Xander had never been happier, he was sure of that.

'It's been an amazing summer.' He thought. 'Cordy and I are doing good. I've got a good job, we've got an okay apartment. Hey, it's L.A. it's what we can afford. But we're together and that's what's important. but there's something that might make it better.'

"I've been thinking about something." Xander said.

"What about?" Cordelia asked absently as she checked the want ads.

"The soldier knowledge in my head. It could be useful for more then just helping Buffy occasionally with Slaying. And given that we're living in L.A. means it's even less helpful for her unless they're dealing with a Big Bad."

"True, it's not like you're there helping with patrol and every little bad that comes along."

"So the only other real useful place I can use it is the Army itself. If I enlist, I can get a sign on bonus and money to help with college. Things might be a little difficult money wise and we'd probably end up being assigned multiple places, but once college is done and my enlistment is up, we'd be in a pretty good place."

"That's not a bad idea. I've been thinking of getting loans and such so I can do college myself. Both of us using loans would put us in a bad place financially, but just one of us wouldn't be so bad. And then after college you'd have ready made training that could transfer to a civilian job and it would be easier for us to get real work instead of this minimum wage stuff."

"My thoughts exactly. Great minds think alike. So do ours."

Cordelia narrowed her eyes at his joke, then grinned and shook her head. "Plus, you'd look hot in a uniform, you did on that Halloween."

"So this is our plan? I enlist and you get loans and we do college, while living together?"

"It's a good plan and it's doable. I think we should do it." Cordelia agreed.

"Then I'll find the nearest recruiting office tomorrow and we'll start getting ready for college. It's too late for this semester, but I'll be finished with Basic by the time next semester comes around. And we can make up time during the summers, which will mean we can graduate sooner."

"Which means better jobs sooner." Yes! Score! Cordy smile. 'Leaving Sunnydale with Cordelia was the best decision I ever made.' Xander thought. 'Yes, life is good.'

And it was, until the next day when Willow showed up.

"I thought you were on a road trip, Xander." She said accusingly. "I haven't heard from you in two months and I was worried about you."

"Why? I can take care of myself. All you had to do was call my cell phone."

"Not the point, Xander! I was worried you'd get into trouble. Why are you in Los Angeles? Why does it look like you're living in this apartment?"

"Because I am. I told you I'd see you the end of summer when I left and I would have told you then. Cordelia and I talked and we started on the road trip together. While we were doing the tourist attraction thing, we decided to get an apartment in L.A. and jobs. Things are going pretty good too."

"So that's your plan? Live in L.A. with Cordelia?"

"Well it was, but we're struggling a little bit. L.A. is expensive. So I came up with a different plan. I'm enlisting and going to college. Cordy's going to take out loans so she can go to college."

'Enlisting! He can't enlist, the Army will find out he's a mutant! I haven't gone to all this trouble to keep us safe from hate groups just so he can blow it all now on a stupid idea like this!'

'Its probably Cordelia's idea.' The voice whispered. 'She wants it all to be so easy. You bankrupted her family and you just know she hates being poor.'

'You're right.' Willow agreed with the voice. 'It probably is her idea. Using Xander to get ahead, that's so like her!'

'So separate them so she can't use him. Make sure he's safe. You know how.'

'Magic. I can use Magic. Perfect. I'll make sure she never uses Xander again!'

"Xander, look at me!" She ordered and recited the memory erasure spell again. "You will forget about joining the Army. You will forget the military knowledge in your head. You will forget that you went on your road trip with Cordelia. You will forget that you were living and working in Los Angeles." Xander's eyes flashed and a terrible feeling of having lost something, something important took its place. "Pack your things, Xander. You're going back to Sunnydale, where you belong. Tell people you don't want to talk about your road trip because it didn't work out. Stay away from Los Angeles!" Another flash in Xander's eyes and he went to start packing.

When Cordelia arrived home she found Willow waiting for her instead of Xander. Willow and the voice had been talking again.

'We have to keep her in L.A. She can't come back to Sunnydale. She might try to get her hooks into Xander again.' Willow thought.

'Then make sure she doesn't contact him. You know what to do.' The voice whispered.

Willow looked Cordelia in the eye and gave her an order. "You don't call Xander, you don't write to Xander. If you need anything, you contact me. Forget about the road trip and living with Xander and making plans with Xander. You and Xander are not together!"

Willow left and returned to Sunnydale. It would be four years before anyone found out what Willow had done and why.