A/N: I'm beginning the story using dialog from the end of WITW but then I'm taking the story in another direction. So, no Groo.

--

Cordy was still reeling from everything that had happened at the ballet. She could have gotten over her and Angel's possession and what had almost happened except for the fact that for her it wasn't all fake. She really felt those feelings the ballerina felt but unlike the ballerina Cordy's feelings were not returned. When Angel came toward her as she stood in the Lobby of the hotel. She tried to look busy dusting off her ruined dress.

"Do you think I can still return it? Because otherwise we're gonna have to take on a lot more cases," Cordy said trying to lighten the mood.

"Cordy," Angel said and Cordy knew he wanted to talk about what had happened at the ballet.

"You know, we should probably just not talk about our little adventure. Anything that might have been seen, anything that might have been, oh perky," Cordy said trying to laugh it off.

"I just wanna pretend it never happened," Angel said.

"Exactly," Cordy agreed. She hated knowing what it felt like to kiss him and be in his arms and have the knowledge it wouldn't ever happen again.

Angel nodded, "Wipe it from my memory."

That hurt Cordy's pride. She may not be the love of Angel's life, but she was a hottie, "What? Was it like disgusting?"

"No! I, ah... I would, I would just want... If we were to... I would just want it to be... new. Start at the beginning."

"Lost me in the middle," Cordy said trying her best to pretend she didn't understand what he was trying to say to her; pretending she didn't care that he was trying to let her down easy.

"Cordy you and I, we've been working together for a long time." Angel began.

Cordy laughed slightly trying to be nonchalant.

"What I mean is, you've become a truly extraordinary woman..." Angel continued and Cordy couldn't help smiling at that even if this was Angel's "Gee Cordy I think you're great and I'm attracted to you but I don't love you" speech.

Cordy wished he could stop talking right then and there but he continued, "I know we haven't always gotten along, but I think that we, you know, we..."

Cordy was relieved when she got the vision interrupting Angel's speech and forcing him to go out and save someone. It gave her the opportunity to escape the hotel with her pride intact. She hoped that would be the end of that and she and Angel would be able to avoid any more awkwardness.

--

Angel was in the mood to kill when he confronted the demon in Cordy's vision. He'd finally worked up the nerve to tell her how he felt and then she'd had the vision. He'd wanted to stay with Cordy despite the vision but when he hesitated slightly before leaving the hotel Cordy gave him a look that told him the mission came first. He was wondering if it was some kind of sign when he entered his room at the Hyperion and went to check on his son. Maybe it was just wasn't meant to be for him and Cordy. Lorne watched him with a sympathetic grin.

"You'll see her in the morning," Lorne said. "You can tell her then."

Angel made no reply and was wondering if he should just let it all drop. There was so much he couldn't give Cordy. He made his decision then and there to let her go.

Lorne shook his head as he walk left Angel's room, "Maybe you're not as brave as I thought you were."

Angel made no reply and just lifted his tuxedo jacket from his bed. It smelled like Cordy.

--

Over the next week, Angel and Cordy avoided each other. Strangely Angel ended up spending more time with the group while Cordy retreated in to herself. They were all missing Cordy even though she was standing right there with them in the Lobby. The only time Cordy looked happy was when she was with Connor. Angel could tell something was weighing on her mind but he didn't know how to get her to talk to him. Angel rarely had secrets from Cordy, but she was always a mystery to him. It was something that frustrated and excited him about her.

Cordy had been thinking about her life and what she wanted. Once she'd wanted to marry a rich man and be taken care of. Then the dream changed as she did. She didn't need a rich man just a good, strong man who would love her as she loved him. He'd accept the visions and her unusual life. He'd love her just as she was. But some point she'd given up without being aware of it. She realized it had started when the doctor told her she was dying. She accepted she'd die alone, that she would never have children, and that her life was destined to not just hand her, her dreams. And now she knew she was going to live and now she could allow herself to dream again, but she didn't want to. She just wanted live her life. At anytime things could change for her. She had no idea what being half demon could do to her. She could die so easily one night while and she and her friends attempted to help the helpless.

At the precise moment when Cordy was most lost in thought, she bumped in to Wesley in the courtyard. He was also lost in thought.

"I'm sorry," Cordy said.

Wesley nodded absentminded.

"I'm sorry, Wes," Cordy said again.

This time he looked into her eyes and saw that she wasn't just talking about bumping into him. She was sorry she'd encouraged him to go after Fred who was now happily with Gunn.

"It's not your fault," Wes said. "You didn't know."

Cordy was annoyed with herself. She should have known not to get his hopes up. She thought her instincts were so on point. She'd been so wrong about Fred and Wesley.

"I wish I could say something to make this better for you," Cordy said. "But there isn't anything to say."

"No there isn't," Wesley said walking away.

"Wes," Cordy called after him.

He turned to look at her. Wesley had been so focused on Fred that it wasn't until that moment he realized Cordy was upset about something.

"Cordy, what is it?" he said sitting beside her on the bench.

"Do you remember the night you invited all of us over?" Cordy asked. "The night I had that vision about Billy."

"We talked," Wesley said. "You said you thought we were all meant to be alone. I didn't want to agree with you at the time but.."

"Don't you dare agree with me now," Cordy said. "I was wrong and you were right. We are all meant for each other in this almost family of ours."

Wesley shook his head, "It's a nice thought but..."

"But friendship and family aren't all you want right now," Cordy said with a bitter laugh. "I know how you feel."

Wesley was about to object because Cordy was a beautiful woman, and he believed that if she wanted a man she would have him. They sat together quietly just thinking. It was then Wesley realized Cordy was suffering from a broken heart just as he was. He'd suspected there was something between Cordy and Angel. Wesley figured Angel was out of reach for Cordy just as Fred was out of reach for him.

"Kiss me," Cordy said softly looking at him intently.

"Cordy, I.." Wesley began.

"I just need to know something," Cordy said leaning towards him there lips brushing together.

And so Wesley kissed her. It was the second kiss for them. The first kiss years ago in Sunnydale had been clumsy and lead them both to realize there could be nothing between them. This second kiss was different. There was no more clumsy fumbling. There was a comfort and understanding in this kiss.

Cordy pulled away from him and smiled, "You've gotten better at that."

Wesley smiled at her, "I've always been good at that. But the first time around you scared the bloody hell out of me."

Cordy laughed and kissed him again. It was nice to have someone hold her.

"What are we doing?" Wes asked her when they stopped kissing long enough to breathe.

"Not being lonely,"Cordy said. "I figure the way we lead our lives our dating circle is limited."

"So you want to date cause there is nobody else," Wesley said trying his best to look offended when he was actually intrigued. "That's not a compliment."

"That's not the only reason," Cordy said. "If all I wanted was someone to cuddle with at night I could go to some bar. But I want a good man who could maybe understand me, who I could share things with. Who could be my friend and my lover. Someone who wouldn't bore me. You fit the bill. Not just anybody could. I think you want those same things."

"Well, you certainly aren't boring," Wesley said wrapping his arm around her. "But I love you Cordy. I don't think we can play this kind of game and not hurt each other."

"This isn't a game," Cordy said stubbornly. "I want to just see if it could happen between us. If it can't, we'll always be friends and know at least we really tried to have that connection with someone."

It was tempting. Wesley wondered if that could happen. Could they fall in love just because they wanted to be in love? Just because they no longer wanted to love the people who were out of their reach.

"Love happens or it doesn't, Cordy," Wesley said. "It can't be forced."

"It wouldn't be forced," Cordy said. "We'd give it a try and if we felt nothing that would be the end of it. When we kissed did you feel nothing?"

"I felt something," Wesley admitted.

"Me too," Cordy said and suddenly Wesley was kissing her again and they were both laughing because suddenly they both had hope again.

It was the laughter that got Angel's attention. It had been too long since he heard Cordy laugh. He stood in the doorway because the sunlight prevented him from joining Wesley and Cordy in the courtyard. What Angel saw stunned him. Cordy was suddenly in Wesley's lap giving him a tight hug. And then Wesley was brushing the hair of out of Cordy's face.

"Let's go out tonight?" Wesley suggested.

"Like a date?" Cordy asked thinking it over. "I don't know. I have this tight ass boss who probably won't give me the night off."

Angel growled as he stood there helpless listening to Wesley and Cordy's conversation. He wanted to stop this. Cordy could not be with Wesley. She couldn't be with anyone but Angel.

"Tight ass?" Wesley repeated trying not to laugh. "The boss and I are close. You can have your night off."

She gave him a quick kiss on the lips and leap out of his lap.

"I have to go get ready," she said running back in to the lobby and right in to Angel.

"What's wrong?" she asked seeing the anger in Angel's eyes.

There were dozens of angry things Angel wanted to say. There were dozens of actions he wanted to take. Starting with ripping Wesley's head off and then grabbing Cordy fucking her until she knew she was his and his alone.

But all he said was, "I've got to check on Connor." and then he walked up the stairs leaving Cordy to wonder what was wrong.