vince was right about you. You're a lot more than you appear." Her tone got darker. "But make no mistake about it, little girl...so am I."
Mary-Beth was about to respond with equal venom, but an annoyed voice stopped her cold. "Cut it out already, you two!"
All four women turned to see a bloodied and worn Vince D'Amata leaning onto the doorway, holding two swords.
"Vince!" Mary-Beth yelled, as she ran and hugged him for dear life.
The others watched, as the two melted into each other's embrace like it was second nature. After a few moments though, she looked up to him. "Please, tell me what's going on," Mary-Beth was almost pleading.
"I will," the male Immortal told her gently. "But I have to do something first..." He moved away from her, and stood next to Dina. Vince extended one of the swords to her, and the woman took the sword with tears in her eyes.
Her fingers went over the engraved letters. D.A. Looking over to the three women she started talking, "I thought the odds were I'd never hold this again. He gave this to me as an anniversary present, you see..."
"Who? Vince?" Kristy asked in a small voice.
"No, not Vince. It was long before I met him. No...Sponge gave me this sword," Dina responded, without looking up.
"Sponge?" Julie asked in confusion.
"Simon was his real name, but I always called him Sponge. He never minded..." At their questioning looks, she shrugged. "It was what Budnick nicknamed him, way back at Camp Anawanna. We hung out together every summer, you see, ever since we were 12. Then he transferred to my high school, during sophomore year. We started going out, later that same year. Then I had my little...rebirth..."
"Rebirth?" Mary-Beth asked confused, from the small loveseat she and Vince had sat down in.
Dina looked with watery eyes at the couple. "Mary-Beth, I know what you're feeling right now. But Vince and I, our...condition makes it a huge strain on that kind of relationship. You have to be very committed to even try. I will always love Sponge for sticking it out with me...even though it got him killed in the end."
Vince took Mary-Beth's hand into his. "Mary-Beth," he looked over to the other couch. "Julie, Kristy...look, what I'm about to tell you – it'll go against everything you three believe is true, or even possible. But I swear I won't lie to you. And I need to know that I can trust you with this information. Up till now, Danny was the only one ever to know."
Julie and Kristy looked at each other, wondering what they had gotten themselves into. But Mary-Beth took Vince's chin in her hand, and made him look her in the eyes. "I'm not going anywhere, Vince. Tell us."
He took a deep breath then started to say, "Okay, it all started two months after graduation..."
***
The Chase Mansion
Cordelia came into the master bedroom, with something in her hand. "Lorne's here, Xander. He's downstairs with the girls."
Her fiancé nodded absently "What's that?" the guy asked, pointing to the item she carried.
Cordelia promptly unfolded a black T-shirt, and held it up to her torso. "You like it? Kristen got it for me. She said you were teasing her about sending Connor there..."
Xander Harris looked at her, very surprised. "You wear a Hooters T-shirt? Okay – somewhere, Satan is buying himself a pair of ice skates..."
"As if!" the former Queen C snorted. "Okay, maybe around the house, but not out on the town. I don't want to give guys anymore reason to stare at my chest – I've already got my man, thank you very much!"
The former heart of the Scooby gang returned her warm smile, but then his face grew serious. "Cordy?"
"Yes, my love?"
"About last night..."
Sudden fear grew in her.
"...I just want you to know that I'm here to talk, or if you need help with anything. Even if I have no clue why I'm doing it, all you gotta do is just ask – okay?"
A single tear escaped her eye, as Cordelia closed the distance between them and took him into a hug. "Thank you."
"Hey, it's cool," the military officer told his woman as he held her. "You'll tell me when you're ready, I know that."
"Xander, how did I ever become lucky enough to get you back?" she whispered.
"I don't know, but I'm damn glad you did."
"Me too," Cordy said as she gave him a small kiss.
After a few moments Xander went into the bathroom, and Cordelia moved over to the dresser. She picked up her palm pilot, and opened up the 'Things to Do' list. She peeked through the door to see Xander combing his hair, before she added number 15 to that list.
#15 Buy a Hooters Girl Uniform.
The former seer gave him a quick look again, as she shut the tiny computer off. Then she saw he had his shaving kit out, "Xander, hold on a minute!"
He looked back to her. "What?"
The younger Chase daughter grabbed the large metal bowl they had been going to use for popcorn the other night, and brought it into the bathroom. "Cordy?"
"Go sit on the bench, at the end of the bed," she told him. After a second, Xander shrugged then went and sat down. She joined him a few moments later with the bowl full of water, and his shaving kit. Cordelia quickly set the bowl down on the bench, as she got next to him.
"I saw my uncle's first wife do this with him one time when I was a kid, and I always wanted to give it a try," the brunette told him, as she started to lather his face with shaving cream.
"Huh. I've never had anyone shave me before," Xander said simply, with a funny expression. "Uh, you're not gonna have any high school flashbacks and slit my throat or anything, now, are you?"
"First time for everything," Cordy responded with a wink, as she dipped the razor in the water and proceeded to gently shave his right cheek.
***
Several hours later...
The long round driveway to the Chase home was filled with cars, when the black PT Cruiser pulled up. "Vince, I am just way totally shocked!" Mary-Beth said, as the four of them got out of the car.
At Vince's look, she shook her head at him. "Not that other thing, silly! I mean, since when do you know any rich people – besides me?"
"Yeah," Julie asked. "You've been holding out on us, dude!"
"No I haven't," D'Amata told them. "My boss lives here. His wife came from money, I guess, and plus she's gonna be on a TV show soon..."
Mary-Beth's head snapped back. "A TV show?"
"Oh!" Kristy squealed. "Is this a Hollywood party?"
"No, mostly just a few of their friends."
"What show is she going to be on?"
"I think Xander said it was called 'The Lost Girls'? Something like that," Vince shrugged.
"Oh my freaking God! You've gotta be kidding!" Julie exclaimed. "There are rumors all over the Internet about that show! Do you think the cast will take a picture with us!?"
Vince covered his face with his hand. "Please don't go all weird on my boss's fiancée."
"Who-?"
"Cordelia Chase..."
Julie squealed, and almost made a Willow-esque sound of geeker joy; but Mary-Beth waved off his fears. "Oh, relax, you know us Vince. We are so well behaved..."
"Oh, sure you are Mary-Beth," the soldier responded with a fearful look.
Just before they reached the front door, Mary-Beth stopped. "Vince?" she whispered. "Does anyone here know of your Immortal thingy?"
"Some, but only a few. Just don't mention anything about it, okay?" the lieutenant said, as the man at the door let them in.
***
"Okay, so there we were – facing off against a pack of slime demons," Xander said to the small group around them. "Buffy's being Buffy and chopping away side by side with Angel, Willow's doing the ball of sunlight spell, Giles had gotten knocked out cold, and Cordelia..."
With an amused look towards her the young man continued, "Well, she was beating the shit out of a female vampire that had said she was gonna turn me."
"Like I'm going to let some undead fashion victim turn my guy into one of her minions?!" Cordy told the others.
"And, uh, it had nothing to do with her ripping your dress, Cordy?" Angel asked mockingly.
"Hey, that Valentino original cost me at least six hundred dollars!"
Everyone laughed; everyone but Mary-Beth. "She vandalized one of the master's originals? Man, I would have tortured her first myself!"
"Oh, and that's not the worst part!" Cordelia told her. "Her sword also tore into the matching purse I got! I had to buy a knockoff to replace it!"
"What a complete bitch!" Mary-Beth yelled.
Xander, Angel and Vince all groaned and at the same time, "There's two of her now!?"
Some time later Xander, Gavin, and Vince were talking, as they glanced up to the second floor railing that ran around the width of the main living room. Cordelia and Mary-Beth sat in two large chairs, deep into a heated conversation that the three men didn't even want to guess about.
"Any word from Melissa and Rebecca?" Gavin asked.
"No, not yet. So, Vince, you had the talk with your friends?" Xander asked, changing the subject.
"Yeah," Vince nodded. "I had to fight an old enemy. Had to tell them something. But I'm not going to tell Mary-Beth how close the fight really was."
"How bad?" Gavin wondered.
"Let's just say I owe my life to a stray cat, and leave it at that."
"Excuse me?"
The three men looked over, to see Gunn standing next to them. "Sorry to butt in here. But I need to talk to you guys."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, I wanted to thank you for what you did recently for my people," the former gang leader said, as he extended his hand to Xander.
Xander shook it. "Trust me, I know how it feels to be nothing more than a group of kids fighting demons with no help. I'm just sorry I couldn't give you guys any weapons. But some higher-ups that don't know about the things that go bump in the night, see you guys as just a street gang."
Gunn shook his head. "I can't count how many times we've heard that. Most folks think we're drug dealers! But I was wondering if you guys could come and meet the Lost Boys tonight? Some of my old crew aren't exactly trusting of 'free gifts'."
"Sure, we can make a stop over after the party," Xander told him, as Gavin and Vince nodded in agreement.
They quickly stopped talking, when one of the older butlers that Cordy had hired for the night came over. "Sorry to bother you, sir, but there are a few gentlemen at the front gate who say they have a few items you wanted."
"Ah, good. Gavin, can you...?"
"On it, boss man!" his associate said, as the black guy and Vince headed for the door.
"Something up?" Gunn asked Xander.
"Two of Cordy's Christmas gifts have just arrived."
Twenty minutes later, Gavin gave Xander a thumbs-up from the open front door. Xander gave them a quick nod, picked up an empty wineglass and a fork and clanked them together. "Can I have your attention, please? And if my lovely fiancée would please step this way... "
Everyone stopped talking, and quickly came over; Cordelia moved to stand next to Xander. "Now, the thing is," he began. "Cordy and I have agreed to give each other one Christmas gift tonight. And I'd like to see if I can shock the old girl here..."
Cordelia lightly punched him in the arm. "I'm old, you loser geek!?" she exclaimed, causing a few chuckles among the group.
"My mistake, everyone," Xander said, fighting not to break down laughing. "I meant the young, vivacious, hot as hell mother of my children!"
"Better!" his fiancée beamed.
"Well, last month Cordelia told me that she wanted a new makeup and changing table for the bedroom, because the one she has doesn't compare to her old one from Sunnydale," Xander told them.
"Yeah, believe it or not I got it for 19 bucks at Wal-mart," Cordelia said annoyed, but then her eyes got big. "Did you get me one from Rodeo Drive?"
"Nope. I found a better one in Miami," Captain Harris told her.
"Miami?" Ms Chase wondered, as she saw Gavin and Vince (along with two other men) bring in a large covered item that was easy to tell what it was.
"Cordelia, if you please?" Xander said, as he motioned to the large tarp covering the table and mirror.
She eagerly pulled it off...and gasped. "Oh my God!" she turned back. "Xander Harris, is that what I think it is?"
"Yep, you guessed it Cordy. It's the same one you had in Sunnydale. Your grandmother's, that she had passed on to you before she died."
Tears came to her eyes. "But how? The IRS took everything!"
"Well, April loves a challenge and going through IRS auction records – that was a pretty big one..."
The dark-haired man was cut off, as she gave him a crushing hug. "Thank you, Xander!"
"Hey, it was nothing," he told her softly. "I remember how much losing it hurt you. And I know it's sorta against the rules, but I got one more gift to give you. We found something else in the records, at that same time."
"What?" Cordy asked, as she wiped some tears away.
Xander took something from Gavin, and dangled it in front of her eyes. "These look familiar?'
"Car keys?" the woman demanded. "I already have-"
"Yeah, I know," Xander interrupted. "But I also know of only one set of car keys that has a monogrammed QC on them. Do you know what keys I'm talking about, oh Queen C?"
Her eyes went wide again. "You mean-?"
"Yep, your old red Mustang. It's in the main garage. All it needs is a tune-up and some paint, and it'll be just like when you had it."
Cordelia took the keys, and after a quick glance at the table she drew him into a quick kiss. "Thank you, my love..." she whispered.
"Hey, you know I'd move heaven and earth for you! Or in this case, IRS computer records..."
Before the couple broke apart they shared a tiny look into each other's eyes, and then laughed as Kristy cooed, "Awww, that's so sweet..."
After she had finished laughing, Cordelia then dragged Xander over to the fireplace. Where Angel was now standing. It seems that he had hung something over the middle of the mantle, while everyone else was watching the two lovebirds.
It also had a cover over it, but with a rope to pull it off with.
Cordelia broke away from Xander, and moved over to take the rope from Angel. "Now it's my turn," she told everyone. "Okay, first off I have one thing to say for the record. And that is that I have accepted the fact that I, Cordelia Chase, am in love with a dork."
More light laugher erupted.
"But," she continued, "I do love him. With all my heart and soul. As the people that were in Sunnydale with us then will tell you, Xander was the only one I would have gone into a battle with the vamps and demons with. I mean, God knows I lost count of how many outfits got ruined! But no matter how upset I was, just one look from him, just one of his lopsided smiles...somehow made it all better."
Xander quietly took Giles' handkerchief, and wiped some of his tears away.
Ms. Chase continued, "During the summer between our junior and senior year, some events happened that...left our little group short of a vampire with a soul, and a Slayer. So the four of us took up the duty to slay the demons on the Hellmouth. Well, I shouldn't say four; I had to go off with my family on our little vacation. I never told you guys this, but I sorta felt that I'd let you down, when I left."
Willow and Xander look at each other in surprise, as Cordy kept going, "I, I felt like a coward when I ran from the library when Drusilla attacked. After that I resolved to stick it out and fight the good fight, but then a few weeks later I was on a plane out of the country."
The future TV star looked right at Xander. "I was supposed to be out on the beach having a good time and be flirting with the lifeguards, like my sister was. But I couldn't. My boyfriend was fighting for his life every damn night, and I wasn't there. I know you thought I was just keeping tabs on you, when I called you almost every night Xander. But I just had to know you were all right. Because I had so many nightmares that I would either come back to a funeral, or a grave..."
Xander and the other Scoobies were shocked at this, but Angel wasn't. She had told him all this years ago.
"Anyway, without getting too weepy here." Cordy said. "When we went out to patrol around then, we had radios since we had to rotate who was gonna play bait for the vamps. And we all had code names. Willow was the 'White Witch', Oz was the 'Wolf Man', Xander was 'Night Hawk' and me...I was 'Wonder Woman'. Now, I know we haven't thought of those nicknames for a really long time now. But something Xander showed me in Vegas, it gave me an idea."
"What was that, Cor?" Xander asked, confused.
"Well, my love. You remember you dragged me to that comic book signing?"
"Uh, yeah?"
"Well, there was that one guy was really good. So when we got back, I called his office. And I got him to do a little thing for us."
"Alex Ross?" Xander asked her. "Oh, man, wait, you didn't-?"
"Oh yes I did, Xander." Cordelia said, as she flashed him her trademark smile. She pulled on the rope and the cover fell away.
"Now, that is something else!" Vince said in admiration.
Hanging there was a large framed painting. It was a giant comic book cover. The top had a large 'Nighthawk and Wonder Woman' logo. A DC Comics logo was in the top left corner, along with a '1st amazing action packed issue' on the bottom.
With a light blue background, Xander Harris stood in a black and blue spandex outfit with an image of a hawk with its wings spread out on his chest, a black cape hanging off his shoulders. His arms where crossed across his chest, as he looked forward with a quirky smile on his lips.
Standing next to Nighthawk with her hand lovingly on his shoulder was Cordelia – in the full Wonder Woman outfit.
To say Xander had never envisioned her in the outfit back during that summer would be very wrong, and now she looked more stunning in it than he'd ever thought she could.
Red and white striped boots, the red, white and blue leotard with a gold eagle covering her chest. Twin silver armbands and a gold tiara with a red five-pointed star, and the glowing lasso hanging from her hip completed the look.
"Damn, Cor!" Xander exclaimed.
"Hey, I'd move heaven and earth for you too!" Cordy leaned in and gave him a peck on the cheek, and then she added in a voice too low for anyone else but him to hear, "I've also got the full outfit upstairs, lasso and everything..."
Willow shifted the baby she had in her arm, as she watched her best friend with his fiancée. With the look he'd just given Cordelia, it was obvious what she must have whispered to him about. A twinge of her old crush for him came to the surface again, but right now Willow was more occupied with what she had talked to Buffy earlier about.
Cordelia's mouthing off at the blond Slayer, back at the hotel.
Now everyone had told the witch and Chosen One that Cordelia had really changed over the years. Yeah, Willow thought to herself. She's gotten even nastier!
Not that she wanted the twins to end up the product of a broken home, but Willow knew she had to be ready for the fallout when Xander and Cordelia eventually split up. It was just Xander's pattern...
The redhead had once told Tara Maclay that she'd viewed Xander as the best the male gender had to offer. And if even he would cheat or leave a girl at the altar, then why bother with the rest of the men out there?
Even Oz had cheated on her with the werewolf bitch, Veruca. Kristen's words earlier that day had just reinforced her private beliefs.
Guys were just not worth the trouble, and besides Tara had looked so damn hot in just her panties...
***
Hours later, the party had died down. Most had gone home or back to the hotel for the night. The twin girls had been put to bed, and Giles had retired to a guestroom with a request to "have that ghost of yours please keep the volume down".
Gavin, Gunn, Vince, and Xander were outside on the front walkway talking, as Kristy and Julie were waiting in the car for Mary-Beth.
The skinny brunette came out, still talking with Cordelia. "Now, I'm sure we can find one. You should get it engraved too!"
"Get what engraved?" Xander asked as both brunette women went for their respective men.
Cordelia pointed to the white baby monitor she had clipped on her belt, ever since they had laid the girls down for the night. "She thinks we can find a leather carrying case for it..."
Vince laughed, as he shook his head. "Trust me – if Mary-Beth says she can find one, she'll find one. You do not want to see this girl let loose at a mall."
"Oh, stop it!" Mary-Beth said half-jokingly, as she hit Vince's arm with the back of her hand. "Besides, we'll be out anyway looking at furniture."
At Xander's questioning glance Cordelia clarified, "She had some great ideas for a few of the rooms!"
Xander looked to Vince. "Should I be worried?"
D'Amata just nodded, causing Mary-Beth to hit him again, thus causing everyone to laugh a little. Then they all started to walk to the cars.
Xander pulled Cordelia back, "I just want to make sure you're okay before I go."
"I'm fine, Xander," she told him.
"You're sure?" he asked. "Just say the word, and I can have Gavin and Vince go by themselves. I could..."
She cut him off. "I'll be fine, my love." Then the brunette kissed him. "Now get going, before they leave with out you. Double-time, solider boy!"
"Well, I'm in the Air Force, but okay. Now, you know I have my cell with me?"
"Will you just go already? Sheesh!" Cordelia said laughingly, as she pushed him down the walkway.
"Okay, okay, I'm going, geez..."
Ms. Chase hit the switch to close the front gate, as the last car left the driveway. Closing the front door, the engaged woman then stopped at the foot of the stairs. Instead of going up to bed like she'd wanted to do, Cordy did a 90-degree turn and headed for the TV room with the big screen.
Flipping it on, she already knew she wouldn't find anything good on at this hour. But seeing as how she had visions when she was sleeping, the poor creature had no desire to go lay down in her bed. Especially if Xander wasn't laying there with her. I mean, I can't go to bed yet when my favorite pillow is out doing a meet 'n greet with Gunn's people tonight now, can I?
Her plan to stay up and wait for her intended went fine, for about an hour. She had just begun to watch a movie that had way too many good-looking people in it, and which she was guessing was going to turn into a soft-core porn flick – when Cordelia Chase fell asleep on the couch.
And of course her worst fears came true, as yet another vision of her life in the other timeline began.
***
Tuesday November 30th 1999
Sunnydale, California. Third floor apartment of Xander Harris and Cordelia Chase.
The first timeline
The 18-year-old Cordelia Chase woke up in the bed, slowly. She yawned as she looked at the red LCD clock on the nightstand; it was 9:23 pm, and she was alone
Xander's probably still at Giles's place, dealing with whatever the hell is going on this time, she thought to herself groggily, as her brain cleared away the effects of sleep.
Getting up from the bed, the naked teenager decided to look through the boxes of baby clothes and supplies that Joyce had given her and Xander recently. Personally, Ms. Chase thought it was way too soon to get that sorta stuff. I'm not even showing yet...
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the bathroom door opening.
Cordelia looked over towards the doorway, and saw the attractive guy she had met at the grocery store a few hours ago after she'd had a craving for Peanut M&M's.
He was buttoning up his open dress shirt as he came out of the bathroom, "You know, Cordelia honey, I'm not normally the kind of guy that has one-night stands like this. But in this case, I'm glad I did – because I swear to Mary, Jesus and Joseph, you know how to give a guy one hell of a workout..."
***
December 21st 2004. 3:15 am
The Chase Mansion
Cordelia's head shot up in pure terror, as she instantly came awake with a scream. No!
The woman fought to control her emotions, as her brain wrapped itself around what she'd just dreamed. No, no...NO! she thought angrily. I didn't! I mean, I wouldn't ever have! It's not...it's wrong. It has to be. I was pregnant with the girls by then, for God's sake!
She hardly registered the lights turning on. Through her tears, Cordelia saw a bottle of aspirin and a glass of water float in mid-air and set down on the coffee table in front of her.
"It wasn't that kind of vision, Dennis..." Cordy was able to get out. Xander must have told him to keep an eye on me, she thought vaguely, before that thought itself caused her to cry harder.
"Xander! Oh God, Dennis! It can't be true, it just can't be!"
All the pain, both physically and mentally she had gone though after she had caught Xander with Willow so long ago, came back to her all at once. Along with the look of pure love Xander had given her, just mere hours ago at their party.
And the voice of the mystery man from the vision came back to haunt her. 'You know how to give a guy one hell of a workout'...
Her brain was rejecting the mere notion of it, and the thought of it was like a knife twisting in her heart. She could hardly even whisper it, for fear of saying it somehow made it true.
"God help me, I cheated on Xander..."
A fresh wave of red-hot tears came, even before she was finished saying the phrase that threatened to tear her sanity apart.
TBC...
Los Angeles, California.
The two of them sat in her car, in the mostly deserted parking lot. It was early enough that the strip mall's parking lot was fairly empty, setting the mood for the secret meeting.
Cordelia could hear the birds still chirping as she laid her head against the drivers' seat headrest, then she spoke to the man in the passenger seat. "Wesley, please for the love of God, tell me you have some good news for me?!"
But from the apologetic look on the man's face, she knew he didn't. "I'm sorry, Cordelia. Fred and I have looked everywhere we can think of. We even talked to the Council, but without being able to tell them for whom the memory spell is – we've, ah, come up against a impregnable wall, I'm afraid. The dreams, they may go away on their own..."
"Why do you think that?" she asked him.
"Well, the pervious visions, along with the one you had last night, all seemed to go forward in time. Soon, you should catch up to the present..."
The brunette woman shook her head. "No way, Wes. I'm not waiting around to find out if they just stop. Besides, what if they keep on going into the future?"
The British man nodded grimly. That thought had occurred to him too. "Yes, well. I'm afraid the only thing I can think of is for you to talk to Xander about this, since he's the only other person we know of that was – well, 'upstairs', as you like to call it-"
"NO!" Cordelia shouted, before he'd finished speaking. She looked a little sheepish, as she started to speak more softly.
"Wes, I have no clue why, but I have this like certainty that I have to keep it to myself. I want to tell him so bad, if only to have him hold my hand through this. But it's like the feeling I got whenever I had a vision, you know? I mean I didn't always see an address for us to head over to, but I somehow knew where to go..." She then thumped her head onto the steering wheel. "This sucks!"
Wesley nodded. "Yes, I do believe it does."
When Cordelia looked up at him again, he could see her eyes watering a bit. "Wesley, I hate this. I'm lying to my husband. He knows something's up, and..."
"Well, technically he isn't your husband yet."
The former cheerleader was dead serious. "Wes, in my mind he is. Saying the 'I do's' at the wedding is just a formality. But you want to know the worst part of the last vision was?"
The Englishman nodded, and she let out a sigh before continuing. "I know that that skanky hellgod is dead and gone. But after that vision...all I could think of was the thought that she could come after the girls, or Xander! I wasn't scared for myself at all. The only thing that calmed me down and let me sleep at all, was just hearing Xander's heart beat. I've gotten so used to being close to him and hearing his heart beat when I sleep, that I don't think I can go more than a night or two now without hearing it."
The newly-reinstated Watcher laid a hand on her shoulder, trying to comfort her as best he could. And he was expecting her next question.
"Do you think...could we rework that spell that you guys used on me when I came back from the Powers the first time, to restore my memory?"
"No," Wes told her sternly. "That spell is very hard to do, let alone rework to suit our current needs. Lorne's friend who worked it last time is no longer living in LA, and if we did anything wrong – it, it could erase your memory back to when you were in the first grade or something."
He continued, "Now, I'm also wondering about something you mentioned about your most recent vision. You said that Glory didn't attempt to drain your sanity by grasping your head? That she did something near your heart? So, did she say anything about that, which you can remember?"
Cordelia thought for a moment. "Well, she seemed surprised and called me a pre-Immortal. Then she made with the blinding pain, and I woke up squeezing Xander hard enough to leave bruises." She was surprised to see the shocked look come over her friend's face. "Wes, I don't like that expression you're making. Nothing good has ever come after you put on that face!"
The Watcher just looked at her for a few moments, before shaking his head. "No, she – she must have been wrong. You can't be one of the eternals..."
"She looked pretty damn sure of herself in the vision, Wes. And I better not be an eternal or a pre-Immortal, whatever the hell they are! I have enough supernatural crap happening to me already, thank you very much!"
Wesley shook his head, almost talking to himself. "You? An Immortal?"
Cordy held her annoyed look for a while, but cracked after he kept looking at her. "Alright, why can't I be one of these Immortal people?"
***
The Chase Mansion – main living room.
Cordelia couldn't help but smile, as she looked at the sight that greeted her upon her return home. Xander, still in his pajamas and robe, was lying on the floor with the two girls – who were becoming less and less tiny, as time went on – on a large play mat. And they seemed to be having a grand old time.
Both girls were giggling, as their father took turns rubbing his face lightly into their stomachs. Just by the sight of them, Cordy knew Xander would be nothing like either of their own fathers. It might take her a bit to convince him of that, but she was sure she would succeed in the end.
The former seer took off her shoes in the main entrance, and quietly walked to them. Xander didn't notice her approach, or if he did he was making no sign of it. She lay down on the other side of the three members of her family, and sighed in contentment.
Xander cast a smile towards her, "And how is the lovely Ms. Chase this morning?"
She reached out and ran her hand over his arm, "A lot better, now that I'm back here with my family."
Her fiancé tickled Kelsey as he spoke again, "I got a call from General Martinson this morning, while you were out."
"That's your boss's boss, right?" the former May Queen asked as she played with Erica.
"Yeah," Xander responded. "He approved a request that I made the other day."
"And what's that?" Cordelia asked, as Erica tried to grab the stuffed animal in her hand.
"You know the X-304? My own little space ship that still freaks me out?"
"Yeah?"
"Well, they started working on it unofficially last year. They only just named it now. It's only about 45% done, and it should go faster now that they can work on it in the open and get money for it from the Appropriations Committee. So, uh, it should be ready to launch for its shakedown cruise in about 6 to 11 months. And I requested that you be the one to christen it when it's launched."
Cordelia looked at him sharply, albeit very surprised. "Xander, I would be so honored!" Sitting up, the woman smiled, then leaned over to give him a kiss.
***
Los Angeles, California. 12:13 pm
Lieutenant Vince D'Amata walked out of the small diner with one old girlfriend, Mary-Beth, and two old friends Kristy and Julie. "Now, that's what I call lunch!"
Mary-Beth shook her head at him. "You just went right back to junk food after we broke up, didn't you?"
"Oh, come on Mary-Beth," D'Amata grinned, "You know I can't go for long without a triple-decker bacon cheeseburger! Besides, it did have lettuce and a tomato slice on it..."
Rolling her eyes as she linked arms with him, the woman added, "Yeah, and you took those off just to add more barbecue sauce!"
Walking a bit behind the pair, the two girls had different reactions. "Oh my God!" Julie whispered. "She's walking arm in arm with him! Mary-Beth didn't say anything about putting the moves on him again..."
Kristy just laughed her perky laugh, as the redhead whispered back, "Hey, why not? Vince is one of only three serious boyfriends she's ever had. That Chris guy hasn't been heard from in years, and when's the last time we heard anything from Hammer?"
"True," Julie admitted. "Oh! If she keeps true to form, then she'll be laying her head on his shoulder right about...now."
And that was just what Mary-Beth did. She smiled to herself as Vince acted like he didn't even notice, plus she tried to act like she didn't notice how more muscular his arms had gotten. "Vince, why don't you come with us to the lodge? I know my Mom and Dad would love to see you again..."
Well, of course they would, Julie thought. On account of everyone hated Mary-Beth's last boyfriend! Wonder where that idiot Parker is nowadays, anyway?
Vince gave Mary-Beth a questioning glance. "Both your parents are going to be there?"
"Yeah, along with Arnold and Mattie." At his glance, she added, "My step-brother and sister from my dad's new wife."
"New wife? Step-kids?" Vince said to himself. "Jesus, it has been a long time since we were together, hasn't it?" He looked at her, suddenly narrowing his eyes. "Wait a minute, is this the same lodge that we were at when you..."
Mary-Beth looked down. "Yeah, the same place that I found out they were getting a divorce." She relaxed a bit, as he put his arm around her. "I still remember the tiny rash you got from the glue..."
Vince shrugged. "Hey, I'd never glued a mustache onto my face before! There was no way I could have known..."
"Sure, Vince, and the big red letters on the tube didn't give you any hints..." She then shut up as the Immortal stopped very suddenly, and began looking around. Julie and Kristy – well into their own conversation – almost ran into them and caused an accident.
"Vince! What is it?" Mary-Beth asked, concerned.
But he didn't answer; the soldier was looking at the woman who'd just come out of the alley in front of them.
Mary-Beth could only look on, as Vince broke away from her and walked a few steps to the woman who appeared to her to be in her 30's. Mary-Beth was also shocked at the level of anger that came from her maybe-boyfriend, when he spoke, "Penelope..."
The woman flashed a grin. "Ah, dear Vince. I hear you're out of the planet-jumping business now? What's the matter, you lose your nerve after your time in that slave labor camp?"
The woman quickly smirked, as she heard the three female friends gasp behind them. "Oh, don't tell me – you didn't tell your friends here about your time with the SGC?"
"Vince, what in the hell is she talking about?"
He didn't look back. "Not now, not here, Mary-Beth."
"Ah yes, Mary-Beth Pepperton. Your old girlfriend from high school, right Vince?" Penelope asked, her eyes slitted as she examined the woman's expression. "Y'know, if I'd have had any idea you two still had some chemistry – I would have just taken her and sent you one of her fingers in the mail every other day, just to get your attention..."
Vince could almost feel the girls backing up in fear. The most dangerous thing that'd ever happened to them up until now, was when Kristy had gotten mugged once. "That's enough," the warrior seethed. "When and where?"
Penelope shrugged, as if she could care less. "I could just cut off your head right now, but I'll let you have some time to say goodbye to the stick-figure Barbie doll you used to call your girlfriend here." The female killer tossed a card to him. "Be there in 30 minutes, or I will come looking for the Three Stooges here."
With that, she turned and quickly got lost in the crowd on the sidewalk.
"Vincent D'Amata, what the hell is going on here!?"
The Immortal looked back to his friends. "There isn't time to explain everything, Mary-Beth. It'll take me a good twenty minutes to get there, so please listen and do something for me." He took out his wallet, and gave her a card from it. "There's an address on the back. Go there and tell Dina what's happening..."
"How? I don't know what's happening!"
The man sighed. "Just wait for me there, and with luck maybe I'll survive this."
"Survive what? And maybe!?" Mary-Beth yelled.
Vince ignored her and took off down the street, leaving the three women behind. "Damn it!" his ex yelled, as she lost sight of him in the crowd.
***
Hyperion Hotel – The Main Ballroom.
'Thwack!'
The sounds of the combat staffs hitting each other came in rapid succession, as the two Slayers moved over the mats that covered the floor.
Sitting on a bench, watching the training session, were Willow and Gunn. "She's pretty good," Willow observed as she watched.
"Yeah, she is." Gunn agreed. "Hey, ten bucks says Kristen takes the small fry down."
Willow looked at him in surprise. "What? You're kidding, right? Buffy has years of experience on her. There is no way she'll ever beat my best friend!"
"So it's a bet, then?"
"Sure..."
Gunn shouted over, "Hey, Kristen!"
"What?!" the Slayer in question yelled back, as she blocked a blow from Buffy's staff.
"I've got money with the redhead here that says you can kick Blondie's ass, so quit playin' around!"
Both Slayers shook their heads at that, but for very different reasons.
'Thwack'
"Guess he's going to lose some dinero today," Buffy told her sister Slayer.
'Thwack'
"And why's that?" Kristen asked, as she ducked a heavy blow.
'Thwack'
"Sorry Kristen, but I am the oldest living Slayer – and you're still a newbie."
'Thwack'
"Newbie!?"
'Thwack'
'Thwack'
'Thwack'
"You don't have to take it personally! I've just had more practice at this sorta thing than you."
'Thwack'
"Please, you're only doing the basics here. Kids in martial arts classes can do better!"
'Thwack'
'Thwack'
"Hey! I just don't fight with a staff as much."
'Thwack'
"It's made of wood, you know..."
'Thwack'
"...it could..."
'Thwack'
"...come in handy..."
'Thwack'
"...with the vampires!"
'Thwack'
'Thwack'
"If you can do better, Kris, then show me!"
'Thwack'
"Fine."
Kristen instantly knocked Buffy back with a powerful blow. And instead of capitalizing on her momentary advantage, she backed up and snapped the long wooden staff over her knee.
"Hey, what-?" Buffy asked, surprised.
Spike's lover didn't have time to understand why Kristen had broken the staff, when suddenly the younger Slayer was on her again. Kristen was moving both pieces of the staff as clubs, attempting to hit Buffy at a lightning pace.
'Thwack' 'Thwack' 'Thwack' 'Thwack' 'Thwack'
The elder Slayer was frantically blocking and getting pushed back, as Kristen continued to attack her.
Then without warning, the younger Chosen One did a back flip over Buffy's head. Before she'd had time to react, Joyce's daughter quickly felt the impact of a solid kick from the still-airborne Kristen on her upper back...
The force of the impact threw the senior Slayer to the ground, causing her to hit her head on the staff she was holding as her body hit the mat. She used all of her strength to launch a blind backward kick in an attempt to make contact, but Kristen was no longer there.
Buffy had no time to ponder her opponent's movements, as she felt an elbow slam into her back very painfully. She was then forcefully rolled over, to find a sharp piece of broken wood placed at her neck.
"You give?" Kristen asked, slightly amused.
"I give," Buffy groaned out.
Willow looked at her friend, annoyed, as she handed over the ten dollars to the grinning Gunn. For her part, Buffy just plopped down on the bench as she rubbed her back.
"Oh, and Buffy?"
"Yeah?" the Sunnydale Slayer asked, as she reached for an ice pack.
"You were just kidding before, right? I mean you do know you're not the oldest Slayer on record, don't you?"
Both Buffy and Willow's heads shot up. "Yes she is!" Willow said with conviction.
Kristen just shook her head, as she grabbed her towel. "Girl called Thessily, in ancient Greece. Grew up a slave, then she was called as the Slayer – at 12 years old. She died at the age of 29, during 490 BC; killed by a poison arrow, after running 300 miles in 3 days. She bought it after helping ask the Spartans, who were werewolves, to assist the Athenians fight the Persians – who were vampires."
Buffy's mouth was hanging open. "How did you know-?"
Kristen smiled. "You haven't read the past Watchers Diaries much, haven't you? Well, okay, only reason I know is Xander told me about her one day, while we were on the run. He was missing Oz then, for some reason..."
Willow looked away, assaulted by past memories.
***
Dina Alexander paced the width of her large upscale Los Angeles penthouse, with an occasional look at the three women sitting on her couch. "I can't believe he would be so stupid! Penelope is way out of his league!" she shook her head.
Mary-Beth had had enough. "Okay, that's it! Quit bitching, and tell me what the hell is going on!"
Dina looked at the thin, perky, raven-haired girl in mild surprise, as Mary-Beth continued, "That crazy chick said she would have kidnapped me and cut off my fingers, just to get to Vince! Now I want to know who the hell that bitch is, who the hell you are, and why the hell anyone would want to hurt MY Vince!"
Despite the seriousness of what was happening, Dina could not help but laugh. "Vince was right about you. You're a lot more than you appear." Her tone got darker. "But make no mistake about it, little girl...so am I."
Mary-Beth was about to respond with equal venom, but an annoyed voice stopped her cold. "Cut it out already, you two!"
All four women turned to see a bloodied and worn Vince D'Amata leaning onto the doorway, holding two swords.
"Vince!" Mary-Beth yelled, as she ran and hugged him for dear life.
The others watched, as the two melted into each other's embrace like it was second nature. After a few moments though, she looked up to him. "Please, tell me what's going on," Mary-Beth was almost pleading.
"I will," the male Immortal told her gently. "But I have to do something first..." He moved away from her, and stood next to Dina. Vince extended one of the swords to her, and the woman took the sword with tears in her eyes.
Her fingers went over the engraved letters. D.A. Looking over to the three women she started talking, "I thought the odds were I'd never hold this again. He gave this to me as an anniversary present, you see..."
"Who? Vince?" Kristy asked in a small voice.
"No, not Vince. It was long before I met him. No...Sponge gave me this sword," Dina responded, without looking up.
"Sponge?" Julie asked in confusion.
"Simon was his real name, but I always called him Sponge. He never minded..." At their questioning looks, she shrugged. "It was what Budnick nicknamed him, way back at Camp Anawanna. We hung out together every summer, you see, ever since we were 12. Then he transferred to my high school, during sophomore year. We started going out, later that same year. Then I had my little...rebirth..."
"Rebirth?" Mary-Beth asked confused, from the small loveseat she and Vince had sat down in.
Dina looked with watery eyes at the couple. "Mary-Beth, I know what you're feeling right now. But Vince and I, our...condition makes it a huge strain on that kind of relationship. You have to be very committed to even try. I will always love Sponge for sticking it out with me...even though it got him killed in the end."
Vince took Mary-Beth's hand into his. "Mary-Beth," he looked over to the other couch. "Julie, Kristy...look, what I'm about to tell you – it'll go against everything you three believe is true, or even possible. But I swear I won't lie to you. And I need to know that I can trust you with this information. Up till now, Danny was the only one ever to know."
Julie and Kristy looked at each other, wondering what they had gotten themselves into. But Mary-Beth took Vince's chin in her hand, and made him look her in the eyes. "I'm not going anywhere, Vince. Tell us."
He took a deep breath then started to say, "Okay, it all started two months after graduation..."
***
The Chase Mansion
Cordelia came into the master bedroom, with something in her hand. "Lorne's here, Xander. He's downstairs with the girls."
Her fiancé nodded absently "What's that?" the guy asked, pointing to the item she carried.
Cordelia promptly unfolded a black T-shirt, and held it up to her torso. "You like it? Kristen got it for me. She said you were teasing her about sending Connor there..."
Xander Harris looked at her, very surprised. "You wear a Hooters T-shirt? Okay – somewhere, Satan is buying himself a pair of ice skates..."
"As if!" the former Queen C snorted. "Okay, maybe around the house, but not out on the town. I don't want to give guys anymore reason to stare at my chest – I've already got my man, thank you very much!"
The former heart of the Scooby gang returned her warm smile, but then his face grew serious. "Cordy?"
"Yes, my love?"
"About last night..."
Sudden fear grew in her.
"...I just want you to know that I'm here to talk, or if you need help with anything. Even if I have no clue why I'm doing it, all you gotta do is just ask – okay?"
A single tear escaped her eye, as Cordelia closed the distance between them and took him into a hug. "Thank you."
"Hey, it's cool," the military officer told his woman as he held her. "You'll tell me when you're ready, I know that."
"Xander, how did I ever become lucky enough to get you back?" she whispered.
"I don't know, but I'm damn glad you did."
"Me too," Cordy said as she gave him a small kiss.
After a few moments Xander went into the bathroom, and Cordelia moved over to the dresser. She picked up her palm pilot, and opened up the 'Things to Do' list. She peeked through the door to see Xander combing his hair, before she added number 15 to that list.
#15 Buy a Hooters Girl Uniform.
The former seer gave him a quick look again, as she shut the tiny computer off. Then she saw he had his shaving kit out, "Xander, hold on a minute!"
He looked back to her. "What?"
The younger Chase daughter grabbed the large metal bowl they had been going to use for popcorn the other night, and brought it into the bathroom. "Cordy?"
"Go sit on the bench, at the end of the bed," she told him. After a second, Xander shrugged then went and sat down. She joined him a few moments later with the bowl full of water, and his shaving kit. Cordelia quickly set the bowl down on the bench, as she got next to him.
"I saw my uncle's first wife do this with him one time when I was a kid, and I always wanted to give it a try," the brunette told him, as she started to lather his face with shaving cream.
"Huh. I've never had anyone shave me before," Xander said simply, with a funny expression. "Uh, you're not gonna have any high school flashbacks and slit my throat or anything, now, are you?"
"First time for everything," Cordy responded with a wink, as she dipped the razor in the water and proceeded to gently shave his right cheek.
***
Several hours later...
The long round driveway to the Chase home was filled with cars, when the black PT Cruiser pulled up. "Vince, I am just way totally shocked!" Mary-Beth said, as the four of them got out of the car.
At Vince's look, she shook her head at him. "Not that other thing, silly! I mean, since when do you know any rich people – besides me?"
"Yeah," Julie asked. "You've been holding out on us, dude!"
"No I haven't," D'Amata told them. "My boss lives here. His wife came from money, I guess, and plus she's gonna be on a TV show soon..."
Mary-Beth's head snapped back. "A TV show?"
"Oh!" Kristy squealed. "Is this a Hollywood party?"
"No, mostly just a few of their friends."
"What show is she going to be on?"
"I think Xander said it was called 'The Lost Girls'? Something like that," Vince shrugged.
"Oh my freaking God! You've gotta be kidding!" Julie exclaimed. "There are rumors all over the Internet about that show! Do you think the cast will take a picture with us!?"
Vince covered his face with his hand. "Please don't go all weird on my boss's fiancée."
"Who-?"
"Cordelia Chase..."
Julie squealed, and almost made a Willow-esque sound of geeker joy; but Mary-Beth waved off his fears. "Oh, relax, you know us Vince. We are so well behaved..."
"Oh, sure you are Mary-Beth," the soldier responded with a fearful look.
Just before they reached the front door, Mary-Beth stopped. "Vince?" she whispered. "Does anyone here know of your Immortal thingy?"
"Some, but only a few. Just don't mention anything about it, okay?" the lieutenant said, as the man at the door let them in.
***
"Okay, so there we were – facing off against a pack of slime demons," Xander said to the small group around them. "Buffy's being Buffy and chopping away side by side with Angel, Willow's doing the ball of sunlight spell, Giles had gotten knocked out cold, and Cordelia..."
With an amused look towards her the young man continued, "Well, she was beating the shit out of a female vampire that had said she was gonna turn me."
"Like I'm going to let some undead fashion victim turn my guy into one of her minions?!" Cordy told the others.
"And, uh, it had nothing to do with her ripping your dress, Cordy?" Angel asked mockingly.
"Hey, that Valentino original cost me at least six hundred dollars!"
Everyone laughed; everyone but Mary-Beth. "She vandalized one of the master's originals? Man, I would have tortured her first myself!"
"Oh, and that's not the worst part!" Cordelia told her. "Her sword also tore into the matching purse I got! I had to buy a knockoff to replace it!"
"What a complete bitch!" Mary-Beth yelled.
Xander, Angel and Vince all groaned and at the same time, "There's two of her now!?"
Some time later Xander, Gavin, and Vince were talking, as they glanced up to the second floor railing that ran around the width of the main living room. Cordelia and Mary-Beth sat in two large chairs, deep into a heated conversation that the three men didn't even want to guess about.
"Any word from Melissa and Rebecca?" Gavin asked.
"No, not yet. So, Vince, you had the talk with your friends?" Xander asked, changing the subject.
"Yeah," Vince nodded. "I had to fight an old enemy. Had to tell them something. But I'm not going to tell Mary-Beth how close the fight really was."
"How bad?" Gavin wondered.
"Let's just say I owe my life to a stray cat, and leave it at that."
"Excuse me?"
The three men looked over, to see Gunn standing next to them. "Sorry to butt in here. But I need to talk to you guys."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, I wanted to thank you for what you did recently for my people," the former gang leader said, as he extended his hand to Xander.
Xander shook it. "Trust me, I know how it feels to be nothing more than a group of kids fighting demons with no help. I'm just sorry I couldn't give you guys any weapons. But some higher-ups that don't know about the things that go bump in the night, see you guys as just a street gang."
Gunn shook his head. "I can't count how many times we've heard that. Most folks think we're drug dealers! But I was wondering if you guys could come and meet the Lost Boys tonight? Some of my old crew aren't exactly trusting of 'free gifts'."
"Sure, we can make a stop over after the party," Xander told him, as Gavin and Vince nodded in agreement.
They quickly stopped talking, when one of the older butlers that Cordy had hired for the night came over. "Sorry to bother you, sir, but there are a few gentlemen at the front gate who say they have a few items you wanted."
"Ah, good. Gavin, can you...?"
"On it, boss man!" his associate said, as the black guy and Vince headed for the door.
"Something up?" Gunn asked Xander.
"Two of Cordy's Christmas gifts have just arrived."
Twenty minutes later, Gavin gave Xander a thumbs-up from the open front door. Xander gave them a quick nod, picked up an empty wineglass and a fork and clanked them together. "Can I have your attention, please? And if my lovely fiancée would please step this way... "
Everyone stopped talking, and quickly came over; Cordelia moved to stand next to Xander. "Now, the thing is," he began. "Cordy and I have agreed to give each other one Christmas gift tonight. And I'd like to see if I can shock the old girl here..."
Cordelia lightly punched him in the arm. "I'm old, you loser geek!?" she exclaimed, causing a few chuckles among the group.
"My mistake, everyone," Xander said, fighting not to break down laughing. "I meant the young, vivacious, hot as hell mother of my children!"
"Better!" his fiancée beamed.
"Well, last month Cordelia told me that she wanted a new makeup and changing table for the bedroom, because the one she has doesn't compare to her old one from Sunnydale," Xander told them.
"Yeah, believe it or not I got it for 19 bucks at Wal-mart," Cordelia said annoyed, but then her eyes got big. "Did you get me one from Rodeo Drive?"
"Nope. I found a better one in Miami," Captain Harris told her.
"Miami?" Ms Chase wondered, as she saw Gavin and Vince (along with two other men) bring in a large covered item that was easy to tell what it was.
"Cordelia, if you please?" Xander said, as he motioned to the large tarp covering the table and mirror.
She eagerly pulled it off...and gasped. "Oh my God!" she turned back. "Xander Harris, is that what I think it is?"
"Yep, you guessed it Cordy. It's the same one you had in Sunnydale. Your grandmother's, that she had passed on to you before she died."
Tears came to her eyes. "But how? The IRS took everything!"
"Well, April loves a challenge and going through IRS auction records – that was a pretty big one..."
The dark-haired man was cut off, as she gave him a crushing hug. "Thank you, Xander!"
"Hey, it was nothing," he told her softly. "I remember how much losing it hurt you. And I know it's sorta against the rules, but I got one more gift to give you. We found something else in the records, at that same time."
"What?" Cordy asked, as she wiped some tears away.
Xander took something from Gavin, and dangled it in front of her eyes. "These look familiar?'
"Car keys?" the woman demanded. "I already have-"
"Yeah, I know," Xander interrupted. "But I also know of only one set of car keys that has a monogrammed QC on them. Do you know what keys I'm talking about, oh Queen C?"
Her eyes went wide again. "You mean-?"
"Yep, your old red Mustang. It's in the main garage. All it needs is a tune-up and some paint, and it'll be just like when you had it."
Cordelia took the keys, and after a quick glance at the table she drew him into a quick kiss. "Thank you, my love..." she whispered.
"Hey, you know I'd move heaven and earth for you! Or in this case, IRS computer records..."
Before the couple broke apart they shared a tiny look into each other's eyes, and then laughed as Kristy cooed, "Awww, that's so sweet..."
After she had finished laughing, Cordelia then dragged Xander over to the fireplace. Where Angel was now standing. It seems that he had hung something over the middle of the mantle, while everyone else was watching the two lovebirds.
It also had a cover over it, but with a rope to pull it off with.
Cordelia broke away from Xander, and moved over to take the rope from Angel. "Now it's my turn," she told everyone. "Okay, first off I have one thing to say for the record. And that is that I have accepted the fact that I, Cordelia Chase, am in love with a dork."
More light laugher erupted.
"But," she continued, "I do love him. With all my heart and soul. As the people that were in Sunnydale with us then will tell you, Xander was the only one I would have gone into a battle with the vamps and demons with. I mean, God knows I lost count of how many outfits got ruined! But no matter how upset I was, just one look from him, just one of his lopsided smiles...somehow made it all better."
Xander quietly took Giles' handkerchief, and wiped some of his tears away.
Ms. Chase continued, "During the summer between our junior and senior year, some events happened that...left our little group short of a vampire with a soul, and a Slayer. So the four of us took up the duty to slay the demons on the Hellmouth. Well, I shouldn't say four; I had to go off with my family on our little vacation. I never told you guys this, but I sorta felt that I'd let you down, when I left."
Willow and Xander look at each other in surprise, as Cordy kept going, "I, I felt like a coward when I ran from the library when Drusilla attacked. After that I resolved to stick it out and fight the good fight, but then a few weeks later I was on a plane out of the country."
The future TV star looked right at Xander. "I was supposed to be out on the beach having a good time and be flirting with the lifeguards, like my sister was. But I couldn't. My boyfriend was fighting for his life every damn night, and I wasn't there. I know you thought I was just keeping tabs on you, when I called you almost every night Xander. But I just had to know you were all right. Because I had so many nightmares that I would either come back to a funeral, or a grave..."
Xander and the other Scoobies were shocked at this, but Angel wasn't. She had told him all this years ago.
"Anyway, without getting too weepy here." Cordy said. "When we went out to patrol around then, we had radios since we had to rotate who was gonna play bait for the vamps. And we all had code names. Willow was the 'White Witch', Oz was the 'Wolf Man', Xander was 'Night Hawk' and me...I was 'Wonder Woman'. Now, I know we haven't thought of those nicknames for a really long time now. But something Xander showed me in Vegas, it gave me an idea."
"What was that, Cor?" Xander asked, confused.
"Well, my love. You remember you dragged me to that comic book signing?"
"Uh, yeah?"
"Well, there was that one guy was really good. So when we got back, I called his office. And I got him to do a little thing for us."
"Alex Ross?" Xander asked her. "Oh, man, wait, you didn't-?"
"Oh yes I did, Xander." Cordelia said, as she flashed him her trademark smile. She pulled on the rope and the cover fell away.
"Now, that is something else!" Vince said in admiration.
Hanging there was a large framed painting. It was a giant comic book cover. The top had a large 'Nighthawk and Wonder Woman' logo. A DC Comics logo was in the top left corner, along with a '1st amazing action packed issue' on the bottom.
With a light blue background, Xander Harris stood in a black and blue spandex outfit with an image of a hawk with its wings spread out on his chest, a black cape hanging off his shoulders. His arms where crossed across his chest, as he looked forward with a quirky smile on his lips.
Standing next to Nighthawk with her hand lovingly on his shoulder was Cordelia – in the full Wonder Woman outfit.
To say Xander had never envisioned her in the outfit back during that summer would be very wrong, and now she looked more stunning in it than he'd ever thought she could.
Red and white striped boots, the red, white and blue leotard with a gold eagle covering her chest. Twin silver armbands and a gold tiara with a red five-pointed star, and the glowing lasso hanging from her hip completed the look.
"Damn, Cor!" Xander exclaimed.
"Hey, I'd move heaven and earth for you too!" Cordy leaned in and gave him a peck on the cheek, and then she added in a voice too low for anyone else but him to hear, "I've also got the full outfit upstairs, lasso and everything..."
Willow shifted the baby she had in her arm, as she watched her best friend with his fiancée. With the look he'd just given Cordelia, it was obvious what she must have whispered to him about. A twinge of her old crush for him came to the surface again, but right now Willow was more occupied with what she had talked to Buffy earlier about.
Cordelia's mouthing off at the blond Slayer, back at the hotel.
Now everyone had told the witch and Chosen One that Cordelia had really changed over the years. Yeah, Willow thought to herself. She's gotten even nastier!
Not that she wanted the twins to end up the product of a broken home, but Willow knew she had to be ready for the fallout when Xander and Cordelia eventually split up. It was just Xander's pattern...
The redhead had once told Tara Maclay that she'd viewed Xander as the best the male gender had to offer. And if even he would cheat or leave a girl at the altar, then why bother with the rest of the men out there?
Even Oz had cheated on her with the werewolf bitch, Veruca. Kristen's words earlier that day had just reinforced her private beliefs.
Guys were just not worth the trouble, and besides Tara had looked so damn hot in just her panties...
***
Hours later, the party had died down. Most had gone home or back to the hotel for the night. The twin girls had been put to bed, and Giles had retired to a guestroom with a request to "have that ghost of yours please keep the volume down".
Gavin, Gunn, Vince, and Xander were outside on the front walkway talking, as Kristy and Julie were waiting in the car for Mary-Beth.
The skinny brunette came out, still talking with Cordelia. "Now, I'm sure we can find one. You should get it engraved too!"
"Get what engraved?" Xander asked as both brunette women went for their respective men.
Cordelia pointed to the white baby monitor she had clipped on her belt, ever since they had laid the girls down for the night. "She thinks we can find a leather carrying case for it..."
Vince laughed, as he shook his head. "Trust me – if Mary-Beth says she can find one, she'll find one. You do not want to see this girl let loose at a mall."
"Oh, stop it!" Mary-Beth said half-jokingly, as she hit Vince's arm with the back of her hand. "Besides, we'll be out anyway looking at furniture."
At Xander's questioning glance Cordelia clarified, "She had some great ideas for a few of the rooms!"
Xander looked to Vince. "Should I be worried?"
D'Amata just nodded, causing Mary-Beth to hit him again, thus causing everyone to laugh a little. Then they all started to walk to the cars.
Xander pulled Cordelia back, "I just want to make sure you're okay before I go."
"I'm fine, Xander," she told him.
"You're sure?" he asked. "Just say the word, and I can have Gavin and Vince go by themselves. I could..."
She cut him off. "I'll be fine, my love." Then the brunette kissed him. "Now get going, before they leave with out you. Double-time, solider boy!"
"Well, I'm in the Air Force, but okay. Now, you know I have my cell with me?"
"Will you just go already? Sheesh!" Cordelia said laughingly, as she pushed him down the walkway.
"Okay, okay, I'm going, geez..."
Ms. Chase hit the switch to close the front gate, as the last car left the driveway. Closing the front door, the engaged woman then stopped at the foot of the stairs. Instead of going up to bed like she'd wanted to do, Cordy did a 90-degree turn and headed for the TV room with the big screen.
Flipping it on, she already knew she wouldn't find anything good on at this hour. But seeing as how she had visions when she was sleeping, the poor creature had no desire to go lay down in her bed. Especially if Xander wasn't laying there with her. I mean, I can't go to bed yet when my favorite pillow is out doing a meet 'n greet with Gunn's people tonight now, can I?
Her plan to stay up and wait for her intended went fine, for about an hour. She had just begun to watch a movie that had way too many good-looking people in it, and which she was guessing was going to turn into a soft-core porn flick – when Cordelia Chase fell asleep on the couch.
And of course her worst fears came true, as yet another vision of her life in the other timeline began.
***
Tuesday November 30th 1999
Sunnydale, California. Third floor apartment of Xander Harris and Cordelia Chase.
The first timeline
The 18-year-old Cordelia Chase woke up in the bed, slowly. She yawned as she looked at the red LCD clock on the nightstand; it was 9:23 pm, and she was alone
Xander's probably still at Giles's place, dealing with whatever the hell is going on this time, she thought to herself groggily, as her brain cleared away the effects of sleep.
Getting up from the bed, the naked teenager decided to look through the boxes of baby clothes and supplies that Joyce had given her and Xander recently. Personally, Ms. Chase thought it was way too soon to get that sorta stuff. I'm not even showing yet...
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the bathroom door opening.
Cordelia looked over towards the doorway, and saw the attractive guy she had met at the grocery store a few hours ago after she'd had a craving for Peanut M&M's.
He was buttoning up his open dress shirt as he came out of the bathroom, "You know, Cordelia honey, I'm not normally the kind of guy that has one-night stands like this. But in this case, I'm glad I did – because I swear to Mary, Jesus and Joseph, you know how to give a guy one hell of a workout..."
***
December 21st 2004. 3:15 am
The Chase Mansion
Cordelia's head shot up in pure terror, as she instantly came awake with a scream. No!
The woman fought to control her emotions, as her brain wrapped itself around what she'd just dreamed. No, no...NO! she thought angrily. I didn't! I mean, I wouldn't ever have! It's not...it's wrong. It has to be. I was pregnant with the girls by then, for God's sake!
She hardly registered the lights turning on. Through her tears, Cordelia saw a bottle of aspirin and a glass of water float in mid-air and set down on the coffee table in front of her.
"It wasn't that kind of vision, Dennis..." Cordy was able to get out. Xander must have told him to keep an eye on me, she thought vaguely, before that thought itself caused her to cry harder.
"Xander! Oh God, Dennis! It can't be true, it just can't be!"
All the pain, both physically and mentally she had gone though after she had caught Xander with Willow so long ago, came back to her all at once. Along with the look of pure love Xander had given her, just mere hours ago at their party.
And the voice of the mystery man from the vision came back to haunt her. 'You know how to give a guy one hell of a workout'...
Her brain was rejecting the mere notion of it, and the thought of it was like a knife twisting in her heart. She could hardly even whisper it, for fear of saying it somehow made it true.
"God help me, I cheated on Xander..."
A fresh wave of red-hot tears came, even before she was finished saying the phrase that threatened to tear her sanity apart.
TBC...