Part 03

All You Have To Do Is Smile

Part 3

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NOTE: A special thanks to Jay who described Ireland to me with such captivating beauty that I could only use those exact words.

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Angel stared into her eyes, searching for something, anything to explain the wild look on her face. Her eyes were wide and teary.

"Cordy, what did you see?" he asked as he continued to rub her arms. He leaned back against the tree, pulling her closer, clutching her into him as she shivered uncontrollably. She had almost hit the ground and he had almost let her, had almost been unable to stop it. He had felt completely vulnerable for the first time in almost 200 years and he didn't like the feeling. How could he possibly protect her now?

"Danger."

"For who?" he asked, looking down at her, "Us?" She nodded and his heart began to race. Was this what fear felt like? Was this what it felt like to be vulnerable?

"I watched you die," He tilted her chin up and gazed into her eyes, "He had a gun. He shot you and I watched you die."

Again that feeling surfaced, the confusion of the familiarity clouding his fears as he searched his memories. He knew something. Problem was, he didn't know what he knew.

"Angel?" Cordelia's voice shook him from his reverie.

"Sorry,"

"What is it?" she frowned. "You went into brood mode again."

He smiled a little, "Sorry, II remembersomething,"

"Oh, well, that's helpful."

He smiled before frowning in concentration again, "II know there's something but"

"But?"

"But all I feel is, well, déjà vu,"

"You mean about the surroundings, right?"

"No, I mean about everythingincluding you."

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Cordelia groaned and lay her head against his chest feeling him chuckle. She smiled as she listened to the low thumping of his beating heart and snuggled closer into his warmth.

"So, what does that mean?"

"I wish I knew, "he sighed. "I just know I've done this before, I can feel it."

"Before, when we were back in the hotel. You know, with the hot running water, nice clothes, less"

"Cordelia."

"Sorry." She grinned impishly. "Anyway, you said you remembered. When I picked up the drawing, you said you'd forgotten but it was all up there." She lay a hand against the side of his head to emphasize her point.

"What drawing?" Angel asked, leaning into her hand. He frowned and Cordelia couldn't help but worry at the slight Irish lilt to his voice.

"Oh, no. You are not going all cave man on me, Angel. You're going to stay you. Do you hear me? You stay you."

Angel smiled, "I'm okay Cordelia, things are just a little fuzzy at the moment, that's all. Nothin' fer you to worry 'bout, precious,"

"That's not funny."

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Cordelia watched the scenery roll by. This was quite possibly one of the most beautiful places on earth, well the most beautiful place she had ever seen. Its rustic beauty called to her, wild and untamed. It held a charm known to no other place. She inhaled the sweet scent, the gentle smell of flowers that wafted through the cool breeze. She was sure she could stay here forever, allow herself to be captivated by the wonder of this place.

She glanced at Angel, the contented look on his face making her smile. He was home. But was this truly his home? Did this place hold something for him that she didn't? That she couldn't?


She ignored the tears stinging her eyes and smiled sadly at the scenery. Sighing, she closed her eyes again, breathing in the freedom of the passing green hills.

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"Be careful," she hissed, pulling him down behind the large, moss covered wall, "Don't you remember the hissy fit I had about the gun about an hour ago?"

"Sorry," he smiled reassuringly,

"Do we have to do this?"

"We need to get you some clothes."

"But stealing from an old lady?"

"Look, you need clothes and she probebly has more than she'll ever need."

Cordelia sighed, "Sure, fine." she frowned, "What about money?"

"Well, the old lady's rich, too."

"You're not suggesting that we steal her money as well as her clothes?" she asked incredulously.

"Well, not exactly"

"Angel, we are not robbing an old lady."

"But"

"No."

He took one look at her hardened expression and sighed, "I only thought you could pretend to be a relative."

She raised her eyebrows, "Who just happened to turn up on her doorstep wearing one of the dresses she's just had stolen?"

"Good point." He scanned the area once more, quickly ducking as an elderly man walked across the grounds to the house. The gun tucked under his arm urged Angel to stay well hidden.

"That's him. That's the man with the itchy trigger finger."

"Actually, that would be my fault."

"He shot you with no reason and no warning, Angel. I saw itI felt it."

"Actually, there kinda was a warning"

"What?"

"Well, he gave me fair warning to keep out of his sights or he would shoot me." He frowned, "Guess he meant it."

"What did you do?" she asked, staring him down, causing him to shift uncomfortably.

"Ihis granddaughterwell, she was prettyand, well"

"You being the whoring drunk that you are made a pass at her."

"Oh, it was more than a pass."

"Ugh, men," she rolled her eyes and glanced over the wall again, "We might be here for a while. Unless you plan to rob this old lady in broad daylight."

"Would you stop that?"

"Stop what?" she asked, sitting back against the wall next to him.

"Trying to make me feel guilty. It's not going to work."

"Then why does it bother you?" she asked crossing her arms and raising her eyebrows, "If it's not going to work, why are you so bothered?"

"Because you're annoying me."

"I'm annoying you?"

"Yes,"

"I'm annoying you?"

"Look can we just drop this?"

"No, Mister broody and, oh, so tortured I can't even tell my best friend what's got me down, we can not."

"Ugh, this is going to be a long day."

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"Ouch!"

"Will you be quiet? We're going to get caught."

"Well, I'm sorry, but I'm not exactly a master thief!"

"Stop being such a baby and get up here."

"Do you realize how high this is? I could fall and break my neck."

"That'd be the quieter option. Now get that cute little hiney of yours up here, NOW. This was your idea, remember." Cordelia groaned as she watched Angel grasping onto the tree like a cat at fifty feet.

"You're like five feet off the ground!" she hissed as he slowly made his way towards her. He stopped, turned and glared.

"I'm alive now Cordelia, if I break something, I won't heal as fast." He turned back to the tree and began his slow ascent.

"Ugh, this is going to be a long night,"

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Slowly they creeped across the roof top, the shadows dancing ominously in the wind. The cool air brushed by them as they held on for their lives, their hearts racing as they approached the window.

Peering inside, Cordelia held her breath. The splendor of the large room was etched into every wall, carved into every beautiful wood surface. She gasped as the gold lined box on top of the dresser caught her eye, it's hard elegance drawing her in. The beautiful rustic look of the old-fashioned poster bed set the room of in its mirage of colour and style. This was her idea of heaven.

"Cordelia."

"What?" she looked at him and was instantly curious. His face was contorted and she couldn't quite tell if it was from pain or laughter.

"Angel, what?"

"Llook." He pointed to the window and she turned, instantly pulling herself away as she spotted the form of the old woman. Although she didn't look as frail as Angel had described her. The pink gown was splendidly embroidered with gold thread and the sheer elegance of it glowed. The material appeared to be fine silk and the design was so intricate that she could almost see the painstaking accuracy and time placed into the stitching. The woman had in place a cap made of the same exquisite detail. Cordelia watched as the woman began to turn, pushing herself closer to Angel as they both moved out of the light.

"That's the old oh my God,"

Cordelia began to laugh as Angel grabbed hold of her ankles to prevent her from slipping completely off the roof. However, they were both laughing so hard that she was almost dropped to the ground. Cordelia put her hand over her mouth to stop a high pitched squeal. The blood was rushing to her head and there was a slight pain in her ankle as Angel attempted to keep a firm grasp, as he, too, fought against laughter.

"CorCordelia," Angel gasped, "Keep still or I'll drop you," He laughed. "I don't have vampire strength anymore, remember."

"Ookay," she giggled as he tried to pull her up, dragging her along the roof, ending up on top of her. "Do you think Gunn would have agreed to this knowing he was gonna end up in a petticoat and little pointy shoes?" Cordelia asked as they started to laugh. Angel tried to keep himself propped up enough that he wasn't actually crushing her.

"I don't think that's actually Gunn. The spell was only for you to enter."

"Oh, so their part of the spell works but I get stuck in 18th Century Ireland."

"Remember that they were only supposed to be guides. Only their images would enter."

"Yeah, that's one hell of an image," Cordelia said as they snickered, watching as 'Gunn' pulled up his pantyhose. A moment later, heshe left the room but Angel remained where he was, gazing down at Cordelia, his weight pressing into her.

He cleared his throat and pulled away, taking her with him as they returned to their positions right against the window. She turned to look at him as he stared back into the room. The light was playing with the contours of his face, lightly skipping across every chiseled detail. She studied him. Alive, breathing, warm.

He hadn't made any mention of the reason they were actually there. Whether she wanted to squeeze Wesley's scrawny little neck or not, she felt that they should take the opportunity to figure what was wrong. To at least try. After she was properly dressed of course.

He was her best friend and she owed it to him. She gazed at him, watching the light sparkle in his eyes, but it wasn't alone. There was something else there. Something that she rarely saw. That gentle glimpse of happiness, that glint of laughter.

"Cordelia?" She blinked herself back to reality and gave him an embarrassed smile. She had been caught staring at himagain. Her only saving grace was that she hadn't been drooling. She quickly checked. Nope, drool free.

"You ready?"

"If I say no, can we leave?"

"No."

"Okay then, I'm ready," Cordelia huffed, watching as he struggled to pry the window from it's frame. He grunted in frustration, thumping his hands against the wall.

"Yeah, Angel, way to go. Let's let everybody know we're trying to rob the nice old lady," She rolled her eyes. "If you're like this now, while it's temporarily, I can't wait till you Shanshu."

He glared at her before stopping suddenly, all emotion draining from his face. She watched as he turned back to the window, his face almost as pale as when he was a vampire. He gripped onto the edge of the window frame, his knuckles white from the force of his grasp.

"Angel?" she asked tentatively, "Angel, what's wrong?"

"What if this is it," he said softly, his eyes downcast, "What if this is what the scroll meant about being my alivewhat is this is my Shanshu."

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END PART 3

Well, still like where it's going?!!! ;)