A/N: I know there is already a lot time travel fanfic out there in the Angel fandom, but I thought I would try my hand at it. The story is set during Angel's 5th Season, but a lot of things are different. Here are a few things you should know in regards to both AtS & BtvS canon.
Ats Canon - There is no Connor, but Darla did come back and Angel staked her for biting Cordelia. Since there is no Connor, Wesley never betrayed the group and icky evil Cordy plot never happened. Cordelia stills ascends, but it's not by choice and when she comes back she is not evil. Faith is released from prison rather than escaping like she did in Season 4) The deal with Wolfram and Hart doesn't happen and the Hyperion is still the Fang Gang's home base.
BtvS Canon – In this universe Tara is still alive, but the bad Willow storyline does happen. Anya is also alive; she and Xander actually go through with the wedding. Angel does come to give Buffy the pendant, but leaves right after, so no cookie dough speech or kiss. Spike does end up dying as he did in finale, but is able to return the same way he did when reappeared on Angel. He meets up with Buffy instead of staying in Los Angeles. The Scooby gang ends up in Cleveland while Faith decides to go to LA to help out.
February 2004 –Los Angeles
It has taken them a while to get to this point, but Cordelia Chase and Angel were now married. Angel had gotten the courage to admit his feelings for Cordelia after their encounter at the ballet. He was terrified that she might not feel the same way, but to his relief she did. They managed to find a potion that made his soul permanent and they had been together ever since.
Of course there were a few hiccups. Dealing with Cordelia's demon powers hadn't been easy nor was her forced ascension to the higher realms. He wanted to take the Powers' heads off when he found out, but Cordelia managed to work out a deal where she was able to stay with him and work as a higher being. And now two years later they were husband and wife.
The wedding reception was in full swing and Angel had never been happier. The Hyperion lobby was decorated nicely and he looks around the room and sees his family and friends spread out. He sees Wesley and Faith talking and he has admit that it's still a bit of shock to see them as a couple considering their history, but they work well together. Lorne is having an animated conversation with Anya while Xander looks on somewhat perplexed with Willow and Tara. He also notices Buffy and Spike huddled together and smiles at Buffy when their eyes briefly meet. A few years ago if anyone had told him he could be in the same room with Buffy and not feel anything other than friendship and nostalgia, he would told them they were crazy. He's never been more glad to be wrong and he searches for a big reason why all this is possible.
Angel glances around and finally his eyes fall on Cordelia who is talking with Gunn and Fred. She looks beautiful standing there and je finds himself just soaking her in. She laughs and playful slaps Gunn on the shoulder and he can't help smile at the scene. Gunn and Fred eventually walk off to dance leaving Cordelia alone. He continues to stare at her and she eventually looks at him. She smiles at him and he takes that as he cue to go over to her.
Cordelia has just finished talking to Gunn and Fred when she feels Angel's eyes on her. She turns to look at him and her smile widens when he begins to walk towards her. He takes her hand wordlessly walks them into the office the door closes behind them.
"Isn't sneaking away from your own wedding reception a little clichéd?" Cordelia smiles not the least bit bothered.
Angel says nothing and closes the distance between them and takes her in his arms. His body is pressed hard against hers as he steers them further into the room. They stare hotly at each other for several moments until he breaks the stare by pressing her against the wall beside the door and gives her the kiss he has been holding all throughout the reception. His hands roamed, shaping her hips, her waist, her stomach, eventually landing on her breasts.
"Angel," she moans with some difficulty. "Someone… could… come... in..." she speaks in between kisses.
"They won't if they know what's good for them". Angel barely hears her, his only real thought is how good she feels. He can't stop touching her.
Cordelia moans against him, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck as she moves her hips against his. It is almost more than he can handle. He decides he has to have her right now.
"Why is this dress so hard to move?," he whines as he attempts to maneuver her wedding dress, and it makes her laugh. Angel leans in and starts to kiss her neck when they hear a loud crash coming from the lobby.
They reluctantly separate and Angel opens the door to see what's going on. The two rush out of the office and that's when they notice an open portal with demons surrounding it.
"No special day is complete without some kind of demon attack." Cordelia murmurs sarcastically. "It only makes sense that our wedding is included in this".
"At least, they waited until after the ceremony. With our luck you know it could have been worse." Angel says trying to cheer her up.
She laughs a little and they both rush over to weapons cabinet to help out the others who are steadily fighting off the demons. They get down to the last demon when the portal suddenly gets brighter and gives off a shockwave that knocks everyone to the ground.
Once the portal closes Angel is the first to stand up. He looks around for Cordelia and frowns when he doesn't see her. "Cordy?"
November 1998 - Sunnydale
Buffy, Xander, and Willow are sitting in the library listening to Giles discuss a new demon that's on the loose, when suddenly a bright light appears. Buffy jumps up into action, but the light flickers out just as quickly as it appeared. When everything settles Buffy notices a woman in a wedding dress that looks very familiar. "Cordelia?" Buffy says shocked.
Cordelia looks up when she hears Buffy say her name expecting to see the Buffy that attended her wedding. Instead she sees the Buffy she went to high school and she knows something must have gone wrong.
"Oh crap not again." She sighs and looks at younger Scooby gang. She smiles slightly and decides bite the bullet. "Hi guys."