The Life She Always Wanted

Disclaimer: Anything and everything contained in this is property of Joss Whedon, David Greenwalt, Mutant Enemy, etc...And Nev's ramblings are basically the same from "Birthday" written by Mere Smith...Basically.

Chapter One

"Ok, there are stars and there are stars and then there is--" Cordelia's assistant Nev began as Cordelia walked from the corridor from the main stage of her show Cordy!. He joined with her and glanced down at the PDA in his hands.

"Cut it out, Nev," Cordelia began harshly as she walked over towards the fans who were shoving small notebooks, autograph books, or biographies of Cordelia Chase in her face. Cordelia reached for a pen and began signing them as fast as she could, not wanting to spend too much time with that.

"Then there is you," Nev finished lamely as he walked up next to the star.

"Nev, I told you to knock that off already. You're not getting another raise," she said as she continued signing things for her fans.

"But ma'am, you never gave me a raise," her assistant said softly before letting out a huge sigh. It was a hopeless chance and he knew that by now. If he were to get a raise, Cordelia would say it not wait for him to hint at it millions of times.

"Where's my princess?" came the one male voice Cordelia looked forward to hearing whenever possible.

"Right here," Cordelia announced as she finished signing her name in the last fan's notebook. She gave a quick smile and wave good-bye to the fans before rushing over into the arms of her boyfriend for nearly three years, Lindsey McDonald. "Hey there," she said happily as she leaned forward and kissed him on the lips.

"Hey sugar," Lindsey greeted as he returned the kiss with the same amount of affection. As they kissed, he ran his hands down her back and hugged her tightly, not wanting to let her go.

Nev groaned as he found himself getting a little irritated. "Miss Chase," he began as he walked over to her side once again, the PDA still clutched in his hands. "Miss Chase," he repeated as he held it up to her face.

"Ok," Cordelia said as she unlocked herself from Lindsey's embrace. "What's shaking?" she asked Nev curiously as the three of them began walking towards the side exit.

Nev smiled pleasantly, feeling grateful to be needed. "Ok, Lisa needs you for a costume fitting. Joss and David want to run some ideas by you for next week's show. We want to record that breast cancer PSA, but tomorrow is pretty booked. Maybe next week" he began.

"Make it tomorrow," Cordelia replied quickly. "I want to get it on the air."

"Right," Nev said as he nodded and made that mental note.

"Is that all, Nev?" Lindsey asked impatiently. "We kind of had plans for tonight," he explained as he wrapped his hand around Cordelia's thin body.

"Oh, well then by all means continue," Nev mumbled angrily. "We'll just put Cordelia's career on hold while you two go on a date."

"What is up with you?" Cordelia asked in shock. "You told me everything in there and I told you what I wanted to do with it. Look, I already arranged to come in a little early to meet with Lisa. There's nothing else I'm supposed to do today except for have dinner with my boyfriend."

Nev glared at Lindsey slightly before taking a deep and calming breath. "Would you like me to call the restaurant and make reservations?" he asked finally in a much calmer tone of voice.

Cordelia looked over at Lindsey curiously. Lindsey responded by shaking his head. "Nope, I've got reservations and our table will be ready in another ten minutes, the exact time it will take to drive from here to there."

Nev rolled his eyes as he began to walk away. "See you tomorrow, Miss Chase," he said softly as he turned around and walked further backstage.

"What's his problem?" Lindsey asked as he moved his arm to Cordelia's shoulders and the couple began walking out the side door where Lindsey had arranged for a limousine to pick them up.

Cordelia shrugged as the driver opened the door for her. "I'm not really sure. He'll get over it by tomorrow though," she said as she climbed inside the car and began giving slight touch-ups to her make-up. "Do I look ok?" she asked.

"Always," Lindsey answered as he climbed in behind her.

"Where to?" the driver asked as he turned his head around and glanced at the couple waiting for a reply.

Lindsey smiled fondly down at Cordelia before responding. "California Pizza Kitchen," he announced with a laugh before catching Cordelia's shocked expression. "Relax, I'm joking," he assured his girlfriend before he returned his focus back to the driver. "Oriental Gardens," he modified as the car started rolling.

"Oriental Gardens?" Cordelia repeated in a pleased yet shocked voice. "Are you sure? They're really expensive."

"You're worth it," Lindsey responded sweetly as he moved closer towards Cordelia. "What'd you do today?" he asked curiously.

"Acted my ass off in front of a live audience like I do every Wednesday," she informed him with a laugh.

Lindsey nodded. "Fair enough. Anything new and exciting on the show, either on stage or behind?"

Cordelia paused a moment as she tried to think of her co-stars. "Well, Gregory is up for a small supporting role in some TV movie," she told him. "But that's basically it. What about you?"

"Same old, same old," Lindsey began. "The Senior Partners still aren't sure which one of us they're going to promote. It's narrowed down to me and Lilah, but still."

"Oh, I'm sure you'll get it," Cordelia said with a giggle as the limousine stopped in front of the restaurant. Within moments, the driver stepped out and opened the door, allowing for Cordelia and Lindsey to walk out.

"How may I help you?" the greeter asked as she tried to hide her excitement that Cordelia Chase was in the restaurant that she worked in.

Lindsey smiled as he once again wrapped his arm possessively around Cordelia's shoulders. "We had a reservation under the name Lindsey McDonald," he told her clearly.

The girl nodded. "Of course, right this way," she said happily as she led them towards one of the tables for two. "A waiter or waitress will be right out with you," she said with a huge genuine smile before she scooted over to her co-workers and friends. "Ruth, you have to take that table. It's Cordelia Chase," she whispered excitedly before returning back to her place in the front as not to risk getting fired.

"What do you want to eat?" Lindsey asked curiously.

Cordelia shrugged slightly as she searched the menu. Everything on it looked so good and she had no idea what she felt like having. "Everything looks so good," she began. "I love Japanese food," she added with a grateful smile to Lindsey. "Thank you."

"Not a problem," he responded. "What do you say about some sashimi?" he asked.

Cordelia thought it over for a minute. "I'm not sureÉI'd love to, but last time I had that I got food poisoning," she began.

"Oh, right," Lindsey began as he recalled the unpleasant experience.

"I'd hate for you to spend nineteen dollars in an appetizer that'll make me get sick," Cordelia continued as she searched the menu some more.

Lindsey smiled over at Cordelia. "Don't worry, whatever you want you can have," he promised.

"You sure?" Cordelia asked as she gazed into Lindsey's blue eyes.

The lawyer nodded. "Anything for you, sweetie."

The suit wearing waiter appeared next to the table. He drew in a deep breath to calm himself before he pulled out the pad of paper and a pen. "Hello and welcome to Oriental Gardens. My name is Ryan and I'll be your waiter. Can I start you off with some drinks and an appetizer?" he asked, pen in hand.

Lindsey smiled sweetly at Cordelia's face before turning his attention to the waiter. "All right, we will have best platter of sushi you have, as long as its not sashimi, along with the finest bottle of white wine you offer," he told him.

"Do you know what main course you want?" Ryan asked.

Cordelia shook her head. "No, we're still deciding," she told him as he left to tell the chef what to cook.

"Is there anything that could make this night more perfect?" Cordelia asked as she gazed lovingly into Lindsey's sparkling eyes.

Lindsey nodded. "Maybe one thing," he began. "Cordelia, I've lived a long time but have never felt truly alive until the day I met you standing in the check-out line buying some diet coke," he began as Cordelia gave a slight chuckle. "And now look at me. I'm madly in love with one of the hottest stars of primetime television. I'm probably going to be promoted to junior head of special projects over at Wolfram and Hart. If I get the promotion, I might look into getting a bigger and more beautiful house. But I'm not interested in doing anything else in my life without you there." He smiled fondly as the wine glasses arrived. He poured a glass for Cordelia then one for himself. "And there's only one more thing for me to say." He smiled, reaching into his inner coat pocket, pulling something out of his pocket. "Cordelia Jennifer Chase," he began. He then opened the small box, exposing a small ring with a somewhat large diamond in the center and two smaller emeralds on the side. "Will you marry me?"

((Yea, it's weird, but most girls dream of getting married...Cyber desserts to those who know where I get Jennifer from...))