Title: Family: Back to Sunnydale
Author: victoriamartynne
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Spoilers: None, I think!
Summary: Imagine if Connor had never been taken by Wesley, Xander and Anya had never split up and Angel had told Cordelia how he felt. Cordelia gets a phone call that leads her back to Sunnydale and back to the past.
Dazed, Cordelia walked into the hotel. It was early but not early enough for no-one to be there. Wes was already in his office and Fred and Gunn were sat facing each across the counter. Angel was walking down the stairs holding Connor to his chest. Lorne was following him singing 'Oh what a beautiful morning'.
"Hey Cor." Angel greeted her as he saw her stood by the door. "Do you want to feed Connor?"
She nodded mutely and followed him to the microwave where he heated Connor's bottle.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"I don't know." She told him honestly and took Connor off him. "I got a call from my father last night. He upset me."
"You should have called." He told her and watched her as she fed his son.
"I didn't want to wake you, or Connor." She added.
"What did he say?" He asked gently, he knew she wanted to tell him, she just wasn't sure how to. He knew that she hadn't spoken to her parents in the three years since she left Sunnydale.
"He's getting married."
"What about your mom?"
"I have no idea. His wife to be is twenty seven. She has a twelve year old daughter and an eight year old son from two previous husbands. Both of whom are dead. They're getting married on Saturday in Sunnydale. He wants me there, although God knows why." She breathed out angrily. "I mean, he hasn't bothered with me for three years, neither of them has. And now he just calls up and wants me to join in his happy family!"
"Are you going to go?" He asked.
"I don't know. Sunnydale isn't exactly my favourite place. And my father isn't exactly my favourite person. But I guess I will. I am slightly curious." She admitted and then smiled at him. "Will you come with me?"
"Sure." He smiled. "If you want, we could all go. Or just me and you can go. Whatever you want."
"It would be nice for us all to have a holiday and I'm sure they could find some way of amusing themselves so we could have a little time alone." She grinned at him.
He leant down and kissed her gently. "I love you."
"I love you too." She replied and then gave him the empty bottle. "Are you hungry? I could make eggs." He offered and was greeted with a winning smile.
"You mean I get to meet the girl with the goofy name?" Fred asked later on. "I'm in."
"I guess a road trip could be tight." Gunn agreed.
"Splendid. I'm sure Buffy and the others will be pleased to see us again." Wesley replied.
Cordelia snorted. "Don't count on it."
"What does that mean?" He asked. "You did tell her about Connor? And about you and Angel?"
"Not exactly." She replied and then was saved having to answer by the phone ringing.
She smiled. "Angel Investigations, we help the helpless." She said into the phone brightly.
"Cordelia, is that you?" She heard a masculine voice ask.
"Yes, who is this?" She asked warily.
She felt Angel's presence behind her. "It's your father sweetheart. Don't tell me you don't recognise my voice?"
"If I'd spoken to you more than once in three years then maybe I would." She replied coldly. "What do you want? How did you get this number?"
"I know things sweetheart. I'm calling to find out if I can expect you on Saturday."
"Yes you can expect me. I'll be bringing some friends too. We'll arrive on Friday." She told the voice on the phone who was practically a stranger to her.
"You have friends? Well, I wasn't expecting that! You never were really good at making friends were you dear?"
She thought she could detect sympathy in her father's voice. "I do have friends father and they will be coming with me. I'll call you when I get to Sunnydale. What's your number?" She asked angrily, wrote the number down and then put the phone down.
"I need to get out of here. Fred, do you want to go shopping?" She asked and the young Texan readily agreed.
"Are you okay?" Angel asked as she pulled on her coat.
"I will be, I just need some air." She smiled at him and kissed him and then left with Fred.
They sat in the park with coffee after walking around the shops for a while. Neither of the girls bought anything but Cordelia thought that she may go back and by an adorable outfit she saw at a second hand boutique.
"Why haven't you spoken to your parents since you came to LA?" Fred asked after moments of silence.
"My parents lost everything to the IRS before graduation. We lost everything, our house, all our furniture, everything. All because my dad didn't pay his taxes for the past twelve years. My parents left Sunnydale and I went to live with an aunt until I graduated. She was a bitch to me. I worked in a little store called April Fools. She took all the money I made. I couldn't go to any of the colleges that accepted me. After graduation I left Sunnydale to leave my past behind. My parents never cared about me. They gave me money and expensive presents instead of their love. I never really cared until I met Buffy and Xander and Willow. I was a bitch to them. I was a bitch to everyone, but only because I knew no other way. When I met them I saw how they were with their parents. Buffy and Joyce were so close. Even Xander and Willow got along with their parents, to an extent. I met their parents, they never met mine. When I came to LA and met Angel and Doyle and then you guys I never needed them. I guess they thought the same thing." She smiled bitterly.
"I never knew that about you. I mean, everyone looks towards you here. You're the centre of Angel Investigations. I never thought things could be so bad for you." Fred told her. "You don't need them. You've got us."
"Fred, honey, you really are sweet. But maybe we should get back to the hotel and actually do some work. We should at least get something done before out little holiday. And I do say that term loosely!" She grinned and took Fred's arm as they walked back to the hotel. "How do you feel about going out tonight? Maybe hit a few clubs? Thursday nights aren't all that bad in LA."
Fred grinned excitedly.
Cordelia went upstairs to Angel's room about eight that night. She jumped into the shower and let the water beat down on her. Only then did she let the tears fall. What the hell was her father doing to her, ringing her up after all this time. She didn't want all her memories brought back up by just seeing him. And for Christ's sake, what was he doing marrying a twenty seven year old? She would only be six years older than her!
"Cor?" Angel's voice called through the door. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." She called back.
"I'll be out here when you come out, okay? In case you want to talk."
She smiled and thought to herself how lucky she was. Thank God they'd gotten around that curse.
Wes had researched a few months ago and found out that her new demon powers actually had the power to bind his soul and overpower his curse. They'd been lovers since then. Of course, they had been a couple before that. It wasn't just about the sex between them. Although, she had to admit, it was great!
She turned off the shower and got out, dripping water on the floor. She wrapped a towel around herself and then opened the door to find Angel sat on their bed waiting for her. She cocked her head to the side. "Was there an ulterior motive to waiting for me?"
"Well, maybe!" He smiled slightly and let his eyes travel over her body.
With Angel she didn't mind him looking at her body. He was the only guy she would allow to leer at her. "I thought so. But you're gonna have to wait Broody Boy, I'm going clubbing!"
"You are?" He asked, surprised. She hadn't mentioned it before.
"Yeah, me and Fred are going to hit a few clubs, maybe got see Lorne now that Caritas is back open. And you are going to have company tonight." He looked at her quizzically. "Gunn." She smirked. "But don't worry, I'll be back."
She kissed him and then dropped the towel. "Now, I know you're torturing me!"
She just laughed and pulled on a pair of black low riding leather pants and a matching red leather halter. She sighed as she zipped up the pants. "I must be putting on some weight." She muttered but Angel's hearing caught it. "You're beautiful."
When Fred and Cordelia came in later that night they were bordering on drunk. The were laughing and joking and Fred had spent the cab ride home telling Cordelia all about the first time she and Gunn had had sex and Cordelia was saving it all in her mind to blackmail Gunn with if she needed to. She'd just finished telling her story when they walked through the hotel doors. Angel and Gunn were sat on the couch sharpening weapons and watching the Lakers game on the portable TV. They both looked up when the girls stumbled through the doors.
"Oh!" Fred stuttered as she saw Gunn waiting for her. "I think I'm going to end up in trouble." She told Cordy. "That may mean he might want to spank me or tie me up until I promise never to drink again. He doesn't like it when I drink." She admitted.
Cordelia broke out in peals of laughter and even Angel smirked at Gunn's discomfort.
"Girl, this is why I don't like you drinking!" Gunn said and blushed slightly.
Cordelia went over to plant herself into Angel's lap. "You know baby, maybe we should go to Sunnydale drunk!" She suggested.
"Maybe we should go to bed!" He suggested and lifted her into his arms.
"I second that." Gunn agreed. "Come on girl!" He called to Fred and let her lean on him as they walked up the stairs together.
Cordelia woke in the morning with one of the biggest hangovers she'd had in her life. She moaned as her the light from the window hit her eyes and pulled a pillow over her head. She felt her stomach churn and she felt slightly nauseous. She felt the bed shift slightly as Angel sat down on it, carefully avoiding the light the window threw out. Before he could say anything she flew out of bed and ran into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. He could hear her being sick. He smiled slightly, remembering the state she was in last night but also felt sympathy for her, as he always did when she was in pain.
In the bathroom Cordelia felt as though she was dying. Not again, she thought, not another morning of being sick. Maybe I'm coming down with something, she thought. Or not. She suspected what the problem was, she'd felt like this before. But she knew that it wasn't possible. She pushed the thought from her mind as she was sick again.
There was a knock at the door. "Are you okay?"
"Does it sound like I'm okay?" She muttered.
She heard him laugh. "I'll bring you some toast and water. We need to set off at six tonight. It's twelve right now so you've got plenty of time."
"You let me sleep while twelve?"
"It's okay, Fred's still sleeping. Wes decided to be kind to you two after Gunn told him in graphic detail about the state you too were in last night. I'll bring you some breakfast." She heard him leave the room and she sighed. She opened the bathroom door and grabbed her bag from the dresser. She locked the bathroom door behind her and took what she needed from her bag.
Author: victoriamartynne
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Spoilers: None, I think!
Summary: Imagine if Connor had never been taken by Wesley, Xander and Anya had never split up and Angel had told Cordelia how he felt. Cordelia gets a phone call that leads her back to Sunnydale and back to the past.
Dazed, Cordelia walked into the hotel. It was early but not early enough for no-one to be there. Wes was already in his office and Fred and Gunn were sat facing each across the counter. Angel was walking down the stairs holding Connor to his chest. Lorne was following him singing 'Oh what a beautiful morning'.
"Hey Cor." Angel greeted her as he saw her stood by the door. "Do you want to feed Connor?"
She nodded mutely and followed him to the microwave where he heated Connor's bottle.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"I don't know." She told him honestly and took Connor off him. "I got a call from my father last night. He upset me."
"You should have called." He told her and watched her as she fed his son.
"I didn't want to wake you, or Connor." She added.
"What did he say?" He asked gently, he knew she wanted to tell him, she just wasn't sure how to. He knew that she hadn't spoken to her parents in the three years since she left Sunnydale.
"He's getting married."
"What about your mom?"
"I have no idea. His wife to be is twenty seven. She has a twelve year old daughter and an eight year old son from two previous husbands. Both of whom are dead. They're getting married on Saturday in Sunnydale. He wants me there, although God knows why." She breathed out angrily. "I mean, he hasn't bothered with me for three years, neither of them has. And now he just calls up and wants me to join in his happy family!"
"Are you going to go?" He asked.
"I don't know. Sunnydale isn't exactly my favourite place. And my father isn't exactly my favourite person. But I guess I will. I am slightly curious." She admitted and then smiled at him. "Will you come with me?"
"Sure." He smiled. "If you want, we could all go. Or just me and you can go. Whatever you want."
"It would be nice for us all to have a holiday and I'm sure they could find some way of amusing themselves so we could have a little time alone." She grinned at him.
He leant down and kissed her gently. "I love you."
"I love you too." She replied and then gave him the empty bottle. "Are you hungry? I could make eggs." He offered and was greeted with a winning smile.
"You mean I get to meet the girl with the goofy name?" Fred asked later on. "I'm in."
"I guess a road trip could be tight." Gunn agreed.
"Splendid. I'm sure Buffy and the others will be pleased to see us again." Wesley replied.
Cordelia snorted. "Don't count on it."
"What does that mean?" He asked. "You did tell her about Connor? And about you and Angel?"
"Not exactly." She replied and then was saved having to answer by the phone ringing.
She smiled. "Angel Investigations, we help the helpless." She said into the phone brightly.
"Cordelia, is that you?" She heard a masculine voice ask.
"Yes, who is this?" She asked warily.
She felt Angel's presence behind her. "It's your father sweetheart. Don't tell me you don't recognise my voice?"
"If I'd spoken to you more than once in three years then maybe I would." She replied coldly. "What do you want? How did you get this number?"
"I know things sweetheart. I'm calling to find out if I can expect you on Saturday."
"Yes you can expect me. I'll be bringing some friends too. We'll arrive on Friday." She told the voice on the phone who was practically a stranger to her.
"You have friends? Well, I wasn't expecting that! You never were really good at making friends were you dear?"
She thought she could detect sympathy in her father's voice. "I do have friends father and they will be coming with me. I'll call you when I get to Sunnydale. What's your number?" She asked angrily, wrote the number down and then put the phone down.
"I need to get out of here. Fred, do you want to go shopping?" She asked and the young Texan readily agreed.
"Are you okay?" Angel asked as she pulled on her coat.
"I will be, I just need some air." She smiled at him and kissed him and then left with Fred.
They sat in the park with coffee after walking around the shops for a while. Neither of the girls bought anything but Cordelia thought that she may go back and by an adorable outfit she saw at a second hand boutique.
"Why haven't you spoken to your parents since you came to LA?" Fred asked after moments of silence.
"My parents lost everything to the IRS before graduation. We lost everything, our house, all our furniture, everything. All because my dad didn't pay his taxes for the past twelve years. My parents left Sunnydale and I went to live with an aunt until I graduated. She was a bitch to me. I worked in a little store called April Fools. She took all the money I made. I couldn't go to any of the colleges that accepted me. After graduation I left Sunnydale to leave my past behind. My parents never cared about me. They gave me money and expensive presents instead of their love. I never really cared until I met Buffy and Xander and Willow. I was a bitch to them. I was a bitch to everyone, but only because I knew no other way. When I met them I saw how they were with their parents. Buffy and Joyce were so close. Even Xander and Willow got along with their parents, to an extent. I met their parents, they never met mine. When I came to LA and met Angel and Doyle and then you guys I never needed them. I guess they thought the same thing." She smiled bitterly.
"I never knew that about you. I mean, everyone looks towards you here. You're the centre of Angel Investigations. I never thought things could be so bad for you." Fred told her. "You don't need them. You've got us."
"Fred, honey, you really are sweet. But maybe we should get back to the hotel and actually do some work. We should at least get something done before out little holiday. And I do say that term loosely!" She grinned and took Fred's arm as they walked back to the hotel. "How do you feel about going out tonight? Maybe hit a few clubs? Thursday nights aren't all that bad in LA."
Fred grinned excitedly.
Cordelia went upstairs to Angel's room about eight that night. She jumped into the shower and let the water beat down on her. Only then did she let the tears fall. What the hell was her father doing to her, ringing her up after all this time. She didn't want all her memories brought back up by just seeing him. And for Christ's sake, what was he doing marrying a twenty seven year old? She would only be six years older than her!
"Cor?" Angel's voice called through the door. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." She called back.
"I'll be out here when you come out, okay? In case you want to talk."
She smiled and thought to herself how lucky she was. Thank God they'd gotten around that curse.
Wes had researched a few months ago and found out that her new demon powers actually had the power to bind his soul and overpower his curse. They'd been lovers since then. Of course, they had been a couple before that. It wasn't just about the sex between them. Although, she had to admit, it was great!
She turned off the shower and got out, dripping water on the floor. She wrapped a towel around herself and then opened the door to find Angel sat on their bed waiting for her. She cocked her head to the side. "Was there an ulterior motive to waiting for me?"
"Well, maybe!" He smiled slightly and let his eyes travel over her body.
With Angel she didn't mind him looking at her body. He was the only guy she would allow to leer at her. "I thought so. But you're gonna have to wait Broody Boy, I'm going clubbing!"
"You are?" He asked, surprised. She hadn't mentioned it before.
"Yeah, me and Fred are going to hit a few clubs, maybe got see Lorne now that Caritas is back open. And you are going to have company tonight." He looked at her quizzically. "Gunn." She smirked. "But don't worry, I'll be back."
She kissed him and then dropped the towel. "Now, I know you're torturing me!"
She just laughed and pulled on a pair of black low riding leather pants and a matching red leather halter. She sighed as she zipped up the pants. "I must be putting on some weight." She muttered but Angel's hearing caught it. "You're beautiful."
When Fred and Cordelia came in later that night they were bordering on drunk. The were laughing and joking and Fred had spent the cab ride home telling Cordelia all about the first time she and Gunn had had sex and Cordelia was saving it all in her mind to blackmail Gunn with if she needed to. She'd just finished telling her story when they walked through the hotel doors. Angel and Gunn were sat on the couch sharpening weapons and watching the Lakers game on the portable TV. They both looked up when the girls stumbled through the doors.
"Oh!" Fred stuttered as she saw Gunn waiting for her. "I think I'm going to end up in trouble." She told Cordy. "That may mean he might want to spank me or tie me up until I promise never to drink again. He doesn't like it when I drink." She admitted.
Cordelia broke out in peals of laughter and even Angel smirked at Gunn's discomfort.
"Girl, this is why I don't like you drinking!" Gunn said and blushed slightly.
Cordelia went over to plant herself into Angel's lap. "You know baby, maybe we should go to Sunnydale drunk!" She suggested.
"Maybe we should go to bed!" He suggested and lifted her into his arms.
"I second that." Gunn agreed. "Come on girl!" He called to Fred and let her lean on him as they walked up the stairs together.
Cordelia woke in the morning with one of the biggest hangovers she'd had in her life. She moaned as her the light from the window hit her eyes and pulled a pillow over her head. She felt her stomach churn and she felt slightly nauseous. She felt the bed shift slightly as Angel sat down on it, carefully avoiding the light the window threw out. Before he could say anything she flew out of bed and ran into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. He could hear her being sick. He smiled slightly, remembering the state she was in last night but also felt sympathy for her, as he always did when she was in pain.
In the bathroom Cordelia felt as though she was dying. Not again, she thought, not another morning of being sick. Maybe I'm coming down with something, she thought. Or not. She suspected what the problem was, she'd felt like this before. But she knew that it wasn't possible. She pushed the thought from her mind as she was sick again.
There was a knock at the door. "Are you okay?"
"Does it sound like I'm okay?" She muttered.
She heard him laugh. "I'll bring you some toast and water. We need to set off at six tonight. It's twelve right now so you've got plenty of time."
"You let me sleep while twelve?"
"It's okay, Fred's still sleeping. Wes decided to be kind to you two after Gunn told him in graphic detail about the state you too were in last night. I'll bring you some breakfast." She heard him leave the room and she sighed. She opened the bathroom door and grabbed her bag from the dresser. She locked the bathroom door behind her and took what she needed from her bag.
