Part 2

Xander, Willow, Giles, and Jenny all sat in the library looking through some books later that evening when Buffy and Angel walked through the door.

"Hey, guys," Buffy greeted. Willow looked up and gave Buffy a secret smile, which Buffy returned.

"Hey, Buffy," Xander spoke up. "Hey, Dead Boy."

Angel rolled his eyes, but chose not to snap at the boy. "Hello," he said instead.

"Oh, um, Buffy, Angel," Giles said. "Have either of you come up with anything?"

Buffy shook her head. "Nope..." she said and plopped down on a chair next to Xander. "Doesn't anyone have any ideas?"

No one answered and everyone went back instead to their research. After several minutes, Xander sighed in frustration and slammed the book he was reading shut. "Nada," he muttered and got up to go get another book from the stacks.

Once he was at the stacks, he saw Cordelia looking through some of the shelves. She turned to look at him. "Hey," she said.

"Hey," he answered.

There was an uncomfortable silence for several seconds. "So, have you found anything?" Cordelia asked.

Xander shook his head. "Nope," he replied. "You?"

"The usual. Big evil, no weapon forged... wanna make out?" Cordelia asked abruptly.

Xander's head snapped up. "In case you hadn't noticed, Cordy, we're in a life or death situation here."

Cordelia shrugged. "All the more reason. This could be the last time we get to make out."

Xander considered it for several moments and then shrugged. "Okay."

Instantly, they were grabbing at each other and kissing passionately. After several minutes, they pulled away, only to hear a gasp coming from several yards away. They both turned to find Buffy standing there.

"Well, this is certainly something I never thought I'd see," Buffy said. "Cordelia Chase, May Queen, and Xander Harris, 'school loser,' making out in the stacks at the library."

"This isn't what it looks like," Xander said.

"No," Buffy said with mock seriousness.

"No," Cordelia spoke up. "You see, I was reaching up for a book, and... and I tripped..."

"And she landed on my lips," Xander finished.

Cordelia nodded, seemingly satisfied, and then turned to Xander with a weird look. Buffy looked amused, pretending to buy their story.

"Oh, okay," she said. "Well, I leave you and Xander to your tonsil wrestling while the rest of us research the Judge."

Buffy nodded and reached out to grab one of the books there, all the while keeping an wary eye on them. "You guys are acting weirder than last Halloween," she commented as she made her way back to where everyone else was.

As soon as the word 'Halloween' was out of her mouth, Xander's eyes widened. "Hey! Why didn't I think of that before?"

"What?" Cordelia asked.

"C'mon," he said, grabbing her hand and dragging her down the stairs.

Everyone looked up briefly. "Ok, I have a plan," Xander said.

Giles looked up from his book with surprise. "Really?"

Xander nodded. "I'm gonna need half an hour, a car, and Cordy."

"What am I gonna do?" Cordelia asked with annoyance.

"Well, if I tell you, you won't do it," Xander answered. "Oh, and I need a big car. Like a van or something..."

"Oz..." Willow said turning to Oz.

Oz nodded. "I have a van."

"Good," Xander said. "We'll meet at Willow's house in ten minutes."

"Xander, can you let us know what you have planned?" Giles asked.

Xander shook his head. "Again with the big sentences," he told Giles. "Can't you just say: 'What's going on?'"

When Giles simply glared at him, Xander sighed. "I'll tell you guys once I get everything ready."

Jenny Calendar, who had been quiet all this time, spoke up. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

Xander shook his head. "The rest of you, meet us in front of Will's house in half an hour." He grinned. "You guys can figure out what to do after that."

As they all left to do whatever it was that Xander had planned, Xander's voice could be heard: "Oh, and Cordy, wear some trashy... er." And Cordelia's huff of annoyance echoed through the hallways.

******

Xander and Cordelia got out of Oz's van and headed to the nearby fence. Xander cut through the wires and pushed them aside enough form both of them to go through.

"Security here's a joke," Xander commented as they made their way to the building.

"Who am I supposed to be again?" Cordelia asked him.

"You're supposed to be a girl... think you can handle that?"

Cordelia rolled her eyes and slapped his arm lightly. They continued to walk toward the side of the building, when Xander heard footsteps.

"Halt!" said a voice from behind them. "Identify yourselves."

Xander's arms shot up. "Uh... Private Harris. With the uh... 33rd."

The soldier, a tall, dark-skinned, muscular man, raised his eyebrows warily. "33rd are on maneuvers," he informed Xander.

"Yeah," Xander said, slowly turning around. "I'm on leave..."

"You always spend your time snooping around the armory?" the soldier asked. "And who's she?"

"Hi, I'm just a girl..." Cordelia said. Then she turned to Xander. "Right?"

Xander approached the soldier. "Look, I just wanna give her the tour... you know?"

"The tour," the soldier echoed.

"Yeah, you know," Xander said. "They like to look at guns... gets them all hot and bothered. Cut me some slack?"

The soldier crossed his hands. "And why should I?"

"Well if you do," Xander started. "I won't tell Colonel Newsome that your boots ain't regulation, your post wasn't covered, and you hold your gun like a sissy girl." At the last part, he grabbed the soldier's rifle and set in the correct position.

The soldier narrowed his eyes. "You got twenty minutes, nimrod."

"I just need five," Xander said with a smile. "Uh... forget I said that last part."

He went to the door and opened it, letting Cordelia go in first. Once they were inside, Cordelia moved away from him. "Who are you?"

Xander smiled. "Remember last Halloween when I turned into a soldier?" At Cordelia's nod, he continued. "Well, I still remember everything... access codes, procedure, even a whole layout of this base. I'm sure I can put together an M-16 in fifty seven seconds."

"Wow. Color me impressed," Cordelia commented. "So it this what you're gonna give Buffy to blow up this Judge guy?"

"Yup," Xander said as he looked around, looking for his ingredients. "Sorta like: 'Happy Birthday, Buffy. Here's something to blow up Big Blue with. From me to you.'"

Cordelia nodded. "Okay. Let's get this over with so we can get out of here."

"I wonder what's taking them so long..." Willow said as she anxiously looked out the window.

"It's only been six minutes with..." Oz looked at his watch. "Twenty four seconds."

Willow smiled. "I just wanna get out of here already. The Judge gives me the creeps."

Oz was silent for several minutes. "So," he spoke finally. "Do you guys steal weapons from the army very often?"

"Well, we don't have cable so we make our own fun," Willow said.

Oz nodded. "Ah."

"Do you want to kiss me?" Willow asked suddenly.

"What?" Oz said, startled.

Willow blushed at her suddenness. "Oh, nothing, never mind." She looked away and then turned back again. "Do you?"

Oz's expression didn't change. "Well, I would. Except that now is not really the time."

Willow bit back the comment that almost slipped about Buffy and Angel. Buffy's words rang in her mind. Seize the day. As she gathered up her courage, the window where Xander and Cordelia were opened.

"Oh, hey, we're up," Oz said.

* * *

Buffy, Angel, Giles, and Jenny waited inside Jenny's car in front of Willow's house. Jenny was in the drivers seat, Giles in the passenger seat, while Buffy and Angel sat in the backseat. "I wonder what they're up to," Buffy commented.

"We can only wait," Angel answered.

The people inside the car were silent for several minutes. Suddenly, Jenny spoke up. "You know guys, I think there's something you all deserve to know. Especially you, Angel."

Everyone looked at her expectantly. As she opened her mouth to speak, Oz's van pulled up in front of them. Jenny's confession was soon forgotten as they all got out of the car to meet their friends. Xander got out first, followed by Willow and then Cordelia. As Buffy, Giles, Angel, and Jenny joined them, Xander opened the back of the van. Oz was already there, bent down, prying open a large box.

"What's this?" Buffy asked as Oz finally got the lid off.

Buffy's eyes widened as she took a look at the contents of the box. She turned to Giles. "So, what do we do now?" she asked.

Giles took off his glasses nervously as he stared at the box. He put them back on and looked at Buffy. "Well... I- I suppose we, um, wait now."

"Oz, can you keep this here until tomorrow?" Buffy said, turning to Oz.

"Yeah, sure," Oz answered with a shrug. "So long as no one else looks in here."

Buffy nodded. "Well, then, I guess now we wait for them to make their move."

Part 3

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