Disclaimer: All characters and things from ANGEL and BUFFY belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. If they aren't on the show they belong to me.

Summary: Angel and Spike get a chance to get back the people that meant the most to them after the battle against Wolfram and Hart. But can they keep the real past a secret from the only people they want to share it with? A/C S/B

CHAPTER 7

Angel felt Cordelia's lips quickly pull away from his, and her hands shove his shoulders away, causing him to fall backwards onto his elbows. She stood quickly, leaning over him and pointing down at him.

"Xander. Oh God, I just cheated on him." She said quickly as she looked at Angel. "What did you do?"

"Me?" Angel looked up at her.

"Yes, you! You kissed me!" Cordelia's mind was racing.

Angel stood. "Cordelia…"

"How could you?" Cordelia asked him.

"Look at you." Angel motioned to her. "How could I not?"

"You're supposed to be Xander's best friend!" Cordelia said. "How could you let this happen?"

"You don't understand, Cordy…" Angel started. It was true, she didn't understand. She didn't have a clue. She could not remember her past in L.A. or how much Angel loved her.

"No, I don't!" Cordelia snapped, as she folded her arms across her chest. "And do not call me Cordy!"

Angel was hurt by her words. He loved her, and he was frustrated that she couldn't remember that. "Cordelia…"

"What?" Cordelia threw her arms out. "I can't believe this…I…"

Angel could tell she was trying to make sense of everything in her head so he remained silent, allowing her to continue.

"I love Xander." She looked up at Angel. "And you're his friend."

"You don't love him." Angel said.

"Yes, I do!" Cordelia stomped her foot like a small child. "How can you even say that? You don't know me."

"Yes I do." Angel said without even thinking, but it was the complete truth. He knew Cordelia, probably better then he knew himself.

"No you don't." Cordelia seemed to whisper as she shook her head. "You don't know me at all."

"And Xander does?" Angel was angry at this point.

"Yeah, he does." Cordelia said. "He knows me well enough to trust me here with you, thinking I won't do anything, and I cheated on him."

"We kissed." Angel said. "That's nothing."

"Maybe not to you, but to me it is." Cordelia seemed to be fighting back tears as she began to pace. "What am I going to tell him?"

"You don't have to tell him anything." Angel sighed.

"Yes, I do." Cordelia told him.

"You think he would tell you if he was doing something like this?" Angel asked her, knowing that Xander was doing exactly that to Cordelia.

"I wouldn't have to worry about that." Cordelia said.

Angel fought to stifle a laugh. He couldn't believe how snowed Xander had Cordelia. He looked back at her to see that his laugh at angered the brunette in front of him.

"What are you laughing at?" Cordelia asked.

Angel just took a deep breath. "Cordy…"

"I told you not to call me that!" Cordelia snapped. "Now I'm leaving. I don't want anything to do with you or this project or anything, do you understand me?" She turned toward the door and then she added. "I love Xander." She said it to Angel, although it sounded like she was trying to reassure herself.

"He's cheating on you!" Angel said out of desperation to keep her there. He didn't want to lose her. Not again.

Cordelia stopped dead in her tracks and turn around. "What?"

"Xander is cheating on you." Angel dug his hands into his pockets. "With Faith."

"You're lying." Cordelia glared at him in order to keep her tears at bay.

"No, I'm not." Angel sighed and looked away from her. He hated seeing her in pain, especially when he was the one that caused it. "I wish I were, but I'm not."

"Yes, you are." Cordelia told him. "And I'm not listening anymore." She turned back toward the door.

Angel moved toward her. "Cordelia, he's been sleeping with her for months now. Why do you think he leaves the Bronze early? Why do you think he doesn't mind doing this health project?" He reached the door before she did, leaning against it so she couldn't open it. "Why do you think he doesn't call you?"

Cordelia looked up at Angel. "That's not true. Xander loves me. He wouldn't do that."

"He is doing that, Cordelia. He's a slim ball."

"He's your friend."

"No, he's not."

Cordelia just shook her head, pulling at the door until Angel shifted his weight off of it. She then turned back to him. "Don't talk to me, don't look at me. We're done here, and just stay away from me from now on!"

Before Angel could say a word, Cordelia was out the door and running full speed toward her car. He wanted to chase after her, to try and calm her down, but he found that he couldn't. It was as if his legs were cemented to the ground. So instead, he shut the door to the mansion, just as a light rain began falling from the sky.

Spike and Buffy had been working on the project for a majority of the night, and Buffy had been all right the whole time. She hadn't cried once, and every now and then Spike could even get her to smile. It was as if she had forgotten all about Angel.

Buffy stood, looking at the clock and seeing that it was already eight-thirty. "Wow, we so missed dinner. Come on, we'll go downstairs and see what we can make."

"You cook?" Spike raised an eyebrow, knowing that the old Buffy was not the best chief he had met.

"No way." Buffy laughed. "But I do make a mean peanut butter and jelly sandwich."

"Sounds good." Spike smiled as she led him out of her room and downstairs to find the house empty.

"I wonder where my mom and Dawn are?" Buffy looked around.

Spike picked up a note on the table next to the door. "It says they went out for ice cream."

"And didn't ask us?" Buffy seemed to pout as she led Spike into the kitchen.

"Maybe they knew we hadn't eaten dinner yet." Spike offered.

Buffy nodded. "That could be it." She moved to pull out the bread, peanut butter, and jelly, and placed it all on the counter in front of her.

"Extra peanut butter on mine." Spike said as he leaned against the counter across from Buffy.

Buffy snorted, smiling slightly. "Make your own if you're gonna be picky."

"Fine." Spike grabbed two pieces of bread and the peanut butter jar and began working on his own sandwich.

"You know something?" Buffy asked.

"What?" Spike looked up at her.

"I'm going to be okay." She started.

Spike realized their conversation had just taken a turn toward the topic of Angel. "Yes, you are."

"I mean, if he doesn't want me then why should I try and hold onto him?" Buffy asked.

Spike sighed, and stopped making his sandwich. "Buf, it's not that Angel doesn't care about you. He bloody damn well does. I know that much. It's just that his feelings for you have changed." And that was the truth. Spike knew that Angel cared about Buffy and always would, but he also knew that Angel's heart now belonged to Cordelia.

"So I should just be friends with him now?" Buffy asked.

"It might seem hard at first, but yeah." Spike told her. "Besides, maybe Angel gave you an opportunity here."

"For what?" Buffy didn't seem to believe Spike.

"To find the guy you're meant to be with." Spike leaned over, obviously flirting with her.

Buffy looked back up at Spike, and he caught her eye in a way he never had before. A chill rose up her arm and she found that she had to catch her breath. She smiled warmly at him and Spike could tell he was getting through to her.

Cordelia found herself in the pouring rain standing on Xander Harris' doorstep. She was slightly confused on how she got there and what she was about to do, but she pushed the confusion away. She loved Xander and he loved her and he would never cheat on her. She kept telling herself that anyway. And now she wanted the proof. Slowly she knocked on his door.

A minute later the door swung open and Xander stood there. "Cordelia?" He saw she was all wet from the rain and he reached out immediately. "Come in." He pulled her in and shut the door. "You're soaked."

"It's raining out there." Cordelia said.

Xander nodded. "I saw. What are you doing here?"

"Are your parents home?" Cordelia asked him.

Xander rolled his eyes. "Are they ever?"

"Good." Cordelia lunged at him, kissing him passionately, and wrapping her legs around his waist.

After a moment, Xander pulled away, slightly stunned by his girlfriend. "Not complaining, but what are you doing, Cordelia?"

"Call me Cordy." Cordelia kissed him harder, and lifted her arms as she pulled her shirt off.

Xander smiled at Cordelia's actions, and pulled her down to his bedroom in the basement where he continued to undress her. He was so wrapped up in getting her in bed that he didn't notice the single tear that escaped Cordelia's eye as he placed her on his bed and pulled his own shirt off.

Angel walked numbly down the halls of Sunnydale High. He could not believe what had happened between Cordelia and him last night, and now she never wanted to even see him again. He felt like he had lost her just like so many times before.

"Angel!" Spike's voice bellowed down the hall as the young Englishman caught up to his roommate. "Why didn't you bloody wait for me this morning?"

Angel didn't look at Spike as he responded, instead he moved to this locker. "I didn't hear you come in last night."

"Maybe because you weren't home when I got there." Spike said.

Angel nodded. After Cordelia had left he went for a walk to clear his head. He didn't end up getting back to the mansion until sometime after midnight. Spike must have showed up before that. "Right."

"Are you alright, mate?" Spike waved his hand in front of Angel. "You look like you've seen a bloody ghost."

Angel slammed his locker hard, startling Spike. "None of your damn business." He turned and swiftly walked away from the other ex-vampire.

"Fine." Spike put his hands up in defense. "Mr. Moody…"

Angel shook his head. He had heard Spike's comment, but he didn't care. He continued walking until he found himself in front of Xander who had a huge smile on his face. Angel wanted to knock that grin right off.

"Angel, man, you're not going to believe this." Xander couldn't seem to tell that the ex-vampire in front of him was angry. "Cordelia came over last night, and I finally got some! I mean she was all about it. Came right in my house and undressed." Xander smiled. "It was amazing."

Angel was shocked at what he was hearing. "What?"

Xander nodded, still grinning. "I mean, she wasn't as good as Faith, but it was her first time so I'll let it slide."

Angel was so enraged by Xander that he did the only thing that came natural to him. He punched Xander right across the face, sending the young man flying into a set of lockers. A crowd formed around Xander and Angel as Angel picked Xander of the floor, and slammed him back against the lockers to see Xander's nose was bleeding.

"What the hell, man?" Xander asked.

"You're disgusting." Was all Angel said as he pulled his arm back, ready to punch Xander again, but he was stopped as he felt someone grasp onto his forearm.

"Stop!" Cordelia said, pulling Angel's arm back and sliding in between Xander and Angel. "What the hell is going on?"

"I'd like to know the same thing." Xander said as he wiped the blood from his nose. He seemed more relaxed as Angel lowered his arm.

"Why don't you tell her, Xander?" Angel asked. "Tell Cordelia all about how you cheat on her with Faith!" Angel was angry.

Xander glared at his friend. "I don't know what you're talking about." Xander lied.

"Yeah right!" Angel shot back, and then looked down at Cordelia. "I told you he was cheating on you, and then you go and sleep with him?"

Cordelia was a little appalled that Xander had already told Angel that, and angry that Angel had said it in front of half the school. "That's none of your business."

"It is when he doesn't treat you right." Angel told her.

"I treat her fine." Xander defended himself. "And Cordelia is none of your business regardless. The next time you fill her head with lies about me cheating on her I'll come after you."

"Lies?" Angel was fuming. "You son of a-" He moved to punch Xander again but was knocked aside.

Angel staggered to his feet to see Buffy standing in front of him in her famous fighting stance as Willow, Oz, and Spike ran up behind her.

"What the hell are you doing?" Buffy asked.

"He deserved it." Angel motioned to Xander, but winced as he felt the spot Buffy had hit him in. He never realized just how strong slayer's actually were.

"Get out of here." Buffy told him.

Angel staggered backward, his eyes locking with Cordelia's. "I'm sorry…" He tried.

"Go Liam!" Buffy yelled, calling Angel by his first name.

Angel complied and staggered out of the hallway.

Buffy then turned back to Xander. "Are you okay?"

"Fine." Xander said, wiping the blood that continued to flow from his nose.

"We should go get that check." Cordelia cupped Xander's face in her hands.

"I said I'm fine, damn it!" Xander pushed Cordelia's hand away with force before taking off down the hall.

Cordelia stood there for a moment, somewhere between tears and anger. She had no idea what was going on anymore, but for some reason she felt as though she should have chased after Angel, not Xander, and yet her feet were moving in the direction Xander had gone in.

Spike made his way back into the mansion to find Angel moving boxes into the living room. The blonde ex-vampire did not question what the dark-haired one was doing, instead he moved on to a completely different topic.

"Brilliant bloody show you put on today." Spike said sarcastically. "Xander's nose swelled up to the size of a damn dinner roll."

"He deserved it." Angel said, not looking up from his task of labeling the box in front of him.

"I'm sure he did." Spike nodded. "But that didn't exactly bank you points with Cordelia."

"Doesn't matter." Angel threw the marker down and grabbed the tape, running it across the top of the box. "Cordelia doesn't like me. In fact she doesn't even want me to speak to her."

"Why? What happened?" Spike asked.

Angel just shook his head, picking up the box and moving toward the door. "Doesn't matter."

"What the hell are you doing?" Spike finally noticed the box in Angel's arm.

"I'm leaving." Angel said.

"What?"

"I just dropped out of school. I'm going back to L.A."

"Why in the bloody hell would you do that?"

Angel sighed. "Because there is no reason for me to stay here. I lost Cordelia."

"Well if you give up that fast you're damn right you lost her." Spike said.

"It has nothing to do with that. She is happy with Xander." Angel told him.

"I thought you said Xander was cheating on her?" Spike asked.

"He is."

"Well then he isn't good for her."

"I know."

"So bloody help her!" Spike told him. "You want her, then you need to save her."

"She doesn't want to be saved!" Angel snapped, and then sighed, thinking about Cordelia. "She never wants to be saved…"

Spike looked down, realizing just how deep Angel's feelings were for Cordelia, and just how far down the scars of a past of losing her ran through Angel.

"Anyway." Angel continued, much more calm now. "I might enjoy L.A. as a human a lot more then I did as a vampire."

"Where will you stay?" Spike asked.

"Maybe the hotel. Maybe I'll get an apartment. I don't know." Angel said.

"You got money?" Spike asked.

Angel nodded. "Evidently I had a nice bank account saved up here. I emptied it. I'll be good for awhile."

"And what in the bloody hell are you going to do in L.A.?" Spike asked.

Angel shrugged. "I was going to go see if I could find Connor."

"Why? He doesn't remember you as his father, especially not in this reality." Spike said.

Angel nodded. "I know."

"So why bother to look for him if he doesn't remember you?" Spike asked.

"Because he is still my son, and I still love him." Angel told Spike. "And maybe I can't be his father ever again, but I can be his friend."

Spike thought for a moment, and then nodded. "Yeah. Maybe you can be."

Angel opened the door and then looked back at Spike. "Good luck with Buffy."

Spike smiled. "Doesn't look like I'll be needing much more luck."

"Keep an eye on Cordelia." Angel said.

Spike nodded as he watched Angel walk out the door and put the last of the boxes in his convertible before taking off down the street. Spike could not believe Angel had just given up that easily on Cordelia regardless of the circumstances. He hoped that he could talk enough sense into Angel in a few days to get him to come back to Sunnydale and fight for Cordelia.