By Cricket
"Well you see. I'm not to fond of leaving the country so I can go to England. Central Park at night time seems safer than the way things are going in Europe. Plus there are other things holding me back in NewYork."
"Why would you have to leave the US to be a VCU for the British Intellegence?" Xander asked Willow. "I mean. With your work you'd think they might come to you." Xander said. Willow was just about to reply when Lisa asked another one of her questions.
"What is a VCU? Sorry...I know I'm not the brightest person but I have a hard time following along." Lisa said nervously.
"Oh...thats okay. I didn't know at first either when they offered it to me. A 'VCU' is known as Virus Control Unit, and the fact that I'm a standard means that unless I do something extremely stupid, the only way to go in the buisness is up with the big guys. Plus it pays alot of money. You could probably provide for a family of 4 the first year you get into the buisness."
"Awesome." Cordelia said.
"Yaah Willow. When you die. Can I have your money." Xander said with a grin. Willow looked over at him with a playful expression.
"For your information Xander. I plan on spending every last cent of it before I die. That way I won't have to choose between anyone." Willow said.
"Shit." Xander mumbled. Than he looked up and smiled assuring her that he was just joking. Everyone laughed.
"I'll probably leave about a thousand dollars to my kids, provided that they are grown by then, and hopefully they will cremate me instead of burrying me in one of those expensive coffins the funeral parlor has the nerve to call decent."
"Like I said Willow. Adopt." Xander said making a pointed glance towards Cordelia.
"He wasn't kidding Willow I actually sprained his wrist during my labor pains and there happened to be a phone and a scalpal nearby and I think I hit Xander with both of them on his way in." Cordelia said smiling.
"Yep...she even drew blood. See....thats the scar she made on my neck from the scalpal. yep...its perminent." Xander said showing his neck.
"I don't see any scars." Willow said honestly.
"He probably doesn't have it anymore. He probably just said that to lay the guilt trip on me so he could get rid of his morning thing that most males go through down stairs once they wake up." Cordelia said emphasizing Xander's sexual needs.
Xander leaned across the table with a finger to his lips. He whispered loud enough so everyone at the table could hear him.
"Shhhhh...don't tell." Xander said winking to Willow. Willow grinned.
"Cordelia he's lyeing." Willow said. Cordelia faked hurt, and Xander faked innocence.
"lyeing about what? Willow? Do you need a cat scan?" Xander leaned across the table and spoke loud enough so everyone could hear him again. "Willow I told you not to tell." Xander said playfully. Willow laughed. It felt good to be kids again.
"I'll tell you what. I'll actually consider it. For all I know I'll probably end up lonely and I'll end up having to adopt a kid. Because there is no way I'm going to start dating Kregg. Yuck." Willow said at the mental image of the Assitant President.
"Who is Kregg?" Lisa asked.
"Isn't he that guy that like tried to...black male you or something?" Cordelia asked.
"No...that was Trevor. He's the boss. Apparently he was dismembered from the buisness after someone else in the company reported him." Oz and Xander couldn't help but be pissed. Someone black maled Willow. Xander already knew but Oz didn't.
"Someone black maled you?" Oz asked with a angry glint in his eyes. He looked like he wanted to pumble something. It was usually that look he got when ever someone really pissed him off and he would end up punching them harder than ever.
"Uh...yaah. Don't worry about it Oz. Its over. I never have to worry about him again." Willow said assuring him. She knew right then and there that Oz still cared for her. Even if it was in just a friendly manner, at least she knew that he didn't hate her. Oz sat back in his seat, obviousley still peaved. No one, and we are talking no one, messes with Willow. Even if she wasn't his anymore. He let out an angry sigh. He'd talk about it with her later since they were finally into the chatting zone. It was better than the occasional eye locking and blushing, and trying to avoid one anothers gaze. His thoughts and angry mental tirade were than interupted by the delicious smell of food.
"Speaking of buisness though...how is the new CD coming along Oz?" Xander asked.
Oz looked up from cutting his chicken in small bits. He settled his forks down on the plate and glanced at Lisa's dry salad.
"Surprisingly well. We got about 2 more songs to record with Kid Rock, and another with the Rolling Stones, and then thats about it. I think it will be out before summer starts." Oz said reluctantly eating the chicken Lisa held at his mouth. He had to give her credit though. She was at least trying to be more of a couple than a groupie at the moment.
"Well anyways...who is this Kregg guy?" Lisa asked. Oz noted that she was like a broken record. Once she had something on her mind, she didn't tend to drop the subject until she got what she wanted.
"Oh...uh..gee how could I put this. He's one of those guys that looks like Don Knotts, only alot taller, wears glasses, has absolutely no hair on the left side of his head, and is what I would call a total hypocrite. He thinks that by slashing another race or a religion that its going to impress me or Samantha or any of the other ladies. Talks about how all women from California are sluts and then says he was just kidding when he found out that I grew up there. Thats probably when I decided to switch desks though."
"What did he say when he found out you were Jewish?" Xander asked.
"Uh...I really don't think I brought that up. I'm kind of cutting back on religion. Ever since there was that suicide thing about 600 miles south where like over 60 religious people killed themselves I'm just sort of...hanging back for a while. Its no biggy. I've never really take religion seriously so I really just try to forget everything all together. But I still don't celebrate Christmas often unless I'm with Samantha or actually taking the required vacations for the holiday."
"damn...I'd kind of would have liked to see his face if you told him that." Xander said.
"Yaah...I sort of thought about it. But than it sort of reminded me of my parents so I stopped thinking." Willow said nodding her head off into another conversation. "Anyhow. Enough about me. I want to know about everyone else."
"But your like the only one no one here has actually talked to within what? Some 1 year, some 5." Xander said looking pointedly at Oz.
"Yaah...but you see...aside from Lisa, there are 4 of you I'd much rather hear about." Willow said hinting to the fact that she wanted her 5 year life story of NewYork terminated at that very moment. Cordelia took the hint.
"Well what about this new Electronics store you opened up Buffy?" Cordelia asked.
"Uh...its pretty well. Its still a little slow but I'm actually making progress. We'll probably be lined up with intel within the next...I don't know..say 200 years." Buffy said laughing.
"Well Radio Shack is pretty popular Buffy." Cordelia said.
"I know..but we still aren't high and mighty if you know what I mean."
"I thought yall said that she opened up her own store?" Willow said.
"Well I did. I ended up buying into Radio Shack, so technically I end up getting .009 percent of the companys nation wide income."
"How much is that?" Lisa asked.
"Well, Radio Shack all together makes over 600 billion a year so...let me see....uh about half a million dollars a year." Buffy said smiling.
"DAMN. Buffy. Put me in your will and I'll make you my new best friend." Xander said shoving a piece of stake in his mouth.
"Really Buffy. Maybe I'll just quit my job and come live with you." Willow said. "Besides...I feel like being lazy." Willow said smugly.
"Well that would be fun if you didn't have anything in NewYork holding you back." Buffy said.
"Hello??? What did I tell you before. Right now...NewYork does not exist. Ask me something about NewYork Xander." Willow said.
"Whats holding you in NewYork?" Xander asked.
"Whats NewYork?" Willow said making a point. "I don't want to think shit about NewYork as of the moment." Willow said slightly miffed.
"okay." Buffy said in a squeaky voice. Through out the entire night everyone made idle chitchat, only bringing up NewYork and Willow twice because of Lisa. Once she asked the second time the same question Oz decided that it was probably best to call it a night and get Lisa to bed. She was getting rather cranky and he didn't want Willow to get upset again so he interrupted her in mid tirade.
"Well...I mean. What could possibly make you want to move to NewYork? What did your parents actually do to you?" Lisa asked out of the blue. She really wanted to know why. Yes she was nosy but she hated not knowing things. She looked to Willow for a response but was then disappointed when Oz broke in.
"You know what Lisa. Its getting awfully late and I'm getting kind of tired so I think its best we head home." Oz said in a slightly annoyed voice along with a yawn. Lisa gave him a look that could cut glass.
"I thought we were staying here for 2 months." Lisa said confused.
"I meant to a hotel or something. You said so yourself that you wouldn't settle for anything less than the La Quinta Inn and thats almost 60 miles away and I need to unpack at my house so its a good idea that you come with unless you plan on walking home." Oz said making a point.
"Well...can't Xander or..." Lisa was cut short by Willow.
"You know what Lisa...I think he's right. Traffic is kind of bad on the highways and knowing Oz...you don't want him falling asleep at the wheel especially on the highway. Plus most of the nightly ghouls are out so I'm most definately heading out within the next 10 minutes." Willow said.
"Well uh...Buffy could take me couldn't you?" Lisa asked.
"Well its Willow's jeep so I don't think she'd approve. Unless...because I really am not that tired so I probably wouldn't wreck it." Buffy said in a light girly voice as if asking her father for the keys to her car. She looked at Willow pleadingly and then at Oz's hopeful eyes.
Willow looked at her for a moment and right then and there she knew what Buffy was up to. Aside from the fact that Buffy had been dyeing to get behind the wheel she knew that Buffy would somehow convince Oz to take her home. *wicked girl* Willow thought smiling inwardly. She really liked that plan. She knew Buffy knew what she was thinking.
"Well I wouldn't have a ride home then." Willow said in a mock disappointed tone. She saw Buffy's wicked smirk. Than blushed when Oz offered to drive her home.
"Well I could take you home. I mean...like Buffy said...she isn't tired and you and I do live fairly close together." Oz said.
"You forget that I don't live in that house anymore." Willow said sorrowfully at remembering that day with her parents and the terrible night with Oz.
"Well where are you staying?" Oz asked. He really wanted to take Willow to wherever she was heading. Just so he could talk to her. Anything.
"I'm staying at Buffy's." Willow said softly.
"Thats only about 6 miles from where i'm at so...no biggy. You ready to go?" Oz asked raising his eyebrows questioningly. Willow faked a resigned sigh.
"Uh...sure." Willow said wrinkling her nose at her decision and nodding.
"Good...lets go." Oz said, standing up. He walked over to where Willow was and helped her into her jacket.
"I'll see you guys tommarow?" Willow asked.
"Well I'm not sure about Xander but you'll definately see me and Buffy because we are supposed to get you and Buffy fitted for the whole bridesmaid thing."
"Oh yeah...I never forgot to thankyou for not making me your Maid of Honor. No offense but you all know me when I say that I don't like to be the center of attention aside from the bride."
"But your still one of the bridesmaids." Buffy said pointedly.
"Yes indeed. Out of seven others. You on the other hand Buffy have an even scarrier part of the ceremony."
"Scary?" Buffy said.
"Yes...you have to be Cordelia's best friend." Willow said joking. Cordelia's mouth opened wide and looked at Willow in shock.
"Just kidding Cordy. Its just one of those things I used to dread provided I knew it might never happen when I was younger."
"What being my best friend?" Cordelia asked.
"That...and...actually attending the wedding." Willow said smiling.
"yeh, yeh, yeh...go home. Gets some sleep before I kill you." Cordelia said with a smile on her face.
Continues
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