"So, Will?  Anything?"  Cordelia ran a tired hand over her forehead and placed her hands on her hips as she walked over to her friends desk where the two boys were seated. The whole day had gone by and it still felt like they  had accomplished nothing. Willow sighed as she typed frantically, searching.

"Zippo."  She replied, scrolling through her files.  "They tried to copy my Watcher diaries, and that's it.  But it's encrypted, I don't know if they broke the code."

 "So it means, if they did,  they know all about us, right?"

 "Well, I'm pretty sure they know all about us now, considering Cordy and Oz are pretty recognizable."  Cordelia sighed.

 "Well excuse US for getting famous okay?  It kind of just happened."

 Xander opened his mouth, thought better of it when everyone glared at him, and shut it.

 "Well, I suggest we then concentrate our thoughts on finding these Watchers before they do anything else to the Buffster." Broke in, Oz.

 Cordelia crossed her legs as she leaned back on her chair.  "Well, we know they're around here somewhere, that should get us somewhere."

 The trio swiveled their heads to her.  "How do we know that?" Willow asked.

 "Simple deduction, morons.  The task force sent to take you out was pretty big, and if they managed to raid your house and the library, follow Angel and know about US, then they must have been hanging out around here. Plus the evil vibe from the Hellmouth gives them a sort of power. I figure, if even a contingent is here, we can find them, and then track down the mega honcho."  Everyone was silent as they passed glances.  "What?!" Cordelia asked, slightly annoyed.

 "It's those scripts she memorizes," Oz explained.  "Makes her think."  Willow stifled a chuckle and cast Cordy an amused glance.

 Xander just sighed.  Cordelia suddenly showing she still had the brains to back up the beauty just made things more frustrating for him.  How was he supposed to work when every minute he was reminded of how great she was?  He was tense as a spring, and any moment he felt as if he would burst. And that's when he had a thought.

 "Hey, Will." He said after a moment.  "Is Willy the snitch still around?"  Willow raised her head and looked at him for a minute.

 "Yeah." She said evenly, a smile floating on her face.

 "Good."  Xander rose and motioned to Oz. "You coming?"  Oz, not quite understanding, rose unsteadily.

 "Yeah, sure." He responded evenly.

   "Um, we'll stay here."  Willow said, unable to keep a huge grin from sliding on her face.

 Xander nodded and walked out, Oz rushing after him. "What the hell is this all about?"

 "I have the urge to pummel someone." Xander responded.  "Better off being able to get something out of it too."
 
 

 "Hey, Will.  Mind if I turn on the television?"  Willow looked up from her computer at what appeared to be a very bored Cordelia, who had been flipping haphazardly through numerous old editions.  "I need some background music." She explained,  "That doesn't involve rapidly pressing keys."

 "Am I that loud?"  Willow said, looking down at her fingers.

 "Let me put it this way, I think another minute of that abuse and the keyboard is going to be calling for worker's comp."  Cordelia said, moving over and flipping  on the television.  "Besides, I can't find anything in these books, about the Watcher's whereabouts." Cordelia sighed as she motioned to her books as the images exploded on the television
screen.

 "Yeah." Willow agreed.  "These guys aren't too big in the prophecies.  Which is probably a good thing."

 Cordelia nodded absently, and then looked at the television.  "Oh, God. I hate this show."  She said, as the logo of NBC's prime tabloid gossip show appeared on the screen. "It's like the Enquirer."

 Willow stopped a smirk as she took off her glasses.  Cordelia was about to change the channel when something stopped her and made her turn up the volume.

 "What the?" Willow looked up as the volume increased and her jaw dropped.  There was a picture of Cordelia and Oz hugging at the Sunnydale airport, in the close embrace that had almost made Willow sick. The anchor, Dan something or other then did a voice over about how sources had learned that the female beauty and the rebel musician had eloped.
Cordelia gasped, while Willow's eyes grew wider by the second.  The segment ended with the anchor wishing them the "best of luck" before they turned to some story about Stallone and some under age girl.  Cordelia snapped off the TV and rummaged through her purse, pulling out her cell phone and punching the speed dial.

 "Dave it's me." She began hurriedly.   "What do you mean where have I been?  Don't you know?  It's all over Hollywood Now. Yes, I heard it.  NO! It's not true!" There was a pause, and Cordelia sighed in anger. "Look, Dave, I told you a hundred times, I'm not trying to stick any sort of wool over your eyes, Oz and I are NOT romantically involved, we never were." Willow froze and she suddenly looked up at Cordelia.  Did she just hear what she thought she heard?

 "I don't CARE if it's good publicity, it's a lie!" Cordelia continued, apparently unaware of Willow's reaction.  "And I want you to release a statement saying it's not true.... No, I can't hold a press conference, right now! ... I told you I was tied up!  Family problems, Dave-" Willow turned Cordelia's battle with her agent out as she leaned her back against her chair and felt herself trembling.  Cordelia and Oz were just friends.  They weren't in love. Her heart began to beat tremendously. "No, there's a reason I don't give you my cell phone number, I don't want you to call me.  I'll be in touch.  Bye."  Cordelia snapped the phone
shut and let her breath out in one big whoosh.  "Can you believe that?" She turned to Willow, and then froze in concern when she saw tears in Willow's eyes.

 "Willow?  What's wrong?" she asked.

 Willow stayed silent for a moment and then looked at Cordelia with glistening eyes. "Nothing.  Everything.  Buts somehow, right now, it all seems bearable."  Cordelia looked utterly confused, until she looked into her friends eyes.  And suddenly she understood.

 "Oh. You thought-.. Oh."  Cordelia felt silent.  "Oz is too short for me, Wills."  She said after a moment.  Willow nodded, and didn't speak for a moment.

 "Cordelia." She suddenly said, leaning forward and placing a hand on hers.  "I have to tell you, in case  you think...  Xander's always loved you. I... think...  I  know he still does. We NEVER, EVER were more than friends.  All that happened that night was a kiss.  And it didn't mean anything! He always loved you!"

 Cordelia looked stunned by her friend's rush of words, and suddenly everything came into place for her.

  "Oh." She said unsteadily.  "So that's why we've all been acting like idiots."
 

 "Hello, what can I help- HELP!" Willy squealed as Xander pushed him against the bar, Oz right behind him.

 "Hi, Willy.  Remember me?" Xander said menacingly. He was itching to beat him with his bare hands.  All this tension could only go so far.

 Willy struggled against the taller and buffer man in vain.  He searched his face, and his face lit up in recognition. "Xander, my man!  How are you!"

 "Not good.  You gonna tell me what I want to know?"

 "Um... I don't know anything, Xander.  I'm clean now."

 "Sure you are."

 "Oz!  Oz is that you?  Hey, do you mind signing this for the little missus?  She really likes- OW!"  He finished in a yelp when Xander dragged him into the wall.

 "Where are the evil guys,  Willy?' Xander asked through clenched teeth.

 "I told you man!  I don't know!  I don't do that anymore!"  Xander closed a hand around his neck.  Oz, seeing that Willy was truly looking frightened for his life, reached for Xander's arm.

 "Hey, man. Lay off."  Xander threw him off with a shrug and a glare.

 "Stay out of this, Wolf Boy."

 "No, Wolf Boy, I beg you. Stay in." Willy begged, his head growing red.

 "Wolf Boy? I figured for a stock broker you could come up with something better." Oz returned easily.  Xander turned to him, his face a mask of rage.

 "You got a problem with me?"

 "I think you know the answer to that." Oz returned. Xander released Willy, and with one hand, kept him pinned against the wall as he looked at Oz angrily.

 "You know, Oz, I think I've done a pretty good job of being civil to you, so don't push your luck."   He pushed Oz back.  Oz rarely lost his cool, but he looked downright animal as he stared his former best friend down.

 "Oh yeah?  I think it's me that's been the bigger man here, you cheatin' son of a bitch." Willy took the opportunity to try and sneak back, but was pinned again with one hand in his chest by Xander, who didn't even bother to look at the snitch.

 "Where the hell do you get off taking the one woman I ever really loved just because I made a mistake, you asshole?"  Xander raised a hand at Willy. "You stay put." He ordered, before turning his attention back to Oz.

 Oz snapped and pushed Xander back.  "Hey!  I loved her too!  And she loved me!" He turned and grabbed a fleeing Willy by the collar. "Stay." He said sharply. "And you broke Cordy's heart!"

 "Cordelia!  Cordy is MY nickname for her!  Listen lyco boy, she never loved you!" This time they both grabbed Willy and held him still when he tried unsuccessfully a third time to get away from the fighting men.

 "Oh, yes she did!  You just couldn't stand it! You had Cordy and you still had to move in on her!"

 "Move in on who?"

 "Willow!" Oz replied.

  Xander looked utterly confused.  "What the hell are you talking about?"

 "What the hell are you talking about?" Oz returned.

 "Cordy!  You and Cordy.  Together!  Who are you talking about!"

 "You and Willow!" Oz yelled, and then suddenly stopped.  "Wait a minute. I'm not with Cordelia, you idiot!"

 "Oh, yeah! Well, I'm not with Willow, stupid!"  They stopped for a moment and their eyes widened.

 "You're not?"  They both asked at the same time.

 "No." They both answered, and then breathing heavily, stared into each other's eyes.

 "You mean-"

 "Yeah."  Oz finished, suddenly realizing the truth.

 "Hey!"  Both men turned to look at Willy, whom they still had unconsciously held up next to the bar.  "It's Angel."

 They both swiveled their heads.  Xander gasped.

 "Angel?"

 Angel stepped into the light of the bar and smiled grimly.  "It's been a long time."