Chapter 5: (Part 2)
Less then an hour later, they heard brakes as a car stopped in front of the shop. They stood quickly when Cordelia entered the Magic Box. She smiled at her high school friends. "Hi guys, long time no see!" Then she turned towards Tara. "Hi, you must be Tara, right?" Tara just smiled and nodded.
Cordelia looked at the bleached vampire. "Hi Spike, you're still chipped, right?"
Spike raised an eyebrow at the girl's … no, the woman's mature look, not to mention hot! She was wearing a navy blue V-neck shirt that was tight on her ample breast. Her hair was blonde and very short, its style making her look older than her real age. Spike didn't hate the change, in fact he 'really' liked it. He just smirked and nodded, while Buffy, Xander and Willow gaped like gold fish. Cordelia looked much older than her twenty-one years. She looked adult and grown up, whilst the trio of friends still looked like some old teenagers.
Her hair! Willow thought with astonishment, is short … too short. She frowned. I prefer her long hair. It was so beautiful. Oh, just the thought of it running between my fingers makes me drool. Her eyes widened with dread at that thought. Drool? Where did that came from? I am not drooling over 'Cordelia Chase'! It's all because of those stupid dreams where I, 'Xander', kissed her in the closets, or is it because I'm in Xander's body? Yes, that's it! I mean 'Cordelia'? No way!
Blonde? Buffy thought with disgust. Blonde? Seriously Cordy, this color is 'so' not for you! What the hell happened to your sense of fashion? Did you lose it when you went to LA? I thought people's taste got better in LA… um not that I ever thought Miss I'm-better-then-you-all ever had 'any' fashion sense!
She's wearing colored lenses! Oooh her eyes are slivery blue now! Xander thought dreamily. I've always loved blue eyes, they're my favorite! The now blonde slayer suddenly frowned. When were they my favorite? Thinking about it, all the women he had interest in had brown or green eyes, but never blue. When did I start to like blue? He pictured in his mind a pair of bright crystal blue eyes…
Then, a tall dark figure entered gradually. He looked around but didn't catch anyone's eyes. Instead, he stood beside Cordelia but still in a way behind her. Buffy and Willow's hearts softened at the lost look in Angel's eyes. They could never come to grasp how it was to loose a child.
On the other hand, Xander and Spike were eying Angel warily. Both of them had several baths, hoping the brunette vampire would not detect their scents on each other. Angel, who was too lost in his own misery to sniff any doubtful smells, finally looked up at the blonde girl standing next to Spike. He slowly approached her and hugged her tightly seeking the kind of comfort he could only get in his once lover's arms.
Xander stood uncomfortably in Angel's embrace. He clumsily patted him on his back. "There, there," Xander said awkwardly, looking at Spike who backed away when Angel came up to him. Now the blonde vampire was fiddling with his lighter and watching his grand-sire with an attentive eye.
Buffy grimaced at Xander's gawky reaction and caught his eye motioning to him in a look that said 'act like you care, will ya? He had lost his kid'. The former male slayerette sighed and hugged Angel back this time with care. "It's going to be okay, Angel," he murmured softly.
It didn't look like Angel was going to let
go any time soon, he only hugged his slayer and let out a whimpering
sound. All the girls seemed to tear up at that, except for
Willow
whose manly hormones didn't allow her to be that sensitive. Even
Spike had started to feel sorry for the older vampire.
No one deserves to lose a child even me old sire He closed his eyes, feeling the anguish and utmost despair rolling off his elder especially him
………
Since
it was late and Angel and Cordelia were tired, everyone thought it
would be better if they gathered the following day at Buffy's.
Cordelia was going home with
Xander/Buffy and Buffy/Willow and
sleep in Dawn's room. Since Cordelia refused to let Angel stay alone
in the mansion, Buffy thought that Angel could stay at Xander's
apartment. Willow felt uncomfortable with that thought, so Spike
decided to take his grandsire with him, and actually got strange
looks from everybody and a whispered "please don't fight" from
Xander/Buffy. Willow offered Tara to take her home, with meaningful
smiles from both girls even though one was essentially in a boy's
body. Xander gave Willow the 'don't use my body for your own
pleasure' look and got a 'who me?' look in return.
Xander, Buffy and Cordelia sat watching movies and eating popcorn in front of the TV. Xander and Buffy were alternating between the blaring screen and watching Cordelia's grown up behavior. She just sat there drinking her coffee, watching TV and talking in a mature fashion about how they were. In conclusion, this was not their Cordelia Chase. Xander leaned over whisper in Buffy's ear. "This is getting on my nerves. She didn't even remark on my clothes. What happened to our Cordy? I'm scared."
Buffy whispered back
in disgust. "It's evil L.A. It ruined Cordy and changed her
to
this … different person." She couldn't admit that Cordelia
looked and acted more adult than she is.
The object of their whispering spoke which caused both Xander and Buffy to jump out of their skins, again. "Actually, your taste in clothes is worse, if possible, than it used to be, Buffy. And I think L.A. made me 'mature' is the word you were looking for, Willow." Cordelia said without looking at them.
The once prom queen turned to them smiling. "You guys on the other hand haven't changed much, except Willow got a better hair cut and Buffy lost a lot of weight that Xander seems to have found." She frowned, "Also he became girlier."
"Hey!" Xander countered with anger. "Xander is a big mucho man. He's a manly, manly, manly man…. And he has muscles, too!"
Cordelia raised an eyebrow at the bizarre reaction while Buffy whispered to the fuming Xander, "Yep that was manly."
He gave her a look and stood furiously leaving to his current bedroom. "I'm not sitting here like some teenage girl, which I'm obviously not. I'm gonna get some shut eye coz I have to open the Magic Box early in the morning."
Cordelia and Buffy followed his huffing back with astonishment. "What's her deal?" Cordelia snapped.
"I have no idea." Buffy answered chewing on popcorn, again engrossed in the movie
…….
"Here we are, home sweet crypt," Spike said disdainfully to the brooding hulk behind him as he opened the door.
Angel entered knowing that as vampires they don't need invites to other vamps homes. He looked around as Spike lightened candles that seemed to fill the room. Even without the soft lamination of the candles, he could discern a lumpy chair and an old T.V. and a small fridge, which from the look of them came from the dumpster. He vaguely noticed the smell of ashes, his eyes locked on a trap door realizing the smell of the not so old burning came from there.
"It was a nice prezzie from soldier boy," Spike answered the unasked question. Angel understood who the blond vampire was speaking of. He still remembered Buffy's old boyfriend, one of the people responsible for his boy's weakness. The reason one of the greatest vampires was living in a shamble of a crypt that the lower half if it was burned apparently by the boy Riley himself. He couldn't believe that Spike lived here.
Spike stood in the middle of the room and crossed his arms. He waited for the question he knew Angel was going to ask.
"You live here?" Angel finally asked with a frown.
And there it is! Spike thought angrily.
"Yes! 'Have a problem with my existence?" he practically growled. "You don't like how I live?"
How dare he? And I was stupid enough to bring him into my home… that would teach me to feel sorry for him! The fuming thoughts kept jumping through Spike's mind.
Angel didn't seem to notice the snappish tone that Spike used. "Uh… well you are a bit thin…"
"Yes well bloody baggies cost a bundle… but I guess you know that, Chubby!" Spike sneered.
Angel opened his mouth then frowned as he looked down at himself. He then raised his eyes to catch Spike's, whose eyes were fairly amused. Angel replied, annoyed at the jab, "I'll have you know that my weight is perfect for my height…" He stopped and looked over Spike with a frown. "You really lost a lot of weight… maybe…"
"Don't you dare say anything about my height Angelus!" Spike warned.
That seemed to have woken Angel out of his stupor. "'Maybe' I can get you some more blood."
"Yeah well…. Huh?" That caught Spike off guard and actually brought a small smirk onto Angel's lips. "Yeah, well, do' wan' your charity," he finished off lamely without much venom.
Suddenly Angel felt tired like he hasn't slept for a long time, which was true. How can you get a peaceful night sleep when you just lost your baby boy?
"…You can have the tomb," he hazily heard Spike say.
"Huh? What did you say?"
Spike rolled his eyes at the question. "I said that even if the cardboard cutout hadn't burnt down my bed and half my stuff down there, I wouldn't share the same bed with you again. So, in either case you can have the tomb to sleep on."
Angel looked at the stone tomb and grimaced, which Spike of course noticed and had to comment on. "If it was good enough for me, mate, it would surely be good enough for you."
"What about you?" Angel sounded concerned.
Spike answered that question by slumping on the leather chair. "You better not snore like you used to," the younger vampire mumbled already falling into sleep.
Lying on the stone tomb, Angel couldn't bring himself to sleep. He thought he could because in a strange way he felt welcomed, he felt among family and safe. But he couldn't help but look over his sleeping grand-childe.
No, my childe. I raised him as my own. It doesn't matter that it was Drusilla that brought him over to the land of the undead, I'm the one who taught him how to survive it.
Angel carefully stood up and closed in on the sleeping vampire. Spike looked like the young innocent boy he was when he was human. He still was as beautiful as Angel remembered him, if not a little thin. Angel wondered how Spike didn't freeze living in a cold crypt like this with him being barely more than skin and bones. A thought struck Angel and he quickly took off his long coat. He carefully draped it over the sleeping vampire cautious not to wake him. He leaned in and softly kissed his forehead. "I'm so proud of you," he whispered. He then returned to his sleeping place for the day and lay down feeling more at ease than he had felt in a long time.
After I finish what I have here in Sunnydale I'm going to take Spike with me to LA. He is my responsibility after all. He dimly thought about what happened with Dru but dropped that thought as quickly as it came. Angel rolled on to his side and closed his eyes, welcoming sleep at last.
After nearly half an hour, two blue eyes opened. Spike tenderly touched the soft material of the coat. He raised his eyes to look at his sire; he will always be 'sire' to me. He could see his still form lying on the stone sarcophagus in a tight fetal position. Spike wondered if it was from the cold. Settling his mind, he slowly got up, carefully took off Angel's coat and placed it on the chair. He then took off his duster and as carefully draped it over Angel, but not before he caught the sight of something. Angel was clutching a small blue cloth tightly to his chest. Upon a closer look, Spike distinguished it as a baby's attire.
Spike narrowed his eyes taking in the way Angel held the clothing near him with such care. He now truly got how this tragedy, the death of a son, had laid its marks on Angel. He barely stifled the urge to touch his sire's face to wipe away the stray tears. Instead, he made sure that his duster sheltered his sire and smiled when he saw Angel pull it around him. He took his seat and rested his head against the pad. Silently he vowed to help Angel in any way he could.
Without endangering my rep of course
………
Xander stood behind the counter in the Magic Box. He was running the shop by himself; there weren't many customers this morning. He was lost in his own thoughts, that included I can't go on like this; one day without Spike kisses was hard. How can I go through the other three days with Angel staying here without them, also another constant one was, do I have to be nice to Angel today, too?
That was when Buffy, Willow and Cordelia entered giggling like schoolgirls. This annoyed Xander since he certainly wasn't one! Willow caught his death-ray-glare and placed a hand over her mouth to muffle the silly laugh.
Cordelia took a seat at the research table while Buffy and Willow went to get them some refreshments from the small yet convenient fridge in the training room.
"Buffy," The former high school prom queen greeted casually.
"Cordelia," Xander replied. "What were you three talking about that sounded SO exciting?"
"Oh that!" Cordelia looked interested. "We were talking about clothes. I commented on how Xander's clothes had improved, not greatly mind you, still way below my standards, but for him it was a huge change! And I asked him what was the big change for and he said that he was into the new fashion now. So we started talking about designs and which one were more comfortable for slayage. Oh! And we're thinking about going shopping tomorrow. Wanna come?"
It took Xander several minutes to digest the information. And several more to decide on what to freak out about. Of course, there was the one where Willow actually used his mouth and uttered the word fashion! On the other hand, there's the one she had an actual conversation with Cordelia on the merits of comfy attire while killing demons. Maybe the part where she actually agreed on taking his body, HIS BODY, to a store where he was sure any man entered would be deemed gay! And since Xander was perfectly 'content' with his sexuality shut up brain! he chose the later.
Luckily for Xander, that was when Buffy and Willow entered carrying four diet Cokes. Buffy gave one to Xander who looked at the diet label with disgust, while Willow gave the other to Cordelia.
Cordelia took her Coke grateful for the cold refreshment not failing to notice the one Willow was now drinking. "Good for you Xan. You're finally realizing the virtues of dieting!"
"Oh not to mention buying new clothes too!"
Willow choked when she heard the steely words coming from Xander. She slowly raised her eyes and when she caught the angry green ones, she tried to smile goofily
"Not gonna work on me. I perfected it, remember!" Xander shot back.
Cordelia looked at them confused. what is Buffy's deal today? I tried to act civil and asked her to come shopping with us and she just got this weird look on her face like she was going to faint or something Cordelia huffed Well, her loss I have Angel's credit card! She watched while Willow laughed as Xander tried to explain something to Buffy in a low voice. She only caught a few like "sorry" and "Doesn't" and "gay". Cordelia frowned on that one she tried to move closer around the round table she was sitting at but that only caused her to almost drop a large book. Almost because she was able to catch it. Before it fell, it opened to a pre-marked page. Something in Cordelia urged her to read it. And since she was born and raised in Sunnydale and still lived to tell the tale, she followed her instincts.
She could still hear the murmuring in the background, suddenly everything that happened since she got here made sense. Out of the blue, Cordelia started laughing.
"Cordy, are you okay?" Xander asked in his concerned Buffy voice. Cordelia just spit out her coke when she laughed, she had never done that before! It was beneath her Queen Elegance statues.
Cordelia looked up at Xander and started laughing again. Between chuckles, she pointed at the book. The three friends gasped comprehending what just happened. Cordelia found out their secret. Willow wanted to slap herself for leaving that book out. Xander shrugged and wondered which one will find out next, would it be Dawn or Spike. He gulped God, please let it be Dawn! . Buffy's thoughts were running along the same path but with Giles in the equation.
Somewhere along their thoughts Cordelia stopped laughing, recomposed herself and stood up to look them over. She nodded her head as if she was making her mind about something.
"So Xander's in a slayers body aka a girl. Willow is in a guy's body and Buffy is in a lesbian's body." She smirked. "Am I hearing the siren of gossip calling to me? Buffy didja kiss Tara? Willow same question and Xander didya experience the strong grip of a guy while he held you close to his rugged manliness as you kissed passionately?"
The three friends stood there gaping. Strangely, Xander was the one who recovered first. "Yes, yes and ewww!" Although in his mind, he was remembering how Cordelia's description matched how he and Spike kissed. When is Angel leaving again?"
Cordelia shrugged and said, "Your loss."
"So you figured us out, huh?" Buffy asked twisting a red lock nervously.
"Yep. Though, at first I thought that Willow had been spending too much time with you. That you really lost more style and that Xander turned gay."
"HEY!" Xander said offended and glared at Willow.
"Um, Cor?" Willow asked avoiding Xander's look. "You're taking this really well."
"Hel-lo, I lived on the hellmouth guys. I also live with Angel and Wesley in the infamous city of Angels."
Xander countered, "I thought Sunnydale was the infamous city?"
Cordelia waved that away, "Pfft, Sunnydale is SO passé."
………
In the evening at the Summers', the girls were organizing themselves in Buffy's room while Xander sat on the bed eating chips and watching them. Cordelia looked at her ex-boyfriend, who unpleasantly looked like Buffy, and said, "Ya know it's rude for a girl to sit on bed eating chips when two gentlemen are coming over for dinner."
Xander looked at her. "First, I'm not a girl …"
"… Not yet a woman!" Buffy sang too lost fixing her buttons. When the room got quiet and Buffy just realized what she said, she turned to see three pairs of eyes looking at her in shock. However, Cordelia had a smirk on her face.
"I swear Dawn is the one who's listening to this!" Buffy defended herself. "I don't listen to Britney Spears! Not me, na uh!"
"Ok-ay," Xander said trying to change the subject, "What was I saying before?"
"That you're a lazy girl?" Cordelia suggested.
Why do I feel like we got the old Cordy back? Xander thought, glaring at the brunette young woman. I miss new mature Cor! "No, and who do you mean by two gentlemen? You don't actually mean Spike and Angel, do you?"
"Of course I meant Angel and Spike! They are really old. Isn't Spike from the Victorian age or something?" She looked at Xander who was wearing a frayed T-shirt and old jeans. "You know something? You could use a makeover."
Xander looked at her appalled. "What do you mean?" he asked with a small peep.
Buffy and Willow stood next to Cordelia wearing the same smirk. "She means it's time to make 'me' look pretty, which means you have to help out, Xan." Buffy said before they all leapt on poor Xander.
After several hours, Xander looked at himself in mirror wearing a short jeans skirt and a tight black top. Cordelia did his blonde locks and let it flow prettily over his shoulders. He pouted following the girls downstairs. "Guh, when are the guys coming? I think I could use some testosterone around here."
Cordelia had that gleam in her eyes that Xander knew he would hate. "Oh, right Xan. Since you're Buffy, don't you think you should give Angel some snugglies?" She smirked at the blush that appeared on his cheeks.
"Snugglies?" Xander blurted out. "I … I'm not giving …"
"Oh c'mon Xander, you promised!" He turned to Buffy to see her smirking back at him.
"Besides, Angel is heartbroken because he lost his son. He could use some cuddles and hugs." Willow had that pathetic pout she always used when she wanted something from Xander. It frightened him to see that she had perfected it even on him. He groaned, "Please Willow lose the pout. Everybody is questioning my manhood because of your actions!"
Willow went on as if she didn't hear him. "What about kisses?" she asked the other girls.
"Kisses are good," Buffy agreed.
Xander looked at her with wide eyes. "Buffy! You want me to kiss Angel?"
Buffy shrugged. "Well, you're kissing him with my lips. It shouldn't matter, and I won't mind." She looked at him pointedly, "But I want details, missy!"
Cordelia seemed to be thinking about something. "What about Spike?" she unexpectedly asked.
Xander and Buffy jumped, while Willow asked confused. "What about Spike?"
"You told me last year Willow, that he had a thing for Buffy. What if he decided to jump Xander?"
"Why would he jump Xander?" Buffy asked alarmed. "I mean … I've never given him a chance to … um … jump me, you know, he's beneath me … so there's no reason for ...jumpyness."
Xander just wanted to shut her up. She was going too far with her act of not having any kind of relationship with Spike. Didn't realize that eventually 'he's' going to find out! He was in her body, for God's sake, she should know better.
All of a sudden, knocks were heard from the door. Xander rushed to open it. He saw Angel and Spike standing there, "They're both alive! Thought one of you guys would have been staked by now." He smiled smugly.
Spike looked at Angel and mumbled something like, "Not in this century."
Xander led the two vampires to the living room where they all sat together and started chatting about the evenings events. Buffy noticed that Angel wasn't conversing with them. "Are you Ok, Angel?" she asked worriedly.
Angel looked at the redhead and smiled. Willow has always been a warmhearted soul. he thought, remembering the old days when he worked with the Scoobies in Sunnydale. He nodded, "Yes, it's just …" He didn't finish.
Cordelia got annoyed with his silence. "Get it out, Angel," she demanded.
Angel sighed. "I want to go to the mansion."
"We'll go tomorrow." Cordelia said running a hand over his arm comfortingly, thinking that he wanted to get away from the memories that Buffy invoked.
Angel shook his head. "No, I want to go now. It's … it's something I just need … and I can't wait 'till tomorrow. I don't care if this sounds childish, but I really need to go," he insisted.
Cordelia sighed. "Ok, I'll go with."
Buffy gave Xander a glare. Xander heaved a suffered sigh and offered to go with Angel as well. To Cordelia's surprise Angel nodded his agreement to Xander and turned to her. "I think you should stay here, Cor. You can use the chance to spend time with Xander and Willow and reminisce."
Cordelia didn't sway. "Are you sure? I mean, I wanna be there for you."
Angel smiled and took Cordelia's hands. "You are there for me. You're always there for me, but I think I want to spend this time in the mansion with Buffy and Spike."
Spike's head shot up at the mention of his name. Angel turned to the younger vampire. "Would you like to join us, Spike?"
Spike didn't miss the pleading look in Xander's green eyes. He shrugged, "Fine by me."
……..
At the mansion, Xander and Spike stood there looking around while Angel closed the door behind them. "It's been long time since I came here." Xander said.
He felt Spike's arm touching his fleetingly. Xander breathed heavily and looked at Spike who smiled down at him. Xander controlled himself. He will not throw himself on the bleached vampire with Angel around. He turned around slowly, "Uh, where's Angel?"
A big smack was heard next to him, Xander turned to see Spike on the floor. He was about to yell for Angel, but felt someone grabbing him and he was held to a strong chest. Before he could defend himself, a chloroform-covered handkerchief was shoved to his face. Gradually he felt himself losing consciousness.
…….
Xander woke up to find his hands bound behind his back and attached to the wall. His legs were bound, as well, with chains. He let out a groan and looked at Spike next to him. He was also in the same state. The blonde-haired vampire was returning to consciousness, "Bloody hell, what happened?"
Xander looked around and realized they were inside the old high school, next to the Hellmouth in the library. Panicking, he turned to Spike, "Spike, what's happening?"
Spike wanted to reassure the girl until his eyes caught a movement. Xander looked at where Spike was looking and his eyes gaped.
There stood Angel near the Mouth of Hell placing an alter in what Spike and Xander both recognized from years of experience as a sacrificial manner.
"You better not be thinking of opening that, Angelus!" Spike warned.
Angel finished his preparations then turned to look at the two. "It's a full moon."
Xander and Spike exchange a look that clearly said 'duh!'
Angel didn't seem to register what passed between them. He approached the two in a steady pace. "Soon the time will be right for me to complete my mission."
"Your mission is to open the Hellmouth? Are you dense!"
By that time, Angel had reached the two blondes; he extended his hand to run over both their heads. "It won't." he simply replied. He turned to exit the library, for more supplies Xander guessed, when he whispered. "At midnight all will be clear. At midnight you, my dears, will help bring my son back." Then the dark vampire left the two alone.
Xander looked incredulously at the leaving vampire, "Oh God! He's gonna sacrifice us to open the Hellmouth!"
Spike shook his head. "He's gonna do it to get his brat back. He's not in his full sodden' mind to think about the consequences."
Xander was only thinking about one thing. "He's gonna kill us!"
"I don't think he's going to kill me. I'm his sodden' blood."
Xander gave Spike a look. "He killed his own sire once. Last year he killed both Drusilla and Penn, who were his childer, by fire if I heard right from Willow. If he killed them, what's gonna stop him from killing you?" Xander thought for a minute and a cheerful gleam appeared in his green eyes. "Actually he killed Darla for moi. Oh, oh, I'm his true love he's not gonna kill me!" Xander squealed happily.
Spike raised an eyebrow. "Right! He left you. He bloody well left town all together!"
Xander looked at Spike's eyes. "But you stayed," he stated softly.
Spike looked adoringly into the beautiful green eyes. "Yes, I did."
Xander leaned close his eyes half-closed. Spike leaned over and pressed his lips to the soft warm ones. They kissed deeply and it would have deepened more if it were not for the chains. They stopped and looked at each other hungrily.
"I want you," Spike said huskily.
Xander, who seemed to forget who he was, replied, "I want you, too."
Spike tried to get rid of the chains that were tying his hands, but failed miserably. He growled in frustration. Xander gave him a sympathetic look. He sighed and looked down. "Do you think he's gonna kill us?" he asked in a small voice.
Spike looked at the downcast face. "Look at me, 'luv." Xander did so.
"He still cares about you a lot and I'm sure he won't kill you."
Xander looked at the caring eyes and rested his head on Spike's shoulder. Spike managed to kiss his head and rested his own on Xander's. They sat there for a while and Xander drifted to sleep.
………
"Wake up, pet."
Xander heard the soft voice waking him. He looked up into the most beautiful blue eyes he had ever seen. "What is it?"
"The poof is coming. I'm sure he would try to cast the bleedin' spell now."
Xander raised his head trying to shake the sleep away. Spike smiled at the shaking head and leaned for a kiss as soon as the slayer's hair stopped flying around.
Xander drew back, smiling shyly. "What about my post-sleep breath?"
"Vampire here, 'luv. Don't care."
They kissed and stopped when they heard Angel's voice. "Bad vampire."
Angel swatted Spike's head playfully. "You should have said her breath was as sweet as sugar, and then kissed her," the older vampire instructed.
Xander expected Angel to freak but all he was doing was giving tips to Spike on how to be courteous. He listened as Angel crazily explained that he needed both the blood of a slayer, her essence and soul being strong, and the blood of family hence Spike for the spell to work. Xander wondered if him being in Buffy's body would render the spell useless.
Pfft! With my track record with magic I'd more likely turn to a little hoppie toad!
"I am going to get my baby back… he's such a beautiful baby and so innocent he doesn't deserve to be in a hell dimension, I do! He doesn't! He's SO small." Angel whimpered.
Xander and Spike couldn't help their hearts going out in empathy hearing the crazy words of the distraught father.
"And don't worry you pretty little head Wil' about the Hellmouth opening. The spell is only designed to open a portal to Quarthoth and the best place to open a hell portal is by the Hellmouth."
Angel waved a knife in what Xander only thought of as wildly before the vampire sliced his hand and caught the trickles of blood in a black bowl. He turned to do the same to Spike before lifting his head and kissing the blond locks. "Soon my childe, I will have my son and we will be a family again. You will come back with me to L.A. and I will make it all better."
With those last words he licked Spike's wound closed and headed towards the alter.
Okay major ickyness but why do I feel jealous that he didn't do that to my bloody palm too? Xander pouted looking at his now mostly healed hand Damn slayer recovery!
Spike on the other hand was torn. He could hear Angel reciting the ancient words and feared that it would open the Hellmouth, no matter what Angel said, and endanger Buffy and himself. Nevertheless, he also promised himself that he would do whatever he could to help his elder. He was torn between his loyalty to his love and his loyalty to his sire.
Strong winds interrupted their thoughts and then Angel's distressed cry was heard before all was silent. Xander sighed in relief when a door to hell didn't open next to his head and yet at the same time he felt sad for the weeping Angel.
Suddenly Cordelia entered and headed straight for her howling boss. She helped him up and they left through the library doors, leaving behind them Spike and Xander shouting to be freed.
"They're not gonna leave us here, are they?" Xander looked anguished. "I never liked high school and I don't feel like spending the night here."
"Oh don't be such a sissy!" Willow said as she and Buffy entered with smiles. However, Xander noticed unshed tears in their eyes obviously indicating that they witnessed the whole Angel breakdown.
"How did you guys find us?" Xander asked as they untied him and Spike.
"Cordelia had a vision," Buffy replied.
"And you stood there doing nothing?" Spike questioned realizing as well, that they saw the whole show.
"Cordelia knew that it wouldn't work for … um … special reasons." Willow locked her brown eyes with Xander's, seeing that he got her meaning she continued, "And she thought it would be good for him to let it all out."
Spike nodded in understanding. "Peaches was holding the pain inside, he had to let it out someday."
And the sooner the better, not in a hurry for Angelus to pay a visit! Cheerleader has brains; I always knew she had it in her.
……….
Realizing that staying in Sunnydale with the whole Hellmouth deal was not good for Angel especially in his condition, Cordelia decided to leave Sunnydale the next day. Angel slept in the Summers' basement for the night chained to the wall as a precaution.
The next night outside the Magic Box, Xander, Buffy and Willow were saying their goodbyes to Angel and Cordelia.
Angel hugged Xander tightly. "I'm sorry for what I did, Buffy. You know I didn't mean to cause you any harm." He looked at Xander apologetically.
Xander waved him off. "Nah, it's okay. We all make mistakes."
Angel smiled down at him. "Goodbye, Buffy," he said, turning to leave to the car.
"Bye bye, Dead-boy."
Angel froze when he heard his ex-lover's voice and then turned looking at the blonde girl with wide eyes; she was giving him a huge goofy beam. Looking at the others, they all were grinning goofily along with the slayer.
Freaking, Angel looked at Cordelia. "Did she just call me 'Dead-boy'? And why are they smiling like that?"
Cordelia looked back at the three and shook her head. "They certainly didn't change; they're still the same eighteen-year-old kids that I left in Sunnyhell," she sighed, dragging Angel with her into the car.
The three watched them getting into the car, when Willow asked, "Do you think he suspected?"
Buffy whispered back, "Don't talk and keep smiling he can still hear you." She gave Xander a heated glance. "We'll have a little talk later about prudence, Xander! You almost blew our cover."
Xander wasn't listening to her. He was watching Cordelia driving the car away and his smile got bigger. Now, he and his vampire can have their smoochies whenever they wanted.
………
TBC
