Chapter Five – The Eye Patch Guy

Olivia was lying on bed in the room Dawn had set aside for her. She was staring at the ceiling.

Ok, she thought, magic is real, demons are real, there are super powered women called Slayers that fight demons and Alex now works for them as a legal advisor. She was never taking a vacation again. She heard a knock on the door.

"Olivia?" it was Alex.

"Come in," Olivia said.

Alex opened the door and walked in. She smiled at her friend and then sat down in the chair in the corner.

"If it helps, I think I spent three days just staring at the wall when I first got here," Alex said.

"It's a lot to wrap my head around," Olivia said. Olivia sat up in the bed and looked at Alex. "So you're getting married."

"Yes I am," Alex replied.

"So Xander. What is he? A reincarnation of one the Knights of the Round Table, some kind of super-powered cyclops?" Olivia asked.

Alex let out a chuckle. "Xander is just a normal guy."

"A normal guy," Olivia said. "In a place like this."

"Which is just one of things that makes him special," Alex said. "He met Buffy in high school when he was fifteen. Learned about the Slayer thing. He's been part of the Scoobies ever since."

"I have a hard time dealing with the idea that people who literally run around saving the world from demons choose to name themselves after a cartoon dog," Olivia said.

"Which is one the reasons so many people, as Dawn said, dispute their sanity," Alex answered.

"So how did you and Xander start dating?" Olivia asked.

"Xander is the Facilities Manager," Alex explained. "So when I started setting up the office, he worked pretty hard to make sure I had everything I needed. I know how incredibly clichéd this is going to sound, but he has the ability to make people laugh. To lighten up even the darkest moments."

Alex paused and smiled. "The first couple of months I was here, we were just friends. Then I started learning the history, hearing all the old stories from the 'good-old-days' back in Sunnydale. Around New Years I had a bit of a revelation. One thing stuck out to me. Everyone had a moment, some more than one, where they tried to walk away from all this. Buffy, Willow, Giles at one point or another it became too much for them and they had no choice but to leave for awhile."

"But not Xander," Olivia said.

"Not Xander," Alex replied. "Seven years on the Hellmouth, just an ordinary guy and he stuck it out the whole way. He could have walked away after Sunnydale. He didn't. He spent a year traveling around Africa, the Middle East and Asia, tracking down newly called Slayers. Then he came to Cleveland to help set up the Jenny Calendar Foundation. The moment that became clear to me I decided I wanted to learn more about Xander Harris. So I asked him out on date."

"And that's when it started," Olivia said.

"That's when he said no," Alex smiled. "So I went to Buffy and got The History."

"The History?" Olivia could here the capital letters.

"Xander has had a colorful dating career to say the least," Alex smiled. "Growing up on a Hellmouth has a few disadvantages. Most of it can be written off as normal teenage stupidity."

"Most," Olivia noted. "What did he do?"

"I'll let Xander fill you in on the history," Alex said. "Suffice to say he's made a couple of very big mistakes in his life. I'm not going into this blind Olivia. Xander's friends made sure of that. Every one of them has sat me down and had The Talk," Alex smiled again. Olivia was having a hard time remembering when she had ever seen Alex smile so much in the almost five years they had worked together.

Alex picked up the story again, "Anyway. After Buffy told me some of things that happened, I became more determined then ever to figure out what makes this guy tick."

"I've seen you when you get determined," Olivia said. "Xander never stood a chance did he?"

"No, he didn't," Alex replied. "It took two weeks, but I got him to go out with me. It was a typically disastrous first date. Spilled drinks, awkward conversation, amazingly enough no demon attacks, which as I understand it is a rarity for the Scoobies. That awkwardness is actually what made it work. We had a great time. Things just kept going from there."

"And then he asked you marry him," Olivia said.

"Three weeks ago," Alex noted. "I'm still surprised I said yes. I really do love him Olivia. He is an amazing man."

"So when do I get to meet him for real?" Olivia asked.

"Actually, right about now," Alex answered. "He just back from the zoning board. We're taking you out to dinner."

"I need to change," Olivia said.

"Don't worry about it," Alex made a waving motion with her hand. "The place is casual. They do a great Chicken Picata."

-----

A few minutes later the two stepped out of the elevator and walked to the lobby. Olivia spotted Xander with ease. He was the only guy wearing an eye patch. He had on suit, but he had removed the jacket and tie. He was talking with Buffy and an older gentleman in a tweed suit. Olivia overheard the conversation.

"I hate dressing up for those things," Xander said.

"I still fail to see why you insisted I should accompany you," an older man standing next to Xander said. Olivia noted the British accent.

"Because you're dignified Giles," Xander replied. "It's a lot harder for people to say no to you."

"None of you ever had any problems saying no to me," Giles replied.

"That's because we're immune to dignity," Xander said.

"Truer words have rarely been spoken," came the retort.

"Ah, look here. My soon to be better half has arrived," Xander turned his attention to the approaching women.

"So Xandra, how has your afternoon been?" Xander asked.

"I've been reacquainting myself with an old friend," Alex replied. "And how have you been doing Alex."

The two exchanged a quick kiss.

Olivia watched Buffy roll her eyes. "Would you two please stop doing that? It was cute for the first month, now it's just getting annoying."

"Doing what?" Xander said in a perfectly innocent voice.

Despite herself Olivia found herself smiling.

Buffy shook her head. "Feeling better Olivia?" she asked.

"Staring at the ceiling has been very helpful," Olivia replied.

"Detective Benson," Xander said. "It is truly a pleasure to see you again."

"Thank you," Olivia replied. "Please its just Olivia."

"Permit me to introduce the dignified head of our merry little band," Xander turned and raised his hand with a flourish, "Dr. Rupert Giles."

Giles held out his hand, "Detective Benson a pleasure."

Olivia shook his hand, "Dr. Giles nice to meet you. And again, just Olivia is fine."

"You may call me Giles," Giles replied. "Everyone else does."

"So where are you two planning on taking Olivia?" Buffy asked.

"Antoine's," Alex replied.

"Ah yes, the famed chicken picata," Buffy nodded. "Good choice."

"Xandra does have excellent taste in restaurants," Xander said.

"That's because I use to live in New York Alex," Alex replied.

"I told you two to stop that," Buffy said.

"What's with the names?" Olivia asked.

"It's a formally cute little thing they do," Buffy replied. "The only person in the entire building who can get away with calling Alex Xandra is Xander. Likewise the only person who can get away with calling Xander Alex is Alex. Like I said, it use to be cute, now I think they do it just to annoy me."

"Buffy, when have I ever done anything just to annoy someone?" Xander said in mock indignation.

Both and Giles gave Xander rather pointed looks.

"Ok," Xander said. "When have I ever done anything to annoy people recently?"

The looks became even more pointed.

"Ladies," Xander turned back to Olivia and Alex. "I believe its time we left for dinner. If you'll both accompany me to the car."