TITLE: The Last Diner.
FANDOM: BtVS .
PAIRING: Cordelia/Xander.
RATING: PG-13
SUMMARY: The last time they met.

It is between cheap burgers and half empied soda glasses over the old formica table, that it almost seems like the old times.

Xander could rarely afford the kind of date Cordelia Chase had been used to. Their dates had been mostly divided between the Bronze, Saving the World and making out in Lover's Lane. Of course, there had been notable exceptions: The one time Xander had worked his ass off at a series of odd jobs just to be able to take Cordy somewhere nice for change, and the prom dress he helped her pay for. But that was it.

And you couldn't count the bowling date because it had never happened on account of him and Willow getting kidnapped by Spike, and then the whole accidental and kiss and Cordy's fall and the breakups...

Sometimes Xander wishes he could just stop those long lines of bad thinking; just take one nice, single thought and stick to it instead of tying lots of related thoughts into a single spyral of bad memories. So he takes a deep breath and concentrates on the pretty girl sitting in front of him.

Almost on cue, Cordelia reaches forward and picks one fry from Xander's plate, nibbling at it with a happy face. Xander never realized how much he missed that expression until now.

"So," she said suddenly after washing down the fry with a sip of soda. "You really are doing this whole Kerouak travel bit?"

"Yep," he replies, not hiding the pride in his voice. "Not coming back to Sunnydale until I've seen all fifty states."

"Even Hawai?"

"Specially Hawai. I'll just roll up the windows as I drive into the ocean."

They laugh. She tucks a tray raven lock behind her ear.

"What about you, Cordy? What's in L.A.?" He thinks he has the answer, but wants to hear from her.

"Acting. Possibly worldwide stardom but that can wait... for a couple of weeks."

Beautiful girls with Hollywood aspirations are a dime a dozen in Los Angeles. But Xander says nothing of the sort. Besides, Cordy is more than a pretty face. And if someone has a shot at becoming a star, is Cordelia Chase.

"Maybe I'll come visit at your Hollywood Hills Mansion when you made it," he suggests. "If you still remember me."

"I'm pretty sure most of my Sunnydale history will be branded with iron on my mind forever," she assured him. "No matter how hard I try to repress it."

"Not everything was bad. You did seem to enjoy my brief stint on the swimming team."

"You mean seeing you in a speedo? I'll have to admit it was pretty priceless."

"Except for the part where I almost become the Creature from the Blu... Black Lagoon."

A rush of high school memories_ the good kind, sometimes very hidden among the vampires and the bodies of their friends_ keeps them occupied for the rest of the meal. They forget they're in the middle of nowhere, driving away from their hometown and having diner in a place the Old Cordelia Chase would had mocked and frowned upon, making Xander realize just how different their wolrds were.

Tonight, however, their worlds collide and they're almost the same: Two kids just out of high school, the future ahead of them. The future is kinda blurry, but it's right ahead, and it's theirs for the taking. He's trying to make a witty comment about it when he suddenly feels her lips, silky warmth against his own. One of her hands moves atop of his, a gentle hold. For a second, he's confused and it's not exactly sure what to do or say after contact is broken. Then it occurs to him that he should take this as a second chance. Maybe invite her to come with him, see the country, ponder her move while they stand in front of the Grand Canyon.

But then she moves away, and the look in her eyes tells him everything he needs to know.

No second chances or rekindled romances. But this isn't just a good bye either. This is Cordelia's way to say "I forgive the bad." Xander has never said it aloud since that time at the hospital, but this is what he wanted to hear all along. So as the last threads of hope for their relationship die over greasy dinner, their friendship grows stronger. After coffee and paying the bill, they will get back on the and Xander will drop Cordelia in the middle of Los Angeles with one last kiss and his best wishes. She'll kiss him back and wish him a safe trip. There will be promises oif letters and phone calls which will turn into the ocasional postcard and calls that will never be made. They'll each move on with their lives and see where their destiny takes them. Right now, it seems like Cordelia is on her way to stardom, while Xander is back at the odd jobs and his eternal role as the Scooby with no supernatural talent at all. And he's alright with that.

Back in the car, she rests her head on his shoulder and closes her eyes, her smile betraying dreams of wonderful things to come. Xander hopes things work that way for her. for all of them. Maybe Cordelia has a shot after all, away from the Hellmouth, making a name for herself in Tinseltown. He can totally see her in a movie poster, flashing her million dollar smile and showing the world just how great she is.

A little part of him wishes he could be next to her when it happens. Just for, you know, moral support and everything.

When they arrive to Cordy's new place_ dirty motel, momentary setback. She'll be out in no time_, he helps her carry her luggage, still amazed at the ammount of stuff the girl has draged along. One last look around the sad little place and he has to ask her one more time if she'll be alright.

"Of course. I'm Cordelia Chase!" She takes his hands into hers and her smile turns shy. "It's late. You can stay over and leave early. If you want."

He ponders this.
*************************

During his short lived experience as a waiter/stripper at Oxnard, he spots a little necklace in a quaint little shop. Silver, a single "C" all delicate curves and shiny beauty. He boughts it, even thought it will mean another week of hard work to get his ass back in Sunnydale.

Back home, he gets the news of Cordy's new employment at Angel Investigations.

He never sends the necklace.