Chapter Four: Return the Conquering Zeppo
The Rosenberg Residence, Sunnydale, Ca
August 13, 1996
9:05 AM
"Uhhhhhhhh arrrrrrrg..." Groaned a sleepy redhead as she woke up from a pleasant slumber, and an even more pleasant dream. She wacked her alarm clock which had been pestering her for the last five minutes. This is her birthday, she should be able to sleep in if she wants to. Begrudgingly, she got out of her bed, took off her Pjs, opting for a housecoat and made her trip to the bathroom. After an extended shower, she dressed and went down stairs to the vacant kitchen. As both of her parents were touring universities this week across state on their newest textbooks. Jesse was away visiting his grandparents, but was supposed to return the next day. Willow was on her own, again. Her parents did, however, compensate her with a new computer and Jesse compensated her with three movie gift certificates. Upon finishing her Wheatabix (The official cereal of BtvS) she decided that she felt up to a day at the arcade, before she treated herself to the newest James Bond movie, something that she'd been curious about from what Jesse had told her about the week before.
Willow walked out of her house and checked the mail. She found a few cards that the return postage indicated that were from family and one card with only her first name handwritten beautifully on it. She reentered her homestead and, curiosity getting the better of her, opened the anonymous card first. She read the beautiful handwriting on the pretty card with interest and admiration.
*Miss Rosenberg, you are cordially invited to attend lunch, the arcade, dinner and the movies with your Xander-shaped friend, who should be standing at your doorstep and doing the traditional knock right...about.....now!*
Knock, Knock Knock Knock, KNOCK KNOCK
*Sincerely, Edna, The poor old woman who he sweet-talked into writing this for him. Happy Birthday dear.*
Blinking once, twice, thrice, Willow dashed for the door with a huge smile on her face. She swung it open and tackled the Hawaiian clad Xander shape. Xander held his ground and moved his rose and chocolate occupied hands behind the redhead as she clung to him, returning her hug as much as his gifts allowed him. Looking down to the newly fifteen year old's green eyes he grinned and spoke. "Heya Wills. What's the what?"
"Oh, you know, the usual. Sex, drugs, rock and roll, all of it's on MTV and I'm home alone watching." She replied slightly miffed but grinned brightly non the less. "But the day's shaping up. How's it going, Sparticus?" She asked as she inclined her head to make eye contact.
"Huh?" Was Xander's expert reply.
Willow smacked him upside the skull for forgetting basic history and decided to drag his forgetful ass back into her house. She plunked him down on the love seat and towered over him, beginning his re-education. . "Sparticus was the conquering Roman gladiator dude a bunch of years ago that every time he fought, he was always victorious. Ok, lemme rephrase that- is your training done for the summer?" Willow sat down next to Xander and awaited his reply.
"Um...Kinda..."
"Kinda? What do you mean?"
"Well, um,, Gouken-sensei died a week ago." Shifting into happy gear, he continued. "Ken and Ryu had already completed his training and were just there to be with him in the end. I should have to go back for another year, but I did my best to learn everything that the guys did. I'm not as good as they are- You should see Ryu now Wills! He's awesome!" Back to the sad topic "He died of old age..." Xander paused for a moment, Willow hugged her oldest friend tightly as he smiled and continued. "Gouken-sensei lived to be 105 years old before he died. He was happy though, and that's what counts."
"Xander..." Willow clung mercilessly to her Xander, trying to comfort him over his loss. He patted her on her back, kissed her forehead and smiled down at her. "I'm okay, Wills. He wouldn't want us to be sad or anything."
"You sure?"
"Yep," Willow moved off of her best male friend, a little zoned out at the news of the cool old man's passing. Xander noticed her expression and then returned to normal goofy mode. Looking around for a flower pot to place his one rose in, Xander found none, and placed it in his mouth. He got up from the love seat, took the cute redhead's hand and pulled her up with him. Spinning her twice he moved in to hold her, as he had seen on the beginning of the TV show Highlander. He spoke with the rose in his mouth with his worst accent. "Ole senorita, I am Carlos from New Mehico," he brought her up to meet her eyes. "I have come here to seduce you and to return you to my blimp lair of love and freedom!"
The cheesy pick-up line achieved its desired effect, Willow's face turned an interesting shade of red which contrasted nicely with her hair. She turned away from her Xander-shaped crush, which earned Xander the two seconds he needed to grab the heart shaped chocolate box. He wrapped his arms around her, chocolate forward and let her notice the box. "Xander! Thank you!" She grinned and opened the box, inhaling three chocolates in that many seconds.
They both sat down on the love seat again, Willow munching on the Canadian Milk Chocolates from the Gagnon family and Xander smiling as she enjoyed them.
"So what did you want to do today birthday girl?"
"Well, Jesse is at his grandparents place until tomorrow so I was thinking about spending the day at the arcade," she looked back at the card. "how did you know?!"
Xander smiled a knowing smile. "I wouldn't be much of a Willow fanboy if I didn't know her head to toe, would I?" She blushed a blush that rivaled her previous one in redness. Xander smirked slightly. "I was thinking maybe a trip to the beach, followed by lunch, then a visit to the favorite arcade where we kick Krusty the Clown's ass, and then I get to treat you to a surprise. Sound good?"
Willow nodded with a patented willow impish grin. "Okay, I'll go grab my swimsuit." When she returned, Xander was waiting for her at the door. She moved down the stairs, beach bag in her hands. Xander moved to open the door and made the 'there it is hand jesture'. "Your chariot awaits milady."
Willow gaped and nearly dropped her bag. A black limousine rested on the side of the road and at the tuxedo wearing driver holding open the passenger door. "XANDER!!" She jumped around and tackled the boy. "You didn't have to, you know."
"I wanted to, besides, I've got some cash to burn now." Willow pulled her combination of 'resolve face' and 'explain now' face, quickly forcing Xander to explain. He moved his hand to the back of his head and started to shyly scratch. "I, uh, kinda won a competition before coming back, so don't worry about the cash today. C'mon, don't wanna make Alfred wait hey?"
Willow gave her Xander one last squeeze and let go, dragging him into the limo. Alfred introduced himself and casually drove to the beach, letting the two childhood friends catch up.
The Rosenberg Residence, Sunnydale, Ca
August 13, 1996
9:05 AM
"Uhhhhhhhh arrrrrrrg..." Groaned a sleepy redhead as she woke up from a pleasant slumber, and an even more pleasant dream. She wacked her alarm clock which had been pestering her for the last five minutes. This is her birthday, she should be able to sleep in if she wants to. Begrudgingly, she got out of her bed, took off her Pjs, opting for a housecoat and made her trip to the bathroom. After an extended shower, she dressed and went down stairs to the vacant kitchen. As both of her parents were touring universities this week across state on their newest textbooks. Jesse was away visiting his grandparents, but was supposed to return the next day. Willow was on her own, again. Her parents did, however, compensate her with a new computer and Jesse compensated her with three movie gift certificates. Upon finishing her Wheatabix (The official cereal of BtvS) she decided that she felt up to a day at the arcade, before she treated herself to the newest James Bond movie, something that she'd been curious about from what Jesse had told her about the week before.
Willow walked out of her house and checked the mail. She found a few cards that the return postage indicated that were from family and one card with only her first name handwritten beautifully on it. She reentered her homestead and, curiosity getting the better of her, opened the anonymous card first. She read the beautiful handwriting on the pretty card with interest and admiration.
*Miss Rosenberg, you are cordially invited to attend lunch, the arcade, dinner and the movies with your Xander-shaped friend, who should be standing at your doorstep and doing the traditional knock right...about.....now!*
Knock, Knock Knock Knock, KNOCK KNOCK
*Sincerely, Edna, The poor old woman who he sweet-talked into writing this for him. Happy Birthday dear.*
Blinking once, twice, thrice, Willow dashed for the door with a huge smile on her face. She swung it open and tackled the Hawaiian clad Xander shape. Xander held his ground and moved his rose and chocolate occupied hands behind the redhead as she clung to him, returning her hug as much as his gifts allowed him. Looking down to the newly fifteen year old's green eyes he grinned and spoke. "Heya Wills. What's the what?"
"Oh, you know, the usual. Sex, drugs, rock and roll, all of it's on MTV and I'm home alone watching." She replied slightly miffed but grinned brightly non the less. "But the day's shaping up. How's it going, Sparticus?" She asked as she inclined her head to make eye contact.
"Huh?" Was Xander's expert reply.
Willow smacked him upside the skull for forgetting basic history and decided to drag his forgetful ass back into her house. She plunked him down on the love seat and towered over him, beginning his re-education. . "Sparticus was the conquering Roman gladiator dude a bunch of years ago that every time he fought, he was always victorious. Ok, lemme rephrase that- is your training done for the summer?" Willow sat down next to Xander and awaited his reply.
"Um...Kinda..."
"Kinda? What do you mean?"
"Well, um,, Gouken-sensei died a week ago." Shifting into happy gear, he continued. "Ken and Ryu had already completed his training and were just there to be with him in the end. I should have to go back for another year, but I did my best to learn everything that the guys did. I'm not as good as they are- You should see Ryu now Wills! He's awesome!" Back to the sad topic "He died of old age..." Xander paused for a moment, Willow hugged her oldest friend tightly as he smiled and continued. "Gouken-sensei lived to be 105 years old before he died. He was happy though, and that's what counts."
"Xander..." Willow clung mercilessly to her Xander, trying to comfort him over his loss. He patted her on her back, kissed her forehead and smiled down at her. "I'm okay, Wills. He wouldn't want us to be sad or anything."
"You sure?"
"Yep," Willow moved off of her best male friend, a little zoned out at the news of the cool old man's passing. Xander noticed her expression and then returned to normal goofy mode. Looking around for a flower pot to place his one rose in, Xander found none, and placed it in his mouth. He got up from the love seat, took the cute redhead's hand and pulled her up with him. Spinning her twice he moved in to hold her, as he had seen on the beginning of the TV show Highlander. He spoke with the rose in his mouth with his worst accent. "Ole senorita, I am Carlos from New Mehico," he brought her up to meet her eyes. "I have come here to seduce you and to return you to my blimp lair of love and freedom!"
The cheesy pick-up line achieved its desired effect, Willow's face turned an interesting shade of red which contrasted nicely with her hair. She turned away from her Xander-shaped crush, which earned Xander the two seconds he needed to grab the heart shaped chocolate box. He wrapped his arms around her, chocolate forward and let her notice the box. "Xander! Thank you!" She grinned and opened the box, inhaling three chocolates in that many seconds.
They both sat down on the love seat again, Willow munching on the Canadian Milk Chocolates from the Gagnon family and Xander smiling as she enjoyed them.
"So what did you want to do today birthday girl?"
"Well, Jesse is at his grandparents place until tomorrow so I was thinking about spending the day at the arcade," she looked back at the card. "how did you know?!"
Xander smiled a knowing smile. "I wouldn't be much of a Willow fanboy if I didn't know her head to toe, would I?" She blushed a blush that rivaled her previous one in redness. Xander smirked slightly. "I was thinking maybe a trip to the beach, followed by lunch, then a visit to the favorite arcade where we kick Krusty the Clown's ass, and then I get to treat you to a surprise. Sound good?"
Willow nodded with a patented willow impish grin. "Okay, I'll go grab my swimsuit." When she returned, Xander was waiting for her at the door. She moved down the stairs, beach bag in her hands. Xander moved to open the door and made the 'there it is hand jesture'. "Your chariot awaits milady."
Willow gaped and nearly dropped her bag. A black limousine rested on the side of the road and at the tuxedo wearing driver holding open the passenger door. "XANDER!!" She jumped around and tackled the boy. "You didn't have to, you know."
"I wanted to, besides, I've got some cash to burn now." Willow pulled her combination of 'resolve face' and 'explain now' face, quickly forcing Xander to explain. He moved his hand to the back of his head and started to shyly scratch. "I, uh, kinda won a competition before coming back, so don't worry about the cash today. C'mon, don't wanna make Alfred wait hey?"
Willow gave her Xander one last squeeze and let go, dragging him into the limo. Alfred introduced himself and casually drove to the beach, letting the two childhood friends catch up.