Xander and Cordelia called their family, the Scooby Gang, including Joyce and Kari together to share their news.
"Xander, is there a you-know-what problem?" Buffy asked, eyeing Kari.
"No and we wouldn't be having a you-know-what conversation with Kari here and you know it!" Cordelia said, glaring at her.
"A what kind of problem?" Kari asked, innocently.
"Something you're too young to know about Kare-bear." Xander told her, determined to keep her safe from vampires and demons as long as possible. That Hell goddess had caused enough nightmares.
"If it's about sex, I know all about it. I learned about it in Sex Ed."
"No, it's something else entirely." Xander said.
"Well then, what is it then?" Willow asked.
Cordelia smiled and held out her hand. Her left hand. "Xander and I are getting married!"
There were squeals all around as the female Scoobies surrounded her and began talking a mile minute and admiring her ring. Willow looked stunned. Married. She looked at Xander, he looked so happy. She looked at Tara, she loved Tara. She didn't understand what Xander saw in Cordelia and probably never would. But Xander had been nothing but supportive of her relationship with Tara. Willow decided it was time to grow up, she wanted Xander to be happy too. If Cordelia made him happy, then she would just have to accept that.
"So who's going to be your maid of honor?" She asked.
"Faith, with Kari as chief bridesmaid." Cordelia answered firmly. "I know you don't like wearing dresses, Faith, but you will just have to suck it up! It's my wedding and I want my best friend there, right beside me. Amy, Willow, Tara and Buffy will also be bridesmaids."
"Giles, will you be my best man?" Xander asked.
Stunned, Giles could only nod.
"Good." Cordelia said. "We haven't set a date yet, but I'm thinking spring. It would be way too hot in summer around here. We can do our honeymoon this summer."
"That works." Xander said. "Especially if we plan our wedding day for a Saturday, then we won't miss any class."
"What kind of stone is this?" Amy asked. "I've never seen anything like it."
"It's a hazel diamond." Cordelia answered. "Xander picked it because it matches my eyes."
"Xander, how are you affording this? You don't work." Buffy asked.
"I patented my uv laser and uv grenade and the battery I designed for the laser. The Air Force is interested in all of them and has licensed them to research potential applications. Plus, they've guaranteed me a job as an engineer when I graduate."
"That's fantastic news, Xander!" Giles said. "Congratulations!"
The gathering turned into a party to celebrate both announcements. About an hour later, Cordelia came out of the kitchen, where she'd been getting a pop and realized she hadn't seen Kari in a little while.
"Anyone seen Kari?" She asked.
"I think she went to the bathroom about ten minutes ago." Xander said.
Cordelia knocked on the bathroom door. "Kari, are you all right?" When she didn't get an answer, she opened it. "Kari's not in the bathroom."
Everyone quickly began checking around.
"Where is she?!" Cordelia cried. "She's just barely thirteen. She knows better then to be outside after dark, but she thinks it's because of gang activity. We have to find her!"
"We will." Xander assured her. "Amy, Tara, can you do a locator spell?"
They agreed and quickly got their supplies. The answer surprised and upset everyone.
"Make out hill?!" Cordelia yelled. "My baby sister is on make out hill?!"
"Come on, let's go explain to whatever hormone fueled jerk, thinks taking a thirteen year old to make out hill is a good idea, that it really isn't." Xander said. "I should bring a literal shovel, but there isn't time. It's after dark out there."
They all, including Joyce and Giles piled into their cars and headed off to make out hill. Once there, they began searching the cars until they found Kari. Xander didn't hesitate, he pulled the boy who was kissing the girl he considered a sister out of the car. He was very surprised by what he found.
"You have got to be kidding me?!" He said, staring at what he knew was a vampire. "A vampire?! Kari snuck out to meet a vampire?!"
"How do you know I'm a vampire?" The teenage vampire asked.
"When you get to Hell, asked them about the Scooby Gang." The vamps eyes widened, recognizing the name as Xander plunged a stake in its chest and reduced it to dust.
Cordelia had pulled Kari out of the car.
"What the Hell were you thinking sneaking out?! You know we've told you it's dangerous out at night! You could have died or worse, become a vampire yourself. They're not cute, cuddly teddy bears, they're monsters!"
"Queenie, hold that thought." Faith said. "On account of, we got a few more to deal with." As four more vampires got of cars, leaving their now dead dates behind.
"Crap." Xander said as the Scoobies dealt with them and Cordelia tried to shield Kari from it.
Later, back at Scooby Central, otherwise known as the Magic Box.
"Vampires are real?" Kari asked, still trying to wrap her head around it. "I thought it was just Magic, that was real."
"Yes and Mother and Daddy don't know." Cordelia said.
"But you guys do."
"Yep, you can call us the local vamp exterminators. We take turns patrolling and dusting vampires so you can stay safe. We're kinda perturbed over the fact that you snuck out. But we're more worried about how you met a vampire." Xander said.
"We go to the same school . Or least we did. I haven't seen Josh in a couple of weeks. Then I saw him at the Bronze when I was there with Maggie last week. He asked me out. I didn't know he had a car until he picked me up and drove us to make out hill. I thought it was kinda exciting."
"Yeah, I would have too at your age." Cordelia said. "But that doesn't mean, it's a good thing. No more sneaking out! Ever! You scared me."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I promise, no more sneaking out. I learned my lesson."
"And next time you're interested in a boy, let us check him out first, okay?" Xander said. "Save all of our nerves."
Kari just nodded.