"Easy Cordy, come on let me help." A voice desperately pleaded.
There was an exaggerated sigh complemented by a small growl. "Angel, I. Do. Not. Need. A. Wheelchair. I can walk fine."
"Cordelia, don't argue with me. You died, you know. The doctor's said lots of rest and painkillers will have you right as rain in no time." Angel said, knowing he was lying to himself as well as Cordelia.
"Great...I'm starting to get in on the Buffy act. Angel, all I want is to see Connor and then go to Starbucks and have my Grande skinny Latte. Then, when we have save Buffy the Vamp Layer, we can all go home to our lives and our Host."
"Cordy, I want to send you back to LA. You've had the vision and now you need to go and see the doctors in LA."
Cordelia hoisted herself out of the chair and shook Angel off as he tried to help her up. "Only I know where the vision will lead. There were no instruction to this one and the sooner you realise that I'm the key player in this fight, the better. I am not some doll you can wrap up. I collapsed Angel; I don't have some terminal illness. Cut the apron strings, much."
Angel was about to force his Seer to sit back down when Buffy walked in, Connor in her arms. "Cordelia, you're home."
"Well duh Buffy. I was stealing your act, you know, dying and coming back to life." Her attention turned to the little baby in Buffy's arms. "How is my little boy? Mommy's missed you so much you know. I heard you were chatting up all the nurses. Has daddy been taking good care of you?"
Cordelia walked over and took the carrier from Buffy's hands and struggled carrying the chair before placing it quickly on the sofa. Connor was scooped into the Seer's arms and his placid smile was replaced by a gurgling smile. She rubbed his tummy and was rewarded with a giggle and his tiny hands clasping around her fingers. Cordelia could feel her heart breaking on the spot. Every giggle and every smile was committed to memory because a photograph was yet another thing she couldn't take with her. Her hope was that she would be allowed to watch over them when she was gone, she was a Higher Being right...she'd kick their halo's from here to Kingdom Come...did they have halo's?
"Cordy? Cordelia? You were miles away. Do you wanna go grab a Starbucks then?" Buffy asked, her tone too sugar-sweet for Cordelia's liking but a Raspberry Frappatino sounded like heaven at the moment.
"But Cordelia has just come out of..."
"Why not." Cordelia interrupted, throwing a glare in Angel's direction. "You could do with some sleep, oh-creature-of-the-night and Connor could do with some bonafide sunshine. I'll grab my bag and we can go."
Buffy lifted Connor's carrier only to have it taken back by Cordelia, who stared at Buffy. Angel watched the two. Cordelia obviously wanted Connor close but she was becoming defensive against Buffy. It was not going to be easy for the two to work together.
The two girls left and Angel settled down into a full-on brood, staring at the ceiling as he lay in their bed. The covers still smelt of her fragrance, strawberries and vanilla from her shampoo. Her scent clung to everything, one day it will fade and what would he be left with? Memories? He had enough of those. His Son...Darla's son! She would be gone as if she never existed. Memories would be all he had them. Her face would be the first thing he woke too and when she was gone...he didn't even want to think about that. The door slamming downstairs drew him out of the brood; Cordelia's voice beckoned him.
"Angel, I know you're brooding so get your un-sunned butt down here now." She could him fall from the bed and scramble for the door. "See, gets him every time." She muttered to Connor.
"What...what's going on...where is it?" Angel shouted, running down stairs with a Hungarian Axe in his hands.
"Calm Mr. Gun-Ho. It's tonight. The battle in my visions. I'll know exactly when I get there. I think..."
"There is no way you are going to this battle Cordelia. You have just come out of hospital. I WILL NOT let you."
"Who turned you into a caveman and my KEEPER?" Cordelia shouted back. "I will be going Angel. You can do this the hard way or the easy way and trust me the hard way will be your worst nightmare." She stood with her hands on her hips, her eyebrow raised in defiance.
"Who's going to look after Connor?" Angel smirked...his Ace card.
Cordelia smiled just as deviously back. "Hello Angelcakes!" The unmistakable camp voice came behind him. "I am here to take care of the Muffin Jr."
"That was low...and Lorne...stop calling my son pastries! Right Cordelia, you lead the way but STAY OUT OF THE FIGHTING!" Angel emphasized.
"Yes daddy. Now I 'suggest' you get the gang here and Buffy and Co. as well. We're gonna need all the back up on all front. Tell Wes to research the Garola Cult. Try mid 14th Century. Willow is going to need to bring out the big spells, also a sealant spell, similar to the one that closed the Hellmouth back at Graduation." Cordelia sat down, suddenly exhausted by dishing out the orders. She kept the smile on her face and prayed that nobody noticed...they did.
LATER THAT NIGHT - 9pmish:
Wesley sat around the table with Xander, and Giles. Willow was turning a glowing globe over her hands, testing and studying it with great concentration. Lorne was sitting in the other corner playing in with Connor. Grunts and groans signified that Spike, Angel and Buffy were training in the basement, the sound of things smashing and the sparking of metal seeming a natural sound in the little magic shop off the main street. Cordelia watched them all, pulling Willow aside.
"Willow I really need you to do me a favour. I need a spell that would give me a little more energy, just to see me through the night. All this Hellmouth hunting is wearing me out. Don't tell Angel though."
Willow diverted her eyes to the floor. "Cordy, I don't do magic on humans anymore. I got in way over my head and..."
"Willow, please I need this. Just for tonight. This is about saving Buffy's life and I can't do that if I am so tired I can't take a step. Now just do the spell and it will be out little secret. Cordelia grimaced at her own statement. It made it sound dirty and false...Willow was just saving her life for a little longer.
Willow solemnly nodded and pulled Cordelia away, clutching some herbs to her purse. "Me and Cordy are just gonna take a walk OK. Anybody want Coffee?"
Several hands went up, Willow took note 'be as natural as possible' ringing through her head. Willow took Cordelia to the meadow near one of the cemeteries. The Vampires didn't come here, the Slayers favourite killing ground. The candles burned gently in the breeze, the flames unaffected by the summer breeze. Herbs scented the early evening air. Cordelia stood in the candle circle, Willow standing in front of her, her eyes closed in concentration. As suddenly as Willow had begun, she stopped and Cordelia felt more alive and ready to run a marathon.
"I gave you some of my energy. I am a Wicca; I take energy from around me. Now it should last a few days but I wouldn't recommend anything like running the New York Marathon or anything to strenuous like that. I don't understand why you need it though." Willow asked concerned.
"Willow, I'm a mom and a Seer, the visions are hard going and I just need a little pick me up. I'll give you back your energy as soon as possible."
Willow gathered up the candles. "Nah, just call it a gift. You know, it is great to have you here. E-mails aren't the same as seeing you. I'm really sorry about the Xander thing..."
Cordelia held up her hand. "It's OK Will, forgotten and put behind me. You couldn't help what you felt."
"I know but I never really said Sorry to you. I just wanted to...with what's coming up."
The women walked back in silence to the shop, three latte's, two cappuccinos and two Earl Grey tea's, in their hands. For the first time in a while Cordelia felt at a slight peace, it was comforting. Everyone was still sitting in the same positions except Buffy, Spike and Angel had emerged from the basement, and Angel was trying to feed a fussy Connor. Cordelia placed the cups on the table and took the bottle and Connor from Angel's arms. Connor settled down straight away, cooing gently in his adoptive mommy's arms. Buffy looked on, jealousy consuming her. Connor was meant to be her son, not Cordelia Chase's. She didn't deserve a baby, Buffy had died and saved the world countless times now she had been cheated out of the one reward she wanted.
"Hey, I've just realised that the little one is my uncle. I have an uncle that's 100 years younger than me. That's bloody marvellous."
Cordelia growled. "God no, please tell me he's wrong. My son will not have a bloody-sucking, bleach-hair, smoking uncle with a habit of being undead." She looked at Angel for support but Angel simply cocked his head to the side.
"Well technically he is. I sired Drucilla who then sired Spike. So that makes me Spikes 'grandfather' and any children have are his uncles and aunts!"
"Poor kid is gonna have one hell of an up bringing. Spike can educate him in history with all the blood baths he caused. Lorne can woo our baby to sleep with his lovely tones of 'Stand By Me' and tell him what the answers to the next days math test is gonna be. We have an auntie who could teach him particles physics in two days and an uncle who is an expert shot. At least he is going to be well taken care of." Cordelia looked to the ground in sadness but a split second later she looked up again, a pained 100-watt smile in place. "So are we ready for tonight?"
Small nods came from the preoccupied crowd that littered the Magic Box. There was tension in the air and nervousness was a common disorder among the group. Cordelia had stolen herself away to one of Giles's spare rooms off the shop and was sitting in quiet. The feeling was there, it was coming. The pain and the light's flooded through her head, it was like a fireworks display but there was no enjoyment in this one. She could feel the deep sense of loss and the pain of a death. The scene was blurry, like an out-of-focus picture. It was a familiar place to her though; she had been there recently. The cemetery where they had been to perform the energy spell? No, there was magic in the air but it was bad magic. Them it finished. The pain slammed into her, knocking her on the bed. A pillow had taken much of the screams, dulling them so no one would hear her. Cordelia looked in the mirror of the en-suite bathroom. Her face was paler than before, her eyes more sullen and empty. Things were falling away from her and fast.
*If I could
I would tell her
Not to be afraid
The pain that she's feeling
The sense of loneliness will fade
So dry your tears and rest assured
Love will find you like before
When she's looking back at me
I know nothing really works that easily*
Twenty minutes later, Cordelia emerged down stairs, her face more drained but coloured with make-up. Willow energy was holding steady. She was in more comfortable clothes: a pair of black jeans, slightly heeled boots, a red top and a black jacket pulled over top. Everyone was ready, the weapons distributed and the orbs all packed in a padded rucksack. They look like little soldiers that all lied about their age and were willing to fight for their country; full of naively and for longing at the challenge they faced. Lorne was down in the basement with Dawn who was happy to play with Conner some more. They holed up with two protection spells and two take-away pizzas. The Host and Co. were happy. The two groups set off, Cordelia and Angel at the head of it. There was no talking, the air thick with tension. Cordelia could feel the buzzing in her head getting louder; they were close. Angel could here Cordelia's heart beat increasing, the fear mixing with her scent, he didn't want her here. Her days weren't meant to be like this, fighting battles and facing evils. They were meant to be peaceful, happy memories, not in Sunnydale with the worlds hell beasts.
"You OK?" Angel asked tentatively. She didn't like being asked if she was OK all the time.
Cordelia turned around and smiled weakly at him. "Oh yeah, this is my idea of a great night out. Sorry, just with the buzzing in my head and all the mojo tension I am feeling a bit...just..."
"Scared?" Angel finished for her. "I know. You're doing well, with this and Sunnydale."
"Yeah. We need to talk about Connor later and about me playing mom here. I just wanna know..."
Xander tapped them both on the shoulder. "We're trying to be a bit stealth here so act all stealthy. It's your specialilty DeadBoy."
"Xander don't..." Cordelia started.
"Shhh." This time it was Willow and Giles together.
The buzzing in Cordelia's head got louder as they neared a clearing in the woods just off St. James Cemetery. They could hear a rabble anhead of them, like someone was having a party. Ahead they could now see a crowd of 10 Vampires sitting beside a fire, empty bottles stewn across the grass.
"Great, 10 drunk Vampires are going to kill me? I don't think." Buffy muttered. "Still melodramatic I see Cordelia."
Cordelia pulled a face at Buffy before joing Angel as they jumped into the fray. Angel dusted a Vampire and looked for Cordelia, expecting to see her on the forest edge, instead she was taking on to Vampires of her own.
"Cordelia, stay out of this." Angel shouted as the rain started to pour down on them. "You promised me."
Cordelia knew that tone, when this was over she was in BIG trouble. "Oh Angel, calm the big brother attitude, it's only Vampires." She emphasised the point by staking a Vampire. "Eww. Vampire dust sticks in the rain."
The 'battle' lasted 10 minutes with the 10 of them working together. Spike had managed to relieve some of his pent sexual tension and was now air- boxing to power himself up.
"So what happened to this Gladeola cult?" Buffy asked, hands on her hips and a pout playing at the side of her mouth.
"Garola" Angel, Cordelia, Giles and Wesley shouted at her. "They should be here, I seen them." Cordelia said, her voice disbelieving that the visions could be wrong.
"Well looks as if you were wrong for once..." Buffy argued.
Just as she finished her sentence the ground began to shake and10 gowned figures rose out of the ground, surrounding them in a circle. Their faces were covered, bowed to their chests. The cult were chanting.
"See. My visions are never wrong. I have seen a cult and a cult arise, with really bad fashion sense." Cordelia rambled; anything to stop the tired feeling seeping into her bones. The energy was fading fast.
The cult suddenly looked up at the group inside the circle. Their faces were human, all men around their 30's. Their chanting continued, getting louder and louder.
"OK, 10 verses 10, I say we take them on. All they do is chant." Buffy muttered, Spike agreeing with her.
"Chanting is a very powerful weapon Buffy, they could be calling a demon or extra power." Giles tried to reason but it was too late as Buffy and Spike jumped in and headed towards the two nearest members.
The members stood still until they were approached. The chanting stop in unison, arms were raised and hands revealed from under their robes. Buffy flew forward to punch the man but he matched her move for move, like they knew what to expect. Their eyes were closed, bodies still except for the blocking moves of their arms.
"Distraction, to need to distract their concentration. Angel, it was like with the blind girl." Cordelia shouted across the grass circle.
They paired up into two's, Spike and Buffy trying to agree on the best form of distraction, Welsey and Gunn fighting hard - the axe being swung at the mid-section-, Willow and Fred were trying a new spell and Giles and Xander were successfully wrestling their opponents to the ground. Cordelia and Angel were making headway with the three members that had attacked them. Cordelia was forcefully taking her anger out on a poor guy who had trod on her boots.
"Do you know how much these Gucci boots cost me? Well nothing, daddy bought me them. Have you no respect? Not only are we out in the pouring rain trying to kill you but also, this is doing nothing. For. My. Skin." She emphasized by heeling him as he tried to get back up from the sodden ground. "They were $800 and you think you can go tap -dancing all over them I think not!"
Angel was the first to kill a cult member. He wiped the goo from his jacket in disgust. "Since when did humans have green goo for blood?"
The others turned round and looked at him as the green goo ran through his fingers. Suddenly the swords started flying and the member numbers dropped until there was once left. Giles went towards him, Gunn's sword high in the air. Just as he brought it down on the lone mans neck, his arms raised and a shout of 'RISE' filled the air. The man had no sooner mattered the words then his body fell limply to the ground, his head rolled beside him.
"They rose, they saw, but they didn't conquer. I'm still alive. I would say your vision was wrong Cordelia." Buffy shouted triumphantly over the growing wind.
The ground started to shake again but not from the ground below them. Three defined thuds later, the source revealed it's self in a blaze of swirling leaves and thrashing trees.
"You had to open your big mouth, didn't you Slayer! Why for once couldn't you just keep your wise-ass comments to yourself?" Spike shouted at Buffy who had turned to him with her hands on her hips.
The two quickly engaged in a bickering fight. The others took up fighting stances and watched the 30ft demon with caution. It seemed to be studying them but its eyes, al six of them, were drawn to Spike and Buffy who were still arguing. It bent down close to them and roared at the top of its voice. Buffy and Spike were blown to the ground, both screwing their faces up in disgust of the demons breath.
"You are the Slayer." It spoke in a standard English accent. "I have come to take you to your Maker."
Buffy looked at him, her hands on her hip. "I've already met him.twice. The novelty has worn off." She took the first strike, easily blocked by his huge chubby hands.
Buffy signaled for the others to stand back, this was her battle. The battle began in earnest, the demon gaining the upper and hand and slowly tiring Buffy out. It's size made it less agile but the 360-degree rotation of its body more than made up for that. Buffy was on the ground more times than she was up. The demon pinned her leg under his foot claw and moved in to deliver ever the final blow. Buffy closed her eyes and waited for the pain that never came. She looked up and saw that the demon had rotated 180- degrees, his foot lifted off the ground. Buffy took her chance and rolled away to standing. She heard a muttered cry and the demon fell, a sword sticking out of his back. A light burst from the demon filling the whole graveyard with an atritfial day. The light beamed towards the sky, reaching through the cloud cover and into the heavens. Everybody's faces were eched in blue, all staring at the demon. Buffy followed their gaze and watched in half-horror and half-amazement as Cordelia was suspended in the light. The demon was gone, goo on the ground, instead Cordelia was twisted in the light, her eyes closed, face at peace. Wesleya nd Gunn struggled to hold Angel back as he tried to pull Cordelia from the light. Suddenly Cordelia's eyes opened and she drew in a sharp breath. The light intensity grew around her hands and head, as she moved her arms around finding it was easy to move around but she was unable to see out of the light. Her muscle felt stronger, the buzzing inside her head had stopped and it now filled with calm. The pain had stopped; soothing her as her body weightlessly hovered. As suddenly as it appeared the light disappeared leaving Cordelia floating, now able to see the surprised fighters staring at her.
"What, never seen someone hover before?" Cordelia said, looking at her feet. As soon as she let her concentration slip she fell to the earth. "Yah the Powers for the soft landing.NOT!"
Angel ran forward, followed by Wesley and Gunn, Fred hanging back, her brain ticking over time.
"You OK?" Angel asked brushing the dirt from Cordelia's face.
She looked at him with tender eyes. "Yeah. I mean I feel stronger, all muscley and no hed ache. The pain in my head is gone. No more weakness." She buried herself in Angel's chest. "I'm scared."
Angel sniffed the air. "You're not completely human Cora. You smell different." He watched his graceful Seer screw up her nose. "Stand here. Spike, hit her."
"Are you mad?" They both shouted at the same time.
"Angel, Spike has a chip, neutered, complete fluffy bunny-fied! He can't hit me.unless I'm part demon!"
Angel nodded and looked at Spike as if to say 'You disobey me!' Spike stepped forward. Well either way he would die tonight. The Slayer would beat on him for hurting Cordelia if he could and the cheerleader would beat on him for trying. Well best way to go fighting. He drew back his fist as Cordelia put up her arms to defend herself if he did break through. The tention hung in the air and not just from the LA crew, the Scxoobies had gathered around to watch as Spike drew his fist back and threw his weight behind the punch.
"Bloody Hell!" Spike hissed, cluching his fist. "That was one of your block Peaches."
Cordelia stood in stock horror as she rubbed her wrist were Spike had punched. She could here Angel shouting in the background but his voice blurred as the lights set through her brain like fireworks in the sky, the voices echoed around her head as she tried to concentrate on what they were whispering to her. Great now she sounded like Dru.
"Angel don't," She interrupted him once the vision had finished. "I know what's happened. I'm part demon. It was my reward. I saved their Slayer and I got my life back. No killer visions.they'll be painful like Doyle but they won't kill me. My brain is slowly healing. Oh My Gawd Angel, they're curing me."
They flung their arms around each other, their embrace deep and meaningful. Feelings that bubbled below the surface were slowly coming home and coming too close for comfort. They sprung apart.
"So how did you know?" Angel asked, his voice horse with emotion.
Cordelia looked at the love in his eyes, the love not for her. "I was.um.told in a vision just there. So I can fight the visions now." She looked away from him and at the ground. "You know Angel, me Wesley and Gunn are now capable of fighting the visions if you wanna stay. I mean I know that Buffy is here and stuff so you could help them out because by the look of Xander, they should sure as hell need it."
Angel looked at her confused. "Cora, don't say that. You know I wouldn't be happy to let you venture out untrained."
"I'm not untrained. Hell I'm nearly a Slayer. I am saying, I want you to be happy. I know Buffy makes you happy, more than happy, and you have an anchored soul you can go be happy all the time."
* When it's love you give - I'll be a man of good faith Then in love you'll live - I'll make a stand I won't break I'll be the rock you can build on - Be there when you're old To have and to hold That it's all for one and all for love Let the one you hold be the one you want - the one you need Cuz when it's all for one - it's one for all When there's someone that should know - Then just let your feelin's show And make it all for one - and all for love*
"Cora," He slid his hand softly. "You call me emotional blind. I love you, half-demon or not." It suddenly dawned on him that it was one sided. A pair of soft and moist lips upon his own silenced his thoughts. Claps came from the LA gang and a soft auww came from Willow as Angel pulled her away, letting her breathe.
"Knew you would get it eventually man. Seriously good catch!" Fred hit him softly on the arm. "Not compared to my Fred though!"
Wesley stepped up gingerly. "Congratulations you pair. I guess we can stop with the subtext at last then. It was getting terribly tedious." He laughed hoping Angel got the joke.
Angel shook Wesleys's hand and turned back to Cordelia. "Well I think we better go back. I have somethings I need to see to, just to be fully satisfied."
Cordelia and Angel smirked while Wesley buried his head in his hands and muttered a loud. "Oh Bloody Hell, not again."
They all laughed back, even a rather unhappy Buffy.
Sunnydale wasn't that bad after all.
*~~*~~*
I can't believe that was unrealistic. Email me a reply or leave a little review my profile if you liked!
Songs: Girl In The Mirror - Britney Spears (I don't know why I did it) All for One - Bryan Adams, Sting and Rod Stewart (All in one room..umm)
There was an exaggerated sigh complemented by a small growl. "Angel, I. Do. Not. Need. A. Wheelchair. I can walk fine."
"Cordelia, don't argue with me. You died, you know. The doctor's said lots of rest and painkillers will have you right as rain in no time." Angel said, knowing he was lying to himself as well as Cordelia.
"Great...I'm starting to get in on the Buffy act. Angel, all I want is to see Connor and then go to Starbucks and have my Grande skinny Latte. Then, when we have save Buffy the Vamp Layer, we can all go home to our lives and our Host."
"Cordy, I want to send you back to LA. You've had the vision and now you need to go and see the doctors in LA."
Cordelia hoisted herself out of the chair and shook Angel off as he tried to help her up. "Only I know where the vision will lead. There were no instruction to this one and the sooner you realise that I'm the key player in this fight, the better. I am not some doll you can wrap up. I collapsed Angel; I don't have some terminal illness. Cut the apron strings, much."
Angel was about to force his Seer to sit back down when Buffy walked in, Connor in her arms. "Cordelia, you're home."
"Well duh Buffy. I was stealing your act, you know, dying and coming back to life." Her attention turned to the little baby in Buffy's arms. "How is my little boy? Mommy's missed you so much you know. I heard you were chatting up all the nurses. Has daddy been taking good care of you?"
Cordelia walked over and took the carrier from Buffy's hands and struggled carrying the chair before placing it quickly on the sofa. Connor was scooped into the Seer's arms and his placid smile was replaced by a gurgling smile. She rubbed his tummy and was rewarded with a giggle and his tiny hands clasping around her fingers. Cordelia could feel her heart breaking on the spot. Every giggle and every smile was committed to memory because a photograph was yet another thing she couldn't take with her. Her hope was that she would be allowed to watch over them when she was gone, she was a Higher Being right...she'd kick their halo's from here to Kingdom Come...did they have halo's?
"Cordy? Cordelia? You were miles away. Do you wanna go grab a Starbucks then?" Buffy asked, her tone too sugar-sweet for Cordelia's liking but a Raspberry Frappatino sounded like heaven at the moment.
"But Cordelia has just come out of..."
"Why not." Cordelia interrupted, throwing a glare in Angel's direction. "You could do with some sleep, oh-creature-of-the-night and Connor could do with some bonafide sunshine. I'll grab my bag and we can go."
Buffy lifted Connor's carrier only to have it taken back by Cordelia, who stared at Buffy. Angel watched the two. Cordelia obviously wanted Connor close but she was becoming defensive against Buffy. It was not going to be easy for the two to work together.
The two girls left and Angel settled down into a full-on brood, staring at the ceiling as he lay in their bed. The covers still smelt of her fragrance, strawberries and vanilla from her shampoo. Her scent clung to everything, one day it will fade and what would he be left with? Memories? He had enough of those. His Son...Darla's son! She would be gone as if she never existed. Memories would be all he had them. Her face would be the first thing he woke too and when she was gone...he didn't even want to think about that. The door slamming downstairs drew him out of the brood; Cordelia's voice beckoned him.
"Angel, I know you're brooding so get your un-sunned butt down here now." She could him fall from the bed and scramble for the door. "See, gets him every time." She muttered to Connor.
"What...what's going on...where is it?" Angel shouted, running down stairs with a Hungarian Axe in his hands.
"Calm Mr. Gun-Ho. It's tonight. The battle in my visions. I'll know exactly when I get there. I think..."
"There is no way you are going to this battle Cordelia. You have just come out of hospital. I WILL NOT let you."
"Who turned you into a caveman and my KEEPER?" Cordelia shouted back. "I will be going Angel. You can do this the hard way or the easy way and trust me the hard way will be your worst nightmare." She stood with her hands on her hips, her eyebrow raised in defiance.
"Who's going to look after Connor?" Angel smirked...his Ace card.
Cordelia smiled just as deviously back. "Hello Angelcakes!" The unmistakable camp voice came behind him. "I am here to take care of the Muffin Jr."
"That was low...and Lorne...stop calling my son pastries! Right Cordelia, you lead the way but STAY OUT OF THE FIGHTING!" Angel emphasized.
"Yes daddy. Now I 'suggest' you get the gang here and Buffy and Co. as well. We're gonna need all the back up on all front. Tell Wes to research the Garola Cult. Try mid 14th Century. Willow is going to need to bring out the big spells, also a sealant spell, similar to the one that closed the Hellmouth back at Graduation." Cordelia sat down, suddenly exhausted by dishing out the orders. She kept the smile on her face and prayed that nobody noticed...they did.
LATER THAT NIGHT - 9pmish:
Wesley sat around the table with Xander, and Giles. Willow was turning a glowing globe over her hands, testing and studying it with great concentration. Lorne was sitting in the other corner playing in with Connor. Grunts and groans signified that Spike, Angel and Buffy were training in the basement, the sound of things smashing and the sparking of metal seeming a natural sound in the little magic shop off the main street. Cordelia watched them all, pulling Willow aside.
"Willow I really need you to do me a favour. I need a spell that would give me a little more energy, just to see me through the night. All this Hellmouth hunting is wearing me out. Don't tell Angel though."
Willow diverted her eyes to the floor. "Cordy, I don't do magic on humans anymore. I got in way over my head and..."
"Willow, please I need this. Just for tonight. This is about saving Buffy's life and I can't do that if I am so tired I can't take a step. Now just do the spell and it will be out little secret. Cordelia grimaced at her own statement. It made it sound dirty and false...Willow was just saving her life for a little longer.
Willow solemnly nodded and pulled Cordelia away, clutching some herbs to her purse. "Me and Cordy are just gonna take a walk OK. Anybody want Coffee?"
Several hands went up, Willow took note 'be as natural as possible' ringing through her head. Willow took Cordelia to the meadow near one of the cemeteries. The Vampires didn't come here, the Slayers favourite killing ground. The candles burned gently in the breeze, the flames unaffected by the summer breeze. Herbs scented the early evening air. Cordelia stood in the candle circle, Willow standing in front of her, her eyes closed in concentration. As suddenly as Willow had begun, she stopped and Cordelia felt more alive and ready to run a marathon.
"I gave you some of my energy. I am a Wicca; I take energy from around me. Now it should last a few days but I wouldn't recommend anything like running the New York Marathon or anything to strenuous like that. I don't understand why you need it though." Willow asked concerned.
"Willow, I'm a mom and a Seer, the visions are hard going and I just need a little pick me up. I'll give you back your energy as soon as possible."
Willow gathered up the candles. "Nah, just call it a gift. You know, it is great to have you here. E-mails aren't the same as seeing you. I'm really sorry about the Xander thing..."
Cordelia held up her hand. "It's OK Will, forgotten and put behind me. You couldn't help what you felt."
"I know but I never really said Sorry to you. I just wanted to...with what's coming up."
The women walked back in silence to the shop, three latte's, two cappuccinos and two Earl Grey tea's, in their hands. For the first time in a while Cordelia felt at a slight peace, it was comforting. Everyone was still sitting in the same positions except Buffy, Spike and Angel had emerged from the basement, and Angel was trying to feed a fussy Connor. Cordelia placed the cups on the table and took the bottle and Connor from Angel's arms. Connor settled down straight away, cooing gently in his adoptive mommy's arms. Buffy looked on, jealousy consuming her. Connor was meant to be her son, not Cordelia Chase's. She didn't deserve a baby, Buffy had died and saved the world countless times now she had been cheated out of the one reward she wanted.
"Hey, I've just realised that the little one is my uncle. I have an uncle that's 100 years younger than me. That's bloody marvellous."
Cordelia growled. "God no, please tell me he's wrong. My son will not have a bloody-sucking, bleach-hair, smoking uncle with a habit of being undead." She looked at Angel for support but Angel simply cocked his head to the side.
"Well technically he is. I sired Drucilla who then sired Spike. So that makes me Spikes 'grandfather' and any children have are his uncles and aunts!"
"Poor kid is gonna have one hell of an up bringing. Spike can educate him in history with all the blood baths he caused. Lorne can woo our baby to sleep with his lovely tones of 'Stand By Me' and tell him what the answers to the next days math test is gonna be. We have an auntie who could teach him particles physics in two days and an uncle who is an expert shot. At least he is going to be well taken care of." Cordelia looked to the ground in sadness but a split second later she looked up again, a pained 100-watt smile in place. "So are we ready for tonight?"
Small nods came from the preoccupied crowd that littered the Magic Box. There was tension in the air and nervousness was a common disorder among the group. Cordelia had stolen herself away to one of Giles's spare rooms off the shop and was sitting in quiet. The feeling was there, it was coming. The pain and the light's flooded through her head, it was like a fireworks display but there was no enjoyment in this one. She could feel the deep sense of loss and the pain of a death. The scene was blurry, like an out-of-focus picture. It was a familiar place to her though; she had been there recently. The cemetery where they had been to perform the energy spell? No, there was magic in the air but it was bad magic. Them it finished. The pain slammed into her, knocking her on the bed. A pillow had taken much of the screams, dulling them so no one would hear her. Cordelia looked in the mirror of the en-suite bathroom. Her face was paler than before, her eyes more sullen and empty. Things were falling away from her and fast.
*If I could
I would tell her
Not to be afraid
The pain that she's feeling
The sense of loneliness will fade
So dry your tears and rest assured
Love will find you like before
When she's looking back at me
I know nothing really works that easily*
Twenty minutes later, Cordelia emerged down stairs, her face more drained but coloured with make-up. Willow energy was holding steady. She was in more comfortable clothes: a pair of black jeans, slightly heeled boots, a red top and a black jacket pulled over top. Everyone was ready, the weapons distributed and the orbs all packed in a padded rucksack. They look like little soldiers that all lied about their age and were willing to fight for their country; full of naively and for longing at the challenge they faced. Lorne was down in the basement with Dawn who was happy to play with Conner some more. They holed up with two protection spells and two take-away pizzas. The Host and Co. were happy. The two groups set off, Cordelia and Angel at the head of it. There was no talking, the air thick with tension. Cordelia could feel the buzzing in her head getting louder; they were close. Angel could here Cordelia's heart beat increasing, the fear mixing with her scent, he didn't want her here. Her days weren't meant to be like this, fighting battles and facing evils. They were meant to be peaceful, happy memories, not in Sunnydale with the worlds hell beasts.
"You OK?" Angel asked tentatively. She didn't like being asked if she was OK all the time.
Cordelia turned around and smiled weakly at him. "Oh yeah, this is my idea of a great night out. Sorry, just with the buzzing in my head and all the mojo tension I am feeling a bit...just..."
"Scared?" Angel finished for her. "I know. You're doing well, with this and Sunnydale."
"Yeah. We need to talk about Connor later and about me playing mom here. I just wanna know..."
Xander tapped them both on the shoulder. "We're trying to be a bit stealth here so act all stealthy. It's your specialilty DeadBoy."
"Xander don't..." Cordelia started.
"Shhh." This time it was Willow and Giles together.
The buzzing in Cordelia's head got louder as they neared a clearing in the woods just off St. James Cemetery. They could hear a rabble anhead of them, like someone was having a party. Ahead they could now see a crowd of 10 Vampires sitting beside a fire, empty bottles stewn across the grass.
"Great, 10 drunk Vampires are going to kill me? I don't think." Buffy muttered. "Still melodramatic I see Cordelia."
Cordelia pulled a face at Buffy before joing Angel as they jumped into the fray. Angel dusted a Vampire and looked for Cordelia, expecting to see her on the forest edge, instead she was taking on to Vampires of her own.
"Cordelia, stay out of this." Angel shouted as the rain started to pour down on them. "You promised me."
Cordelia knew that tone, when this was over she was in BIG trouble. "Oh Angel, calm the big brother attitude, it's only Vampires." She emphasised the point by staking a Vampire. "Eww. Vampire dust sticks in the rain."
The 'battle' lasted 10 minutes with the 10 of them working together. Spike had managed to relieve some of his pent sexual tension and was now air- boxing to power himself up.
"So what happened to this Gladeola cult?" Buffy asked, hands on her hips and a pout playing at the side of her mouth.
"Garola" Angel, Cordelia, Giles and Wesley shouted at her. "They should be here, I seen them." Cordelia said, her voice disbelieving that the visions could be wrong.
"Well looks as if you were wrong for once..." Buffy argued.
Just as she finished her sentence the ground began to shake and10 gowned figures rose out of the ground, surrounding them in a circle. Their faces were covered, bowed to their chests. The cult were chanting.
"See. My visions are never wrong. I have seen a cult and a cult arise, with really bad fashion sense." Cordelia rambled; anything to stop the tired feeling seeping into her bones. The energy was fading fast.
The cult suddenly looked up at the group inside the circle. Their faces were human, all men around their 30's. Their chanting continued, getting louder and louder.
"OK, 10 verses 10, I say we take them on. All they do is chant." Buffy muttered, Spike agreeing with her.
"Chanting is a very powerful weapon Buffy, they could be calling a demon or extra power." Giles tried to reason but it was too late as Buffy and Spike jumped in and headed towards the two nearest members.
The members stood still until they were approached. The chanting stop in unison, arms were raised and hands revealed from under their robes. Buffy flew forward to punch the man but he matched her move for move, like they knew what to expect. Their eyes were closed, bodies still except for the blocking moves of their arms.
"Distraction, to need to distract their concentration. Angel, it was like with the blind girl." Cordelia shouted across the grass circle.
They paired up into two's, Spike and Buffy trying to agree on the best form of distraction, Welsey and Gunn fighting hard - the axe being swung at the mid-section-, Willow and Fred were trying a new spell and Giles and Xander were successfully wrestling their opponents to the ground. Cordelia and Angel were making headway with the three members that had attacked them. Cordelia was forcefully taking her anger out on a poor guy who had trod on her boots.
"Do you know how much these Gucci boots cost me? Well nothing, daddy bought me them. Have you no respect? Not only are we out in the pouring rain trying to kill you but also, this is doing nothing. For. My. Skin." She emphasized by heeling him as he tried to get back up from the sodden ground. "They were $800 and you think you can go tap -dancing all over them I think not!"
Angel was the first to kill a cult member. He wiped the goo from his jacket in disgust. "Since when did humans have green goo for blood?"
The others turned round and looked at him as the green goo ran through his fingers. Suddenly the swords started flying and the member numbers dropped until there was once left. Giles went towards him, Gunn's sword high in the air. Just as he brought it down on the lone mans neck, his arms raised and a shout of 'RISE' filled the air. The man had no sooner mattered the words then his body fell limply to the ground, his head rolled beside him.
"They rose, they saw, but they didn't conquer. I'm still alive. I would say your vision was wrong Cordelia." Buffy shouted triumphantly over the growing wind.
The ground started to shake again but not from the ground below them. Three defined thuds later, the source revealed it's self in a blaze of swirling leaves and thrashing trees.
"You had to open your big mouth, didn't you Slayer! Why for once couldn't you just keep your wise-ass comments to yourself?" Spike shouted at Buffy who had turned to him with her hands on her hips.
The two quickly engaged in a bickering fight. The others took up fighting stances and watched the 30ft demon with caution. It seemed to be studying them but its eyes, al six of them, were drawn to Spike and Buffy who were still arguing. It bent down close to them and roared at the top of its voice. Buffy and Spike were blown to the ground, both screwing their faces up in disgust of the demons breath.
"You are the Slayer." It spoke in a standard English accent. "I have come to take you to your Maker."
Buffy looked at him, her hands on her hip. "I've already met him.twice. The novelty has worn off." She took the first strike, easily blocked by his huge chubby hands.
Buffy signaled for the others to stand back, this was her battle. The battle began in earnest, the demon gaining the upper and hand and slowly tiring Buffy out. It's size made it less agile but the 360-degree rotation of its body more than made up for that. Buffy was on the ground more times than she was up. The demon pinned her leg under his foot claw and moved in to deliver ever the final blow. Buffy closed her eyes and waited for the pain that never came. She looked up and saw that the demon had rotated 180- degrees, his foot lifted off the ground. Buffy took her chance and rolled away to standing. She heard a muttered cry and the demon fell, a sword sticking out of his back. A light burst from the demon filling the whole graveyard with an atritfial day. The light beamed towards the sky, reaching through the cloud cover and into the heavens. Everybody's faces were eched in blue, all staring at the demon. Buffy followed their gaze and watched in half-horror and half-amazement as Cordelia was suspended in the light. The demon was gone, goo on the ground, instead Cordelia was twisted in the light, her eyes closed, face at peace. Wesleya nd Gunn struggled to hold Angel back as he tried to pull Cordelia from the light. Suddenly Cordelia's eyes opened and she drew in a sharp breath. The light intensity grew around her hands and head, as she moved her arms around finding it was easy to move around but she was unable to see out of the light. Her muscle felt stronger, the buzzing inside her head had stopped and it now filled with calm. The pain had stopped; soothing her as her body weightlessly hovered. As suddenly as it appeared the light disappeared leaving Cordelia floating, now able to see the surprised fighters staring at her.
"What, never seen someone hover before?" Cordelia said, looking at her feet. As soon as she let her concentration slip she fell to the earth. "Yah the Powers for the soft landing.NOT!"
Angel ran forward, followed by Wesley and Gunn, Fred hanging back, her brain ticking over time.
"You OK?" Angel asked brushing the dirt from Cordelia's face.
She looked at him with tender eyes. "Yeah. I mean I feel stronger, all muscley and no hed ache. The pain in my head is gone. No more weakness." She buried herself in Angel's chest. "I'm scared."
Angel sniffed the air. "You're not completely human Cora. You smell different." He watched his graceful Seer screw up her nose. "Stand here. Spike, hit her."
"Are you mad?" They both shouted at the same time.
"Angel, Spike has a chip, neutered, complete fluffy bunny-fied! He can't hit me.unless I'm part demon!"
Angel nodded and looked at Spike as if to say 'You disobey me!' Spike stepped forward. Well either way he would die tonight. The Slayer would beat on him for hurting Cordelia if he could and the cheerleader would beat on him for trying. Well best way to go fighting. He drew back his fist as Cordelia put up her arms to defend herself if he did break through. The tention hung in the air and not just from the LA crew, the Scxoobies had gathered around to watch as Spike drew his fist back and threw his weight behind the punch.
"Bloody Hell!" Spike hissed, cluching his fist. "That was one of your block Peaches."
Cordelia stood in stock horror as she rubbed her wrist were Spike had punched. She could here Angel shouting in the background but his voice blurred as the lights set through her brain like fireworks in the sky, the voices echoed around her head as she tried to concentrate on what they were whispering to her. Great now she sounded like Dru.
"Angel don't," She interrupted him once the vision had finished. "I know what's happened. I'm part demon. It was my reward. I saved their Slayer and I got my life back. No killer visions.they'll be painful like Doyle but they won't kill me. My brain is slowly healing. Oh My Gawd Angel, they're curing me."
They flung their arms around each other, their embrace deep and meaningful. Feelings that bubbled below the surface were slowly coming home and coming too close for comfort. They sprung apart.
"So how did you know?" Angel asked, his voice horse with emotion.
Cordelia looked at the love in his eyes, the love not for her. "I was.um.told in a vision just there. So I can fight the visions now." She looked away from him and at the ground. "You know Angel, me Wesley and Gunn are now capable of fighting the visions if you wanna stay. I mean I know that Buffy is here and stuff so you could help them out because by the look of Xander, they should sure as hell need it."
Angel looked at her confused. "Cora, don't say that. You know I wouldn't be happy to let you venture out untrained."
"I'm not untrained. Hell I'm nearly a Slayer. I am saying, I want you to be happy. I know Buffy makes you happy, more than happy, and you have an anchored soul you can go be happy all the time."
* When it's love you give - I'll be a man of good faith Then in love you'll live - I'll make a stand I won't break I'll be the rock you can build on - Be there when you're old To have and to hold That it's all for one and all for love Let the one you hold be the one you want - the one you need Cuz when it's all for one - it's one for all When there's someone that should know - Then just let your feelin's show And make it all for one - and all for love*
"Cora," He slid his hand softly. "You call me emotional blind. I love you, half-demon or not." It suddenly dawned on him that it was one sided. A pair of soft and moist lips upon his own silenced his thoughts. Claps came from the LA gang and a soft auww came from Willow as Angel pulled her away, letting her breathe.
"Knew you would get it eventually man. Seriously good catch!" Fred hit him softly on the arm. "Not compared to my Fred though!"
Wesley stepped up gingerly. "Congratulations you pair. I guess we can stop with the subtext at last then. It was getting terribly tedious." He laughed hoping Angel got the joke.
Angel shook Wesleys's hand and turned back to Cordelia. "Well I think we better go back. I have somethings I need to see to, just to be fully satisfied."
Cordelia and Angel smirked while Wesley buried his head in his hands and muttered a loud. "Oh Bloody Hell, not again."
They all laughed back, even a rather unhappy Buffy.
Sunnydale wasn't that bad after all.
*~~*~~*
I can't believe that was unrealistic. Email me a reply or leave a little review my profile if you liked!
Songs: Girl In The Mirror - Britney Spears (I don't know why I did it) All for One - Bryan Adams, Sting and Rod Stewart (All in one room..umm)