"They say opposites attract, like magnets." Xander started off his conversation with Cordelia, when Angel sent her up to his room, before heading off to see Giles. "And we're very much opposites, always were. And the first time we kissed was during an argument and the second. Didn't take me long to realize I like arguing with you. At first just because it led to kissing. Then because it led to kissing you in particular. But you've got to admit, prior to Valentine's Day, being publicly dumped and the revenge love spell, things were really rocky between us. You were embarrassed by me and by finding yourself attracted to me and I was really confused by finding myself attracted to you. Although, you've always been hot, so I can safely say part of it was definitely hormones. But that changed after we officially and openly got together, it wasn't just attraction anymore, it became something more. Enjoying spending time with you, talking to you. Learn to share things with you. Opening up about my fears and now looking back I should have done that more, because the reason we need to talk probably wouldn't have happened if I'd opened up more sooner."

"Your fears led you to do something stupid, didn't they?" Cordelia realized. "How stupid?"

"Two kisses and a game of footies with Willow." He admitted.

Cordelia's shock had her very nearly slapping him. "You kissed Willow?! Explain! Right the Hell now, before I start looking for a blunt object to bash what little brains you obviously have in!"

"Two weeks ago during the preparations for Homecoming. She asked me over to help her pick out a dress for the dance, which is weird and I should have questioned it."

"Because you're idea of fashion is Hawaiian shirts and you'd have no idea what constituted a good dress for Willow?"

"Exactly. Willow and I talked earlier today and she admitted she set it up. The dress, asking me to help make sure she could handle the dancing. She set up a situation where she hoped something would happen and something did, a kiss. Which we both immediately regretted and insisted would never happen again."

"But it did, you said two kisses!"

"When the whole Pete/Debbie/Oz thing was happening."

Cordelia was silent as she processed that and then she said softly. "Willow was scared her boyfriend was a murderer, that wolfOz accidentally killed a guy. And you saw an abusive relationship between people you know. People like your parents. So the first time was partly a set up and atmosphere and just a fluke. The second time was what, a confusing mix of fears, flashbacks to your parents and Willow and Jesse always being the ones you went to hide from your parents drama from? Maybe mixed with the reminder that you're afraid you'll turn out like him and hurt someone, like me. You picked a bad way to deal with it, but I think I understand it."

"Mostly because we have talked, at least to a certain extent and because I think you understand me better than I understand myself sometimes."

"You mentioned a game of footies?"

"Band candy."

"Everyone who ate some, which did not include me, was acting insane. You get a pass on that one."

"And the other two?"

She slapped him, hard.

"Ow."

"That's just the start. There will be punishment. Tomorrow's Saturday, nine a.m. at the Mall. You need a new wardrobe. You will try on everything I want you to try on, you will let me buy you everything I think you should have and you will be my pack mule every Saturday until I decide you've been punished enough. And you will never, ever cheat on me again or I will castrate you! See if those nanites can fix that!"

Xander cringed, he wasn't quite sure which was worse, shopping or the threat. "It'll never happen again, I promise. And I deserve punishment for being so stupid and for not confessing immediately and for not talking more in general about the things that contributed to it. But at least you're not breaking up with me."

"I've invested a lot into us, Xander and we're good together and for each other. I think we can deal with and get passed this and I'm not just going to give up on us. I was once ready to keep you in my swimming pool when I thought you'd turned into a fish monster. It also kind of helps that Willow warned me about your fears yesterday and I just recently realized I love you."

"You love me?" He said hopefully.

"Yes, you big Doofus, I love you! Deal with it."

A big smile bloomed over Xander's face and he said, "I love you too, Cor. And I'm committed to make this work, so that means working through my fears."

"Good. I'm going home, I'll be here to pick you up at nine, be ready."

"Yes, oh Queen C!" She wasn't breaking up with him, he could deal with the punishment. And more talking about things he knew he shouldn't bottle up until they exploded.

Cordelia left and Xander popped a blood bag on his teeth. After dropping the emptied bag into the trash, he glared at it. "This is the rest of my life, being a techno vampire." His expression soften. "But at least Cordy's still a part of it. Even if I do have to go shopping to make up for being an idiot. And I need to go grocery shopping now. I need Twinkies."