The Sunday sun warmed Xander's skin as he began to awake. The thoughts of Willow and the kisses they had shared last night before bedtime warmed his heart. He looked forward to today. He was sure that she would admit her love to him by the end of the day. He could feel it.

Across the hall, Cordy was pacing frantically. Last night had been a close call. She had one more surprise up her sleeve to tip the scales in Xander's favor. Okay, maybe two. But first she had to get them out of the apartment. She checked her dresser drawer and withdrew the envelope she'd been hiding for days. If they'd just wake up, she cursed silently. It was nearly noon! She heard Willow's voice in the hallway out her door, followed by the low rumble of Xander's voice. All right! Let's get this show on the road.

Willow again looked at the tickets in her hand with surprise. Cordy had gotten them tickets to a three o'clock show of "Much Ado About Nothing". It was one of Willow's favorite plays. Xander had decided to make a day of it, and they'd gone out to brunch before the matinee performance. She looked down at her green velvet dress, smiling as she recalled how Xander insisted that they dress up for the play. He wore a suit that highlighted his handsome frame. She acknowledged that he really did seem to be trying to make her happy. She was relieved that he still cared about her, that he still loved her. The terror she'd felt yesterday at the museum when she thought that he'd stopped loving her had been worse than all those nights of facing the Hellmouth together. Losing his love would destroy her. She knew that now.

She admitted sometime last night that she couldn't live without Xander. She loved him. No matter what happened in the future. Her brief attempt to make her heart listen to reason yesterday when she thought he had forsaken her had convinced her of the fact. She couldn't stop loving him, no matter how good the reasons in her head were. She was doomed.

They arrived at the theater with a few minutes to spare, and Willow gave Xander a brief outline of the story, just in case he got lost along the way. Shakespeare wasn't one of his strong points. The lights dimmed and the play began. She squeezed his hand with delight when it appeared that he not only understood what was happening, he was enjoying himself. He laughed at one scene and she sighed as his eyes crinkled at the corners. "I love you," she whispered. He didn't hear her for the noise. It didn't matter, whether he heard her or not, it was the truth.

Willow and Xander returned to the apartment fairly early in the evening. The smell of roasting turkey assaulted their senses. Willow poked her head into the kitchen to see Cordelia Chase holding a cookbook in one hand and a turkey baster in the other as she stood over the turkey. It looked perfectly roasted already. She was muttering to herself.

"What are you doing?" Willow asked.

"I don't think I basted it six times," Cordy said. "I should have written it down every time I did it." She sighed.

"No, I meant, why are you cooking a turkey?" Willow stepped into the kitchen and spotted potatoes and carrots cooking on the stove. Bowls of cranberries and rolls were on the counter. "Cordy, you didn't have to do all this by yourself. You should have told me."

"I wanted to. I think we all have a lot to be thankful for." She winked at Willow, who promptly grabbed a dish towel and swatted her in the butt with it. "Besides, Xander's leaving tomorrow, so we wouldn't have time for dinner then."

"Xander, come see this!" Willow called to him.

"No, Will, you come see this!"

Willow emerged into their small dining room to see their table set with exquisite china and flatware. It was set for three, and two candles as well as a small bowl of flowers sat in the center. "Cordy, where did you get all this stuff?"

Cordelia set the rolls and cranberries on the table. "I rented it. This is a special occasion, you know."

Willow laughed out loud and followed her back into the kitchen to help out. Fifteen minutes later, the turkey was carved, the potatoes were mashed, and they sat at the table.

"Okay, everyone has to say what they're thankful for, and then we'll start eating," Cordy said.

"Cordy-" Willow began to protest, but Cordelia cut her off.

"Look, I worked my butt off for hours, so I get to make the rules. Got it?" Willow backed down. "I'll go first. I'm thankful that I'm healthy and that everyone I care about is also healthy. I'm thankful that Xander decided to surprise us. And I'm thankful for Willow, who has been a better friend to me than I could have ever expected given our history." She squeezed Willow's hand and Willow smiled at her. "Who's next?"

"Me," Willow said softly. "I'm thankful that everyone I love is happy and healthy. I'm also thankful that Xander decided to come here this weekend. And I'm thankful that we get to spend this day together." 'God, I'm thankful that he still loves me', she added in her head.

"My turn," Xander said softly. "I'm also thankful that I'm healthy and that everyone I love is healthy. I'm also thankful that I was able to come to my senses and realize what I had in front of me my whole life." He gazed at Willow, who promptly blushed. "And I'm especially thankful that I got the chance to tell you I love you. I hope it wasn't too late. I'll cherish every chance I get to remind you I love you."

They sat in silence for a moment. Xander marveling at the way Willow was looking at him. Willow in silent awe at how he deeply he loved her. And Cordy making mental pull-down YES-signs in her head. They all laughed and began eating. Xander had three helpings of nearly everything.

After dinner, they cleaned up as much as they could, and then Xander excused himself. He went to his room and gathered the gifts he'd bought with Cordy day he arrived. And he thought for a moment to himself before he picked up a third package, one he'd brought with him. He returned to find Cordy and Willow sipping coffee in the living room.

"Hey guys. I just wanted to give you these presents as a thank you for letting me stay with you." He handed a package to each of the girls, and put his third package on an end table.

"Oh, Xander! You shouldn't have!" Cordy exclaimed. She began opening her present.

"Well, I couldn't just show up out of the blue empty-handed…" He laughed as Cordy shot him a warning look.

"Oh, look Willow! A scarf isn't it gorgeous?"

Willow had opened her gift and was staring at it. A new book by one of her favorite mystery authors. "Thank you," she smiled at Xander. He felt his head start to spin.

"You're welcome," he replied. What he wanted to say was that he loved her. That he would do anything for her. All he could manage was 'You're welcome'.

Cordy let out a small yelp as she glanced at the clock on the wall. "Look guys, I've got to meet April at the movies in a few minutes. I hate to cut this short, but I've got to go." She once again grabbed her purse and pulled her disappearing act. The door slammed in her haste to exit.

Xander sat on the couch next to Willow. "Look Will, I wanted to talk to you about something before I leave tomorrow." Willow looked distinctly uncomfortable at the mention of his departure. She didn't want him to go. She didn't want to lose this feeling she'd had all weekend. Xander was speaking again, "I want you to know that I've made a decision. If you want me to, I'll transfer to school in Boston and move here. I don't know how I'm going to live without you when I go back. I love you, Will."

Willow's hands trembled as she held them in her lap. He was willing to move across the country because he loved HER. She spoke suddenly. "You remember how you said I could think about everything?" She asked, uncertainly. He felt his heart start to nose-dive. She had decided against him. He hadn't convinced her. Tears began to well up in his eyes before he could stop them. He couldn't breathe. Willow looked into his eyes and noted his tears. What on earth was wrong? She spoke very slowly. "I've… decided ….that I …..don't want to think anymore." She searched his eyes. His love for her still shone in them, along with a desperation that broke her heart. And she realized that he was afraid she was going to reject him. As long as she lived, that would never happen. She had always loved him. She always would. She placed a reassuring hand on his cheek. "I love you, Xander. If you want to move to Boston, that's fine with me. If you want me to move to Colorado, that's okay too. I'll go anywhere to be with you. I love you Xander…. And I believe that you love me."

Xander's heart exploded in a cascade of happiness and light. He had never felt so complete. He loved Willow with his whole being, heart and soul. And looking in her eyes just then, he could see her love for him shining brilliantly. He grasped the back of her head and leaned in to kiss her. Their kiss was passionate, affirming the emotional commitment they had just made to one another. Willow finally pulled away to hug him tightly and tuck her head into the soft spot near his collarbone. He reached for the package on the end table and handed it to her. "Here, this is also for you. I've had it for a while. I thought you might like it."

Willow sat up a little to open it. It was a long jeweler's box. She thought it might be a bracelet. She opened it and looked to Xander in confusion. "It's your grandmother's engagement ring."

"Yeah," he admitted. "I didn't have time to get a proper box for it. Willow, will you marry me?"

Willow sat there stunned. Xander momentarily thought that he had made a mistake. That he was pushing Willow too far too quickly. But then she launched herself into his arms and began crying. He could make out a "Yes" here and there. He kissed her every place his lips could reach on her face as she murmured "Yes," over and over to him. Xander's heart felt full. He looked at Willow's face and cradled it in his hands tenderly. He would never need anything else as long as he lived.

Cordelia returned home several hours later. The apartment was quiet. She tiptoed to the guest room and saw that Xander's bed was empty. She then gleefully giggled and made her way down the hall to Willow's room. She shrieked quietly as she picked up two Polaroid pictures taped to Willow's door. The first was a picture of Xander and Willow kissing, obviously taken by one of them from a weird angle. But the second picture had started her shrieking. It was a picture of Willow's left hand, with an engagement ring firmly on her finger. At the bottom she had written in marker "Christmas Wedding. Maid of Honor? " Cordelia sighed. Willow and Xander together. Their world was finally right.