Xander Harris loosened his tie as he gathered his things in the office, smiling and shaking hands with all his coworkers.  A couple women hugged him, one almost cried.  A package came for him, and he opened it furiously, and after examining it, felt his heart freeze, and thrust it in the pocket of his slacks.  Gathering up his cardboard box that held all his office personal frames, he walked down Wall Street and caught the subway, lost in the hum of the train.  Every so often his would reach into his jean pocket to finger the small black box that he had in his pants, anxiously making sure it was still there.  He walked through the crowds, and strolled by Central Park, finally reaching his apartment building. He smiled at it affectionately, and  then walked up the stairs, talking care the cumbersome box wouldn’t cause him to lose his footing and fly down the steps.  When he got to his apartment, he noticed that the door was open.  He didn’t think much of it, Brian always did that, despite Xander’s warnings of robbery.  He just shook his head. He wouldn’t have to deal with it anymore, so he just let it go.

 He turned into his room, and his heart stopped.

 Cordelia looked up to see him enter the room, and felt her chest tighten.  He was still so beautiful.    In the silence that followed, she realized she would have to utter the first words... she didn’t know if she could go with this. But seeing the surprise and the unburied hurt in his eyes, she took a deep breath, and slowly began.

 “I... I... uh... Willow called me.” she said awkwardly.   Xander said nothing, he simply stared at Cordelia as she shook from nervousness. He felt his heart had just stopped. He had to concentrate on breathing, he couldn’t utter a word, and she continued.  “She  said you were leaving...  Where?”  Xander still couldn’t speak.  Cordelia licked her lips, and stared at him as he leaned against the doorway.

 “I found out that you were leaving.. and um.... I couldn’t breath.  The idea that .. I would never see you again...  I couldn’t breath.” she felt her eyes fill with tears.  “I can’t let you go again, Xander.”

 Xander felt his whole body go still.  “I thought you didn’t want me.” he croaked.

Cordelia winced, but on her face was a grim smile.

 “I didn’t. You haven’t exactly been good for me, Xander. But... uh... I don’t really have much of a choice. And right now..I don’t care. Xander.... you have to understand, because I loved you, every thing in my life changed.”  She looked down, her lip slightly trembling. “I became the type of girl that I had always made fun of. I gave up everything for you.  And in return...I got my heart broken.” she bit her lip. “And the worst thing is...” her throat clogged up. “I felt like it deserved it.” she finished, a lone tear running down her cheek. She took a deep breath, recovering, and then straightened up, looking him in the eye. “Look, Xander.  I’ll  never be as great as Buffy... or as nice and smart and noble  as Willow. I’ll never be some great person. I’ve been a bitch most of my life.  And I’ll accept being less than number one in your heart... as long as there’s room for me.  I love you,” she chuckled grimly.  “I must be incredibly stupid, but I do, and I can’t imagine.. not having you again.”

There was a silence, and then Xander sighed, leaning down to put down the boxes, and then reached slowly into his pocket to remove a small black box.

“Here.” he said, tossing it to her.  She looked at it curiously.

 “It’s the reason I was leaving.”  he told her heavily.

 She looked down at it, and with shaking hands, she opened it. The little box opened with a creak.  Nestled inside the cardboard and velvet, was a little band of gold, with a crystal clear diamond set on top of it. Still uncertain, she looked up to his eyes.

“I was going to LA to find you.” he said softly.  “To try and give this to you. I meant it when I said that I wouldn’t let you go again.  When I let you go the first time, to LA, with Oz, I died.” He half smiled.  “I’ve spent the last three years cursing myself for not showing you how I felt. I’m a big dorkhead, I know.  I couldn’t really live, you know?  Because the most important thing in my life, had left me. . . I love you.” he said after a minute, his voice unsteady.  “I love you .... more than anything in this world.” He shrugged, chuckling self consiously. “I sound geeky, I know... but I need to say this.  You will always be number one in heart.   I need you.”   Cordelia’s face was streaked with tears, and she was openly sobbing. Upon seeing emotion in her face, Xander felt himself catch his breath, as his chest tightened.

“Cordy will you marry me?” he whispered urgently.

 There was a silence, Cordelia’s head was bowed to her chest, and her body was shaking. Suddenly she looked up, her eyes flashing, her face flushed. “Oh, dammit, Xander.” she cried hoarsely. “You made me cry. I hate that. I only cry when I’ve being  paid for it.” He grinned, feeling his heart burst.

 “Is that a yes?”

 “You dork, of course it is!”   She flew into his arms, and Xander closed his eyes, wrapping his arms around her, and holding her as tightly as he could, promising himself he would never let her go.  He felt the tears running down her face, and felt a couple eek out of his tightly clenched eyes.  God, she felt good in his arms.  He had forgotten how good she
felt.

 "I missed you." he said softly. She looked up at him through tearsstreaked eyes.

 "Me too." He grinned, and their heads drifted together and their lips moved against each other passionately, and desperately. She clung to him, but when he lifted his head, she was smiling through shining eyes.  He grinned back, and taking the black box  from her, took the small gold circlet and slid it on her finger.

 "Hey, Alex!"  Brian's face popped into the room, and he trailed of when he witnessed the scene.  "Oh, I'm sorry I-" He was about to turn away, and he suddenly turned back, his  eyes wide.  "Cordelia Chase?"  Xander smiled, still holding Cordelia to him firmly.

 "The one and only."

 Cordelia raised an eyebrow.  "Alex?" He  shrugged.

 "It's  a name."

 "Cordelia Chase?"

   "How'd you get in here anyway?" Xander asked her.  She smiled.

 "The landlord let me in.  Apparently he's a fan. I had to sign this huge poster of me. I didn’t even know they had big posters of me.  It’s me, and I have this gun in my hand, it’s a promo pic from my show-"

 "Cordelia Chase?!" Brian still looked bewildered, and Xander finally decided to take pity on his star struck roommate.

   "Brian, this is Cordelia." He felt he would burst with pride.  "My fiance."

 Cordelia smiled at Brian, and shook his anxious hand.  "Hi Brian, nice to meet you."

 "Fiance?"  Brian's eyes looked like they would pop out any minute.  "I just thought you were  like  a stalker, or something."

 "I can see how you would get that impression," Cordelia mused, looking over the room.  "Jeez, dorkhead, it's guys like you that make me carry around a gun, in the first place."

 "Airhead." he tossed lovingly. She turned and grinned.

 "Nerd."

 "Actress."

 "Stalker Boy."

 "Come here."

 "With pleasure."  Cordelia slid her hands around his waist.

 "You promise to love me the rest of you life?" she asked playfully.

 “Only if you promise to stop acting like such an idiot about such things as love. I swear Cordy. Sometimes, you just don’t get it!” Xander quipped.  Cordelia gave him a long look, and smiled.

 “I promise.” she said seriously.

 “I promise.” he returned after a moment, his eyes moist with emotion. Upon seeing their embrace, Brian colored, and excused himself, muttering excuses. They didn't even notice.
 

 The library was still dark and musty after all these months.  At first, Willow tried to clean it, but Buffy didn't allow it.  Grieving for her old Watcher, Buffy insisted it remain the same.  Willow didn't mind. She liked it this way.  Pausing to admire her small square frames, she cleaned her glasses and pushed them back up her nose.  Buffy had moved her business to Sunnydale, not hard to do, considering it was a catalogue.  Willow flipped through the one that had a familiar actress smiling from the cover and smiled, reading over the signature and short, heartfelt message on it.  Checking her watch, she got up and leaning over, switched on the television. The sound filled the room, and quickly, Willow turned the sound low, reminding herself to keep an eye on it as she went on with her work.  She put the catalogue back, under the postcards, always written in the same scrawl, filled with words of love and promises of visiting soon.  She smiled at them.   She gazed at the television as she sorted the
books, and then looked up when a blonde and a brunette burst into the room.

Buffy and Jamie acknowledged her with a nod, and then both went to the weapons closet and took out crossbows.

 "Don't ask." Buffy warned, at Willow's curious glance.

Willow just shrugged, and  nodded. The two Slayers ran out of the room.  The activity on the television caught her
attention, and she turned up the volume.  The anchor with the good hair gazed at her with a charismatic smile.

"Cordelia Chase has announced her engagement to New York Stock Broker turned writer Alexander  Lavelle Harris. They apparently have plans to wed in a private ceremony with old friends in their hometown of Sunnydale.  This news abruptly puts to end all rumors to her and rock star Oz's elopement, especially considering he recently announced HIS engagement to long time friend and local librarian Willow Rosenberg.  Hollywood Now apologizes for any misleading stories, involving this earlier.  On a lingering sidenote, it seems Cordelia Chase is also responsible for the latest trend in Hollywood.  Promise Bracelets, which are now being worn by stars all over Hollywood, we learned, is actually stemmed from one worn by Miss Chase herself, given to her by a fan.  These bracelets are supposed to symbolize a promise made that is considered “binding and forever”, much like those engagements."  The anchor smiled at his small joke.  "All the best of luck to Cordelia Chase and Oz.  This is Thomas Rinker, and this is Hollywood Now."

 Willow switched the television off, and stared at the blank screen. And after a minute, she smiled.
 

 "Dear Slayerettes,
 As of now you are all relieved of the promise you so selflessly gave eight years ago.However, should there ever be any need, I advise you keep the promise bracelets I've given each of you.  Angel, Buffy, Jamie and I may need you again.  We make a great team guys. Thanks. For everything.  See you all at the weddings.  It'll be a blast.  Everything will.

I  promise.
 Willow Rosenberg"
 

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