Cordelia Chooses

Disclaimer: I don't own BtVS, The Shadow, or The Wizard of Oz

Author's Note: This chapter has now been Beta'ed by Cerian Quilor who has my thanks.

Beta's Note: Cool, I'm not the only Beta this time. Lebuggycas is the Superbeta! All Metal prices current as of 6/1/2017.

Second Author's Note: Many thanks to my Beta who finished this in two days! Wow, she really is super! Also Xander's Bentley is a black 1947 hardtop. This is the last of the original story. I lost inspiration for continuing for quite a while. Recently started a sequel though so all those reading it here for the first should not have too long to wait.

Chapter 10

When hunting that night they had a similar success. Willow and Cordelia entered from the front while Buffy and Xander came in from the back. Cordelia produced a ray of sunlight from her wand and the vampires fled from her straight towards Buffy and Xander. They then checked the house and looted any money or jewelry the vamps had but leaving anything that seemed to have been original to the house. The previous night set the pattern for the next few days. Most locations netted them from two to seven hundred dollars and occasionally a few trinkets for Giles to check but nothing like the haul they got from the first location.

"I think this settles an earlier question," Xander said at lunch on Friday. "That first load was not normal. It must have been a tribute or a bribe to either Spike or the Mayor."

Cordelia and Willow nodded. Buffy pouted, "I was hoping for another big score. I saw the cutest pair of Jimmy Choos I wanted to buy."

"Er, what?" Xander said.

"They're shoes Xander," Willow said.

"Oh," he replied still a bit confused. "Why do you need a big score to buy some kicks?"

Cordelia snickered and Buffy looked shocked. "They are NOT 'kicks' Xander!"

Willow rolled her eyes, she might be female but the lure of such expensive shoes eluded her. "They are expensive enough that last night's haul would only buy one pair before we divided it and not the most expensive ones either."

Xander sat back shocked at the idea of $500 dollar shoes. "That's insane," he muttered.

Cordelia smirked, "I own three pairs." She said it just to watch his expression then giggled along with Buffy.

Xander shook it off, "So, I'm going car shopping tomorrow. Who wants to come?"

Cordelia took his arm, "I'm coming to make sure you don't get ripped off and get something good."

Buffy shook her head, "I'm taking it as a beauty day. Planning to exfoliate my skin, deep condition my hair, and redo my nails." She looked over at Willow, "Want to join me? Always more fun with two."

Willow nodded, "I'd like that. Never done that sort of thing before though."

"No worries," Buffy said. "I'll walk you through it. Just bring your favorite nail polish, I've got everything else."

"That does sound nice," Cordelia said. "Maybe I can join in next time?"

"Sure!" Buffy said. "The more the merrier."

They went on a raid after school but before the sun set and it seemed like Buffy's prayers had been heard. There were a lot of vamps but there was also a lot of loot. Old Byzantine coins for the most part but also several bits of jewelry that gave them all a creepy feeling. They called Giles in to examine the stuff and ended up smashing all of those and several more before loading it up and taking it to Xander's basement.

"Do you know if that place we went to before is open late?" Xander asked. "We could sell it off today and Buffy could buy her chewy shoes tomorrow."

Buffy looked horrified and Cordelia snorted, "Stop that. I know you are mangling the name on purpose."

"He is?" Buffy asked.

Cordelia nodded, "We both have perfect recall now so yeah, anything he mangles that badly or pretends to forget is an act. Once you and Willow get far enough along with the mind mojo I'm teaching then you will be the same." She frowned, "It's not totally a blessing but it can be useful." She lifted the bag of loot and shoved it at him, "Yes, he should still be open by the time we get there but only if we hurry so go carry this out to my car. I'd hate to stand between a woman and her shoes."

Buffy beamed at her, "Thanks, Cordy!"

Xander carried the canvas bag out to her trunk and they drove out to sell them. The old guy and his wife were happy to see them return with more stuff.

"It's a shame some of this stuff has been treated so roughly," the woman said. "It almost looks like somebody took a sledge to it."

"That's possible," Xander said. "My great uncle had a nasty temper. I wouldn't be at all surprised if he occasionally broke plates or flattened the occasional knickknack."

"Well I hope you'll be kinder to any figurines you acquire," she said.

"Oh, I'll make sure of that," Cordelia said. She went off with the woman and the intact jewelry leaving Xander and the older man with the coins and broken bits.

"That your wife?" he asked as he checked the price of silver online.

"No," Xander said. "We're still a bit young for that." he then blushed as the old man cackled.

The old man started rambling about how things were different in his day. "I got married at eighteen and on the whole, I'm happy I did. You can wait a bit until your inheritance is all settled but don't wait too long. A girl like that is a prize. She won't wait forever and if you don't appreciate her someone else will." The old man cackled again, "But from the look on your face, you know that already hey? I'll just stick to business then. Silver is trading at $17.49 an ounce, gold at $1,268.20, and that flattened bit of platinum will get you $957.25 an ounce. Are you willing to trade them in at those prices? Platinum has been dropping a bit lately. You might want to hang on to it."

Xander considered but the platinum had been part of something magical and dark so eventually, he decided, "I'll sell it all at those prices. After all the platinum might be even lower next time."

"That is true," the man said. He sealed all the coins into plastic and separated the smashed bits by precious metal. Then he handed Xander his money in cash, "Be careful not to flash that wad of cash around or you'll attract the wrong sort. You're a good customer and I'd hate to lose you." Then he grinned, "And if you happen to need a ring soon, remember we sell as well as buy."

After putting the money away securely Xander walked over to where Cordelia was haggling with the woman about the intact jewelry. She eventually took some of them back and accepted a velvet bag from the woman for them along with a manila envelope full of hundreds.

After counting it she thanked the woman and turned to Xander, "We can go now."

Xander nodded and followed her out to the car, "Do you want to go eat somewhere after?'

Once inside the car she grinned, "You mean after we've divvied up the loot?"

He grinned, "Yeah, that's right dollface. I might as well get some use out of all those fancy clothes you've made me buy."

"It's a bit late to get reservations," she started then shrugged, "but I'm sure I can get us in somewhere suitable. We can make this our official debut as a couple."

He grinned, "Great!"

When they got they divided the money evenly and Xander only remembered the velvet bag when she produced an appraisal and said, "I'm keeping a few things so I'll pay you all for them once I get the money out on Monday, okay?"

"Fine by me," was the consensus and she smiled. "They had style and went with my look so I thought I'd keep them. I might even wear them out with Xander tonight."

"You're dating her tonight?" Willow asked.

Xander nodded, "Yeah, I asked her out to dinner."

"Does that mean you aren't cooking tonight?" Buffy asked.

He smiled, "Yes Buffy, that's what it means. Isn't your mom cooking tonight?"

"Well yeah," Buffy admitted. "But I'd gotten used to double eating."

Cordelia smirked, "Well if you ask nicely maybe Willow will buy you something later. Just remember, if you order the lobster she might expect you to put out."

Willow and Buffy both blushed and Willow started babbling, "I wouldn't expect that Buffy! I mean if you wanted to that's good but if you'd rather not then that's okay too. I mean you do still owe me one but I wouldn't hold you to it. I mean to your obligation, not to my... well anyway you can eat anything you want without having to worry that I'd, you know, take advantage. And not just because you are the Slayer and lots stronger than I am but because I'm your friend and I'm shutting up now."

Buffy jumped up red in the face, "I'll just be going home now! See you tomorrow! Not that it's a date or anything, just a girl's day in. A friendly sort of thing, no nakedness involved! I mean even if there were it would be okay because we are both girls and I'm straight!" With a panicked look, she ran out of the house at full speed, "Bye!"

Xander shook his head, "You are such a tease, Cordy."

Cordelia giggled, "Oh, you noticed?" She gathered up her things, "Well I need to go get ready for our date. Can I drop you off on the way Willow?"

"Sure," Willow replied. "Thanks."

Late Saturday afternoon an old but beautifully maintained Bentley rolled up to the Summers household. Xander got out of the driver's side and opened the heavy black door for Cordelia with a bow and flourish, "We have arrived my queen."

She rolled her eyes at his theatricality but was pleased with his opening the door for her nonetheless. Cordelia smiled as she exited, "If you're going to be a minion then go knock for me as well."

"As you wish Buttercup," he said. "The dread pirate Roberts is yours to command," Xander said as he went up and knocked on the door.

Joyce Summers answered it, "Hello Xander and Cordelia. That's a very nice car Xander but wasn't it terribly expensive?"

Xander shrugged, "If it still had all original parts then it would have been much more expensive. This one, however, is up to current standards on pollution and miles per gallon. Only the outsides are still classic, but I when I saw it I just had to have it."

She shrugged, "Well as long as you can afford it. Buffy and Willow are upstairs. I think they are done with their spa day so you can both go on up. If they do kick you out Xander then you can help me make cookies."

Xander grinned, "Maybe I should just stay down here then."

Cordelia shook her head, "You have to at least say hi to Buffy." She grabbed his hand, "Come on, you can gloat to them about your new car then make cookies."

He let himself be pulled along, "Yeah, that does sound better."

However once they got to Buffy's bedroom door they heard voices, "But Buffy I don't want to shave there."

Buffy replied, "Oh come on, Wills. We already know you're a natural redhead, you don't have to prove it. Besides look how long it is. I can wrap it around my finger three times almost."

Willow said, "Proving I'm a natural redhead is not why I want to keep it. I like it long, it keeps everything from being visible at a glance." There was a giggle, "Besides I like it when you run your fingers through it."

Xander was frozen with one hand lifted to knock, red-faced. He threw a thought to Cordelia, {Should I knock anyway or wait until the convo moves to safer areas so as not to get them upset?}

She sent back a mental giggle, {Are you worried about facing an embarrassed and angry slayer or are you just hoping to hear more of this foreplay like the perv I know you are?}

While he was trying to think of a way to answer that which didn't sound either cowardly or perverted the conversation inside kept going oblivious to the fact that there were two listeners at the door.

"I'm only doing this to show you how long it is and that you should shave it," Buffy sounded petulant. "It's not like I'm enjoying it."

"Right," Willow said with disbelief in her tone. "And you got in the shower with me just to bring me that new shampoo and wash my hair."

"Exactly!" Buffy said. "It's beautiful hair, so it deserves the best care." There was a pause and she continued, "You know, even this hair feels so soft and silky. If that's because you never cut it maybe I should stop shaving there too."

Willow sighed, "Sadly Xander and Cordy will be here soon so you should stop that and we should get dressed. I want to see the car he gets and I can't do that naked."

"You could always just look out the window," Buffy giggled. Then her tone shifted, "Not that I want you to stay naked, or that I want to watch from behind as you bend over, or ohmygod I'm doing it, aren't I? I'm babbling, is this what you feel like when you babble? I hope not because it's not of the good and it's sort of like driving an out of control vehicle, not that I've driven one, those are just rumors that the driver's ed teacher spreads because he hates me, and how do you stop this? I can seem to keep from saying whatever is going through my mind and that's a bad..." Buffy stopped in mid-babble.

Cordelia saw that Xander was now even redder and threw him a look. He answered mentally, {Willow stopped her with a kiss. Let's both go downstairs until they are, uh, finished?}

Cordelia smirked, {Yeah,} she thought back. {I guess we should.}

Back downstairs Cordelia just said, "The girls aren't finished yet so we both came down to help." By the time the cookies were cooling on a rack Buffy and Willow had come downstairs.

"Hi, mom, what smells so good?" Buffy called out as she entered the living room. Then seeing the other two sitting on the couch she looked surprised. "When did you two get here?"

Mrs. Summers answered from the kitchen where she was washing up, "They came about an hour ago Buffy. I sent them upstairs but they came right back down saying you two were still busy with your spa day and helped me bake the cookies. I hope you two had fun?"

In the living room, both Willow and Buffy had turned red. Willow eeped and Buffy whispered, "Did you, you know, hear anything?"

Xander blushed and Cordelia snickered. She answered just as quietly, "Nothing too bad. As soon as I saw Mister telepathy starting to turn red I reversed course and we came back down. Anything you want to confess?"

Buffy looked relieved, "Nothing but the usual spa day went on. I just wanted to make sure Xander hadn't peeked or anything."

"Oh come on," Xander said. "You know me better than that I hope."

"Yeah," Buffy replied. "And I know you'd look if you thought you'd get away with it."

"You wound me," he replied.

She snorted, "So while we wait for the cookies to cool, care to show off the new car you just got?"

"Sure!" Xander stood up and headed for the door. "G-Man's always saying his car is a classic, wait until he sees mine!"

Outside the classic 40's Bentley hardtop gleamed in front of the house and Willow whistled, "That must have cost a fortune, Xander!"

"Not as much as you might think Wills," he replied. "Only the chassis is still original, everything inside has been updated one time or another. It's still a classic though. Pure leather and real wood trim inside, you can ride in style in this car."

"Not much room in the back though," Buffy said. "I'd be in Willow's lap the whole way."

"Like you'd mind that," Xander said. He held up one hand when he saw her start to protest, "Alright, alright, I take it back. Anyway, there's more room than it looks like back there and you're both petite so I'm sure you'll both fit fine."

"Are you going to take us for a ride Xan?" Willow asked.

"Sure!" he replied. "Right after we eat. Buffy's mom invited us for dinner and I'd hate to miss that."

Just then Buffy's stomach growled so they went in to eat and had cookies for dessert. After they ate they all piled into the car and while the back seat wasn't as luxurious as the front both Willow and Buffy fit just fine.

"So," Xander said as he pulled away. "My place first to pick up the gear or did you just want a ride in the Shadow-mobile?"

"Ugh," Cordelia said. "Please tell me you aren't calling it that?"

"Any more homes on that list Xan?" Buffy asked. She was hoping to stop any bickering before it got started.

"Only one," he said. "After that, we've done all the homes on the list I was planning to start checking out the supposedly abandoned warehouses by the docks."

"Then yeah I think we should gear up at your house and hit the last house," Buffy said. "Then it's back home for me and after mom goes to sleep I can make a quick patrol through the graveyards to dust any newbies and hopefully make it home in time for a good night's sleep."

"You shouldn't patrol alone," Xander said. "I'll meet you at Sunnydale Acres at midnight unless you call to cancel okay?"

Buffy pouted, "I can take care of myself."

"I know," he replied. "I'd just feel better knowing you had a backup. Besides, I don't need as much sleep as I used to and tomorrow is Sunday anyway."

She huffed, "Fine, I'll meet you at the Acres at midnight. First, though we have some older vamps to dust and a bad guy's house to loot."

"Yup!" Xander said. "So let's go gear up. Usual tactics I guess? Cordy and Willow flush them out and we dust them when they run?"

"It works so why change it?" Buffy replied.

"I'm cool with that," he said. "What about you ladies?"

Cordelia and Willow agreed and the girls made plans for going shopping on Sunday with whatever money they picked up tonight until they reached Xander's house. The girls went straight to the basement but Xander headed up to his bedroom. He'd built a secret compartment into his closet to hold his costume, weapons, and some armor and besides he knew they'd just kick him out if he tried to go down with them to change.

When he was ready he came down and saw them geared for battle with dark clothes, Kevlar vests, and web belts with stakes and holy water. He nodded to them, "Looks like we're ready, let's go."

They piled back into the black Bentley which was, although a memorable car, less noticeable at night than Cordelia's silver Mercedes. It took only about five minutes to dust the three vamps in the house. Between Cordelia's sunlight spell and Buffy's slayer speed and strength, Xander didn't even have to fire a shot.

They each ended up with two hundred dollars cash and a loose gem after the spoils were divided. Then back to his house to change again and after making sure they hadn't forgotten anything they went back to Buffy's house.

Willow got out with Buffy and Buffy looked surprised, "You leave something behind Will?"

Willow smiled, "No, I just thought we could continue our conversation from before. You know about shaving techniques?"

Buffy blushed a little but grinned, "Oh yeah. I'd like that. You can never learn too much about grooming. I'm sure mom will be okay with you staying over." She hugged Xander and Cordelia, "Good night guys, thanks for the ride Xan!" She went inside but left the door open.

Willow smiled and waved, "Thanks for everything guys. I'll see you both tomorrow?"

Cordelia waved back and said, "Sure! Wouldn't miss it."

Xander hugged her and whispered, "She'll come around. Just keep pitching the idea. I'm behind you 100%."

"Thanks, Xan, I'm sure I can make her see and she's worth it," Willow whispered back then went inside and closed the door.

"So you want to hit the Bronze until midnight?" Xander asked.

"Sure," Cordelia said. "I'd love to see Harmony's face when I drive up in this!" She turned to Xander, "If she asks you if it cost a fortune say yes. If you quote a price err high. Do you understand me? We are trying to make an impression here."

Xander smiled, "Sure I understand. You're the expert here. You lead and I'll follow. I'll be behind you 100%."

"Because you'll be watching my ass I bet," she replied but she smiled and kissed his cheek. "Alright let's go knock their socks off."

In another nearby dimension Whistler looks at the way things are going and shakes his head, "This will never fly with the bosses. I better do something to get things back in balance."

To Be Continued in the sequel "Scooby's Choice".