Summary: Set in S5E "You're Welcome." Angel's thoughts when he realizes that Cordy had loved him, but he had never seen it.
It was a dark night in LA at Angel Investigations, as they stood in front of each other, not far from Angel's office desk.
"I got my guy back on track," she said with a smile.
He looked at her.
She started to leave, but stopped at the threshold to look over at him.
"Oh, and you're welcome."
A little ways in the hall, she stopped.
"Oh, what the hell."
She ran back in and towards him. She then kissed him.
Angel was surprised, but kissed her back until she pulled away. He then watched her leave until he couldn't see her anymore.
A moment later, the phone rang. It was the hospital calling to inform him that Cordy had died in a coma. She never woke up.
"thank you," he said to the doctor and, even though she wasn't there, to Cordy.
He hung up.
After hearing of her death, it grieved him. She was his friend and like a bright light guiding him out of a tunnel. She was always there to put him in his place. The kiss had surprised him, even though they had been close friends. He hadn't seen that she was in love with him. Even if he had, it never would have worked out. It would have ended tragically like it had with Buffy. He was a vampire with a gypsy-cursed soul. If he had even a moment of "perfect happiness," he would lose his soul and become the evil Angelus; the one with the angelic face; once again. For him, love would forever be a tragedy. He would never be happy. His story, if told, was a tragic love story.
