"Hey, Cordy, I only have a minute because I have to report to my CO, but I wanted you to know I'm back safe and sound and I'll see you as soon as they clear me." Xander said to Cordelia as soon as she picked up the phone.

Cordelia struggled to hold herself together as she felt the tension of the last month wash out of her and leave her a limp noodle. Xander had deployed before, but it had been as support and not fighting demons. That the Army was destroying those things was a good thing, that they'd dragged Xander into it, wasn't. But he was back now and hopefully they'd never call him up for active demon hunting duty again. "You're back, that's the important thing. I'll stop at the college and collect your coursework, they're holding it. You can tell me about it when you get home." Focusing on the normal to keep herself from rushing to his base and seeing with her own eyes that he was alright. Her storming his base wouldn't go over too well with anyone there.

"I have a lot to talk to you about, Cordy. I'll see you soon, I love you."

Xander hung up and shouldered his duffle and headed to his CO's office. He still wasn't cleared to know anything about Xander's assignment, but he was still the one who Xander reported to. Once that was done and he'd cleared medical, he headed for the apartment he and Cordelia shared. His home, because she was there. He'd never had that before and swore he'd never do anything that would cost him his home. Colonel Telford was a Commanding Officer worth following, but Xander wasn't a demon hunter anymore and if anything this assignment made that clear. He was a soldier now and intended to remain so. Which was something else he and Cordy needed to discuss.

As soon Xander was though the door of the apartment he had an armful of Cordelia and was being kissed. Not that he objected, he might not be a genius, but he wasn't an idiot either. He dropped his duffle and held on. Finally they both came up for air and leaned their foreheads together, gulping much needed oxygen.

"Come sit down." Cordelia tugged him toward the couch. "You're sure you're alright, you're not hurt?" She asked anxiously.

"The trees in the rainforest did more damage to me than the demons did, Cor. The team I was working with, they're a great group of guys, very dedicated and I feel like we became friends. They won't always be part of that team and we may meet up somewhere else and I'll know they'll have my back and they'll know I have theirs, but I hope they don't call me back."

"You're not tempted, even a little, to go back?" She asked hopeful of a negative answer.

"No, because I'm not a demon hunter anymore, Cor, I'm a soldier and proud of it. Which is something I want to talk to you about."

"What?"

"After I finish college, I'd like to switch from the Reserves to full time Army. Make that the only job I have, commit fully to it. Do you have a problem with that?" He looked worried and he was. Cordelia might hate the idea, especially since it would mean he'd be called up more often.

Cordelia was silent as she considered his question. "This is important to you, isn't it? Like acting is for me?"

"Yes, I think it's my purpose. I think I'm meant to be a soldier, Cordy. I wanted to help, to keep people safe and I hate vampires because of what happened to Jesse. But like I told Colonel Telford, revenge will get you killed or leave you empty. I don't want to die, I want to protect people. And I'm not empty because you fill me up. You fill all the dark and lonely places in me with your light."

Cordelia nodded. "You do that for me too. You remember Invisible Marcie?"

"Yes. She wanted to carve your face up."

"I told Buffy, I could be surrounded by people and feel all alone. None of them knew me or wanted to. Even when you're half way around the world I don't feel alone because you're a part of me. You've supported me pursuing my dream, I'll support you pursing yours."

Xander held her and whispered his thanks into her hair. "I'm committed to college and the artillery classes. College will take two years, less if I attend the summer terms and I think I'm going to. There's no reason not to and then I'll switch to regular Army. I'll see more active combat, but I'll do what's necessary to stay safe and come home. To you."

"Damn right you will." She glared at him. "If you do something stupid I'll make you pay for it in creative ways."

"Colonel Telford is afraid of you and your creative ways. He said the guys asked if I could join the team permanently and he said he did not want you giving him a prostrate exam with a stake. They agreed to let me come home."

"They better damn well have, that particular method could be used to punish any one of them. I'll just deny you sex if you do something stupid."

"Trust me, I consider that a very potent threat." Xander fervently assured her. "Cor, there's some other things that came up while I was down there, things I need to talk to you about. The team has a Magic user and he told me a few things." He slowly explained everything Aaron had told him, about his precognitive ability and then he told her about Aaron's vision. Her reaction was exactly what he was expecting.

"What?!"