Title: I Finally Remembered You. Part 23 – Still Not A Date
Rating: R/NC-17 for other chapters
Pairing: Xander/Angel
Summary: AU futurefic. Slash. Xander, not Buffy, had gone to see Angel in “I Will Remember You”
Years later, he finally keeps his promise.
Spoilers: All of BtVS & Ats
Warnings: M/M, mild language, more in future chapters
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective
owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way
associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is
intended.
Words in Italics indicate thoughts.
____________________________
They were sitting across from each other in the restaurant. Xander was eating heartily and Angel was
picking at the food he had ordered. Angel was wondering if this was a date now.
“It’s still not a date.” Xander said, in a pause between bites.
Did I say that out loud? Angel asked himself.
“I’m not sure if you were wondering or not, so I just wanted to clarify, that this is still not a date.” Xander
stressed.
Whew, I guess I didn’t say it out loud.
“So how is it not a date this time?” Angel asked.
“Well, I never said yes.”
“Huh?” Angel asked eloquently.
“When you asked if I would like to go out, I never said yes.”
“Oh.” Angel replied sadly.
“Besides, I think we need to give this whole, “let’s start by being friends” thing more than a couple of
hours, before we move on to the next stage.”
“That does make sense, I guess.” Angel agreed reluctantly.
“That’s me, Xander the Maker of Sense.” Xander said, as he leaned back from his plate, having stopped
just short of licking it clean.
Angel chuckled, “Do you have tights to go with that superhero name?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Xander teased.
“Actually, I probably would.” Angel muttered under his breath.
Seeing that Xander had finished, the waitress removed their plates and asked if they had saved room
for dessert. Angel chuckled at the ‘Duh’ look that Xander shot her.
“There is always room for dessert; the stomach has a chamber reserved solely for dessert, so that no
matter how much else you eat, you can still have dessert.” Xander explained to her patiently.
They placed their dessert order with the waitress.
“So, even though you’re getting dessert, it’s still not a date?” Angel asked, teasingly.
“Nope, still not a date.” Xander confirmed. “Even with dessert, still not a date.”
“Okay.” Angel said, dejectedly.
“Although, it’s mostly still not a date for reasons of plausible deniability.” Xander admitted.
“Again, Huh?” Angel asked in confusion.
“Well, Wills always asks if I’ve started dating yet. It’s like one of the first things she says to me. And, as I’
m sure you’ve figured out, I can’t lie to Willow worth crap. So, when she asks if I’m dating anyone, I can
say no.” Xander explained.
“Oh, so you would be ashamed of dating me?” Angel asked, hurt.
“NO!” Xander realized he had shouted and that everyone in the restaurant had turned to stare at him.
He made 'turn back around' motions with his hands until everyone pretty much had turned back around.
“I’m just not sure what we are yet, and I’m not really prepared to tell Willow or anyone yet. Because, ya
know, Willow is not so good with the secret keeping. Everyone, including Buffy, would know in less than
an hour. And I am so not prepared to tell Buffy anything yet, or you know, ever. Are you?”
Angel thought for about half a second on that, “Uh, no. And, I guess I can see where you’re coming from
with Willow. I really don’t want to be dust, now that I’ve found you again.”
“Oh, I’m sure she wouldn’t dust you, probably just make an important part of your body fall off.” Xander
said, nonchalantly. “Kennedy, however, probably would, she takes after Buffy, in the stake first, ask
questions later thing.”
“Yeah, so, still not a date, because you don’t want to tell Willow yet or have to lie to her. I’m behind that.”
Angel said.
“Speaking of Willow, we probably need to get going.” Angel said, glancing at his watch. He signaled for
the waitress to bring him the check.
After Angel had paid for dinner, they headed outside to the car.
“So, I have to ask. Do you like Kennedy? I only ask because Spike never really had great things to say
about her.” Angel queried.
Xander thought for a moment. Should he tell Angel what he really thought? Then, he realized that he
fully trusted Angel not to repeat their private conversations to anyone.
“Honestly, she’s okay, I guess. Willow likes her. She’s kinda got the spoiled little rich girl thing going for
her. She also thinks very highly of her own skills and I think, she thinks the whole slayer thing is her due.
Like she deserved to be a slayer more than anyone else. And, I’m not sure how she really feels about
Willow. I just think she sorta rushed Willow into a relationship. I know it had been almost a year since
Tara died, but….I just don’t think Willow was ready. Kennedy is beautiful and physically strong. Tara was
beautiful, inside and out, she was also brilliant and one of the strongest people I know, maybe not
physically strong like Kennedy, but spiritually, mentally and emotionally strong.”
Xander was lost in thought, warmed and wounded, by the memories of Tara.
“I guess, bottom line, Kennedy is no Tara.” Xander said softly.
“You loved Tara?” Angel asked quietly.
“Sure I loved her, but not romantically. Tara and I, we first bonded over our mutual love for Willow. Then
it developed into a friendship. I loved how she always tried to have Willow’s best interests at heart. She
and I have similar backgrounds, family wise. I mean, mine didn’t tell me I was a demon or anything, in
fact, they mostly said I was nothing. But, both our families tried to break us, and didn’t succeed. She and
I were….kindred spirits. Oh God, that was so ‘Anne of Green Gables’ but, I couldn’t think of anything
else to describe it. I have really spent waaaaaaaayyy too much time around girls.”
Angel had been listening sadly to Xander’s explanation, but, chuckled at Xander’ horror at having used
such a ‘girly’ phrase. He understood completely about Tara and was glad that Xander had someone like
that in his life, if only for a little while.
“So, basically, you put up with Kennedy because Willow seems happy with her?” Angel summarized.
“Yeah, pretty much. Oh, uhm, you might want to be careful of her, I didn’t really have time to tell Willow
you were coming to the airport with me. So Kennedy won’t be prepared to see you, she might…..”
“Stake first and ask questions later?” Angel asked in amusement.
“Yeah, that.” Xander said, sheepishly.
Con't on next page (Couldn't fit it all on this one)