Title: Reality Check (part 1)

Author: Angelchica

Email: Angelchica622@hotmail.com

Summary: When Cordelia lands her first starring role in a major production, the set becomes somewhat real and its up to the Fang Gang to figure out a way back from the medieval times, if they can even remember who they are, before trouble ensures. C/A of course and a some F/G. This is part 1 of 2

Spoiler: This takes place after the third season finale. Only Angel resurfaced from the water and Cordelia is also back except they haven't admitted their true feelings to one another. Hopefully this didn't spoil anything!

Disclaimer: No I don't own any of the characters of course anyone in their right mind would not mind owning Angel I mean come on, just look at him!!!

Feedback: Please R & R!!! It's your reviews that push me into writing these stories!!! Let me know how I'm doing and what I should add or take out!!! If you have any ideas at all and want to see them put down in paper and on this site, let me know so I can try my best to make it a story!

**Thank you so much Katie for the idea! Great minds think alike! We started talking about this and all of a sudden everything just fell into place. This idea was awesome and I couldn't have come up with a better idea w/o your help! Thanks for the Latin too!***

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Winning the Heart

All the people of Milan, Italy were present at the jousting event. It was these sort of events that interested all the civilians. They all enjoyed the violence and suspense that came along with the thrill of a good joust. Cordelia, Fred, and Wesley all took their appropriate seats. Cordelia looked around in hopes that she would see Angel. Just then, the trumpets sounded which called forth the beginning of the event. King Wesley stood up.

"Fellow civilians. It is with great pleasure that I present to you this Jousting Event. Only one of you will make it and shall be handsomely rewarded with your future Queen," Wesley said as he held out his hand for Cordelia to take. She got up, smiled, and waved to the audience.

"Let the games begin!" she shouted with excitement. The trumpet sounded again and in no time there were too men mounted on their horses ready to compete. Cordelia watched as they charged towards each other. They were announced to the audience so they knew who they were and could cheer their favorite. The man who held a long shield took out the competitor without mercy. Cordelia flinched when she saw him hit the other man with the lance.

A few more people jousted and still there was no sign of Angel. She started to worry. She wanted him to be there. She had no doubt in her mind that he could win. Sure, he wasn't a vampire here and he didn't have the super strength that he used to but she knew him. With or without his vampiric strength, she knew he could take any of them out.

Cordelia was just about to lose hope when she heard the announcer call out Liam's name. Cordelia smiled. She should have known that he wouldn't have let her down. Angel, or better yet, Liam, mounted his horse and took a firm hold of his lance. Liam stared at his adversary. He waited for the signal and then both men trudged forwards, towards each other. Cordelia stood up and stared closely. Her heart was pounding. She wanted him to take him out.

Wesley looked up at Cordelia and then down to Liam. She liked him. Even though they weren't in LA and they had no recollection of their real lives back home, she was still in love with him. He had to do something. He couldn't make Cordelia's stay a pleasurable one. All of them had to suffer. All of them and at that moment, he swore to get his revenge.

The two men got closer and closer and Cordelia brought her hands to cover her mouth. Then, they hit. Cordelia watched as the lances attacked and then saw one of the lances fall. Cordelia stood like a stone and then she saw the man fall. Liam took off his helmet and gave Cordelia a victorious smile. Cordelia started jumping up and down in excitement. He had won the match. Now she just had to go through with the nerves a few more times before any champion was declared.

"You know, my Lady. Maybe I should have joined the tournament, don't you think?" Wesley asked Cordelia.

"You? Joust? Wesley, I mean, my Lord, jousting is a very serious game," Cordelia said.

"Oh you need not to worry, my Lady. You know I am the best at this talent. I could take all of them out in a split second," King Wesley said. Cordelia glanced at him. She was wondering what he was trying to get at. Then she heard Liam's name get called out again to joust. Here we go again, she thought to herself. Liam took this one out easily. The lance never even touched him. Liam took out the opponent in a split second. Cordelia was happy. After a few more matches, Liam was in the final. It was down to him and another opponent, who like him, had not lost a match. The announcer called out their names and the men prepared to go.

The two men charged towards each other. Cordelia followed Liam with her eyes until they hit. Liam had won but he had not thrown the man off the horse as he had done with the previous adversaries. The men took their positions and readied themselves for round two. Then they charged towards each other. Cordelia watched nervously. This is all he needed to win. Just this and he was hers. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw them hit. One of the men fell but she couldn't tell who it was until it was over. He took off his helmet and sat proud on his horse. Cordelia smiled. He did it. He won. Liam had won the tournament. At the end of the tournament the men took their places to be rewarded with their medals. King Wesley and Princess Cordelia came down to greet the winners. Cordelia wanted to hug Liam so much for his accomplishment but she didn't think it would be proper, especially in the presence of Wesley.

"A job well done, young lads. As you know though, only one of you is fortunate enough to receive an extra prize, and that is my Princess. Take care of her for me," King Wesley said to Liam. He nodded and bowed to the King and then took Cordy's hand and kissed it. He looked back up at her and smiled at her. She looked so beautiful to him.

"It shall by my honor to escort you, my Lady," he said to her.

"And it shall be my honor to be escorted by the young man that won the tournament," Cordelia said as she smiled. King Wesley stepped in and took hold of Cordelia's hand and took her away. Cordelia turned around and looked at Liam as he watched them leave.

"I don't like the way he looks at you," King Wesley said to her annoyed by what was going on. Cordelia looked up at him. He was getting on her nerves and all she wanted was to get away from him. She didn't understand how she had developed a crush on him when she was in high school but that was long in the past and no use thinking about now.

"Well, I don't like the way you treat me. Look let's face this. I don't love you and you don't love me. It's pretty obvious. So why don't we both do ourselves a favor and call it quits. There's no use being together and having to put up with this. It's over. I want to break up," Cordelia said to him then realizing that he wouldn't understand most of her vocabulary but to her surprise he slapped her hard. She put her hand on her cheek.

"Don't you dare talk to me like that Cordelia," Wesley said to her. Cordelia looked up at him. He had called her Cordelia and not Princess. Plus, he didn't seem to be puzzled by her vocabulary. She was going to be like the weak and helpless woman of this time. She looked at him for a while and then slapped him back as hard as she could which made Wesley fall to the ground. The crowd had seen these incidents and all of them shouted out in laughter. Liam was standing from a side and saw all of the actions. He was about to go and defend her but then realized that she had actually been able to take care of herself. She wasn't weak and wasn't afraid to stick up for herself. She was truly what a woman should be. From that moment, he fell in love with her even more.

"Don't you ever lay a finger on me ever again you hear me? Piss me off a second time and I'm going to do a whole lot more than just slap you," Cordelia said as she left. Fred followed her and looked at Cordelia, confused and surprised yet happy for what she did.

"I cannot believe you had the courage to do that my Lady," Fred said to her.

"Please, I don't need courage to do that to Wesley and please I told you, no more of this my Lady stuff. Just Cordelia," she said to her as she held onto her hand that was sore.

"Well, maybe you shouldn't refer to him as just Wesley, he is the king you know," she said to her. She looked at Cordelia and realized something had happened.

"That's just it. He's no King. He's just Wesley Wyndam-Pryce," Cordelia said to her.

"You mean the Wesley from your time?" she asked a bit confused.

"That's exactly what I mean. I have no doubt in my mind that he's the one behind all of this. We have to be careful around him now. There's no telling what he will do," Cordelia said a bit relieved that she knew what was going on but scared that he might be onto her now. She didn't exactly behave the way a Princess would.

"How do you think he did it?" she asked her.

"I don't know but something tells me that he's getting help somehow. Fred I need you to do me a favor. You know the kid that works with Wesley right?" she asked her.

"Right, Connor is his name," Fred said wondering what the favor could be. It's not that she didn't want to do it, it's just that this whole mess that Princess Cordelia was going through was weird and Fred only had her word that it was true and she had to trust her.
"Yeah. Something tells me he has something to do with this also. You see, back in the real world, he's actually Liam's son and hates him with all his might. Maybe if we can knock some sense into that kid, he might give us a clue as to how to escape this mess," Cordelia said to Fred.

"What do you want me to do?" Fred asked Cordelia.

"I need you to get him for me and send him to my room when we get to the castle."

"Cordelia, it's not that I don't want to do this for you but, don't you think that it's risky? I mean if he's in on the plan as well then he's going to lie to you and maybe go back to the King and tell him that you know what's going on and then the King is going to get infuriated and maybe want to hurt you or those that you love since he is on this revenge spree and then it would all have been a waste of time," Fred said as she was about to start back up again talking.

"Fred, chill girl. You know, you haven't changed a bit. Whether it is 2002 or 1222, you're still the same ole' Fred, but you're right. I'll have to think of something else," Cordelia said with a chuckle.

"Well, I'll keep looking into my books and see if I can find anything. I think I might be onto something but I'm not sure," she said to Cordelia.

Cordelia started to walk slower. She thought they were being followed. She turned around and noticed that Connor was coming up to them.

"I was calling your name out, my Lady but you must not have heard me," Connor said.

"What's wrong?" Cordelia asked Connor hoping that he had not heard their conversation.

"Nothing. The King just wanted to make sure that you got into your carriage safely."

Cordelia looked at him. Fred was right. She couldn't trust him. He might seem all nice and innocent but at the end turn out to be just like Wesley or who knows, maybe even worse and she couldn't have that now. She needed to get away from here and go back into the arms of Angel. She knew she was getting close but not close enough. Cordelia turned away and climbed into the carriage with Fred by her side and rode to the castle.

Connor watched as the carriage rode away and then turned around to see Wesley.

"Well? Did you hear anything?" Wesley asked.

"She knows," he said to him a bit concerned at what could happen. He didn't know how she had figured it out or why she knew about her past. There had to be some glitch but maybe she too remembered everything like he and Wesley did.

"We need to distract her. I wonder if she's had any visions here? Maybe we should remind her of the pain they used to cause her?" Wesley asked.

Connor just looked at him. He didn't exactly want to hurt Cordelia. Out of all of his dad's friends, she was the only one he liked. She was such a nice and beautiful person and was the only one that made him reflect on some things. She had actually cared for him but he knew his dad loved her and he knew they had to hit him where it hurts. And what better weapon than true love?

"I have the spell. We should get to it now. In case she receives a vision and it's too late," Connor said but then his stare went past. Wesley turned around and saw Lilah standing before him. Oh great, he thought to himself, just what I needed.

"Is something wrong?" Lilah asked in her mockery voice of hers.

* * *

"So how do you feel?" Sir Charles asked Liam about him escorting the Princess.

"I'm a bit overwhelmed and nervous. I didn't expect to win the tournament," he said.

"But you did and now you get the best prize any man could ask for," Sir Charles said.

"Yes, but I can't help to wonder why I feel like I have seen her before. I know she is the Princess but I feel like I have interacted with her before. I keep on having some memories flush through my head with her in it only we all look so distinct but I know it's us. I just can't seem to put the puzzle together. By the way, I heard you are escorting Miss Winifred," Liam said to Sir Charles with his charming accent making its presence.

"Yes, I thought that moment would never come," Sir Charles said with a smile.

"Well, you have the Princess to thank for that," Liam said.

"Yes, I know but have you noticed how differently she has been acting. Before it was all about her and getting what she wants. Now it's like she's a different person. She actually cares for the other people and hasn't really thought about herself and did you see how she handled the King? I would have never thought I would see that in my lifetime," he said.

"Yes, isn't she great," Liam said with a smile.

"Don't tell me you've fallen for her? She's going to marry the King. She won't ever think of you in that way. Not that I'm trying to be mean or condemn you but you're not of her league. She's royalty, a Princess, and you're just a commoner. But don't get me wrong, go for it," he said in a smile. Liam looked back up at him and smiled. Sir Charles was his only true friend and the only one he trusted.

* * *

Cordelia sat next to Wesley. She sat there waiting for Liam to show up. She looked over to the dance floor and noticed Fred and Gunn dancing. They looked so cute together.

"Aren't we a bit anxious to see that peasant," Wesley said to her annoyed.

"Yes I am. He's what gets me away from you," Cordelia said to him. Then she saw a woman walk up to where they were. She was tall and had brown hair and walked professionally. Cordelia looked at her face and recognized her as Lilah.

"My Lord, if it is alright with you, may I have the honor of dancing with you?" she asked.

"Most definitely," he said to her. He got up and then turn back to Cordelia. "I guess I'm the one that got away from you first," he snickered.

"Oh no! Look at me trembling from all my jealousy," Cordelia said back. She wasn't afraid of him and she wasn't about to let him think he had her where he wanted. Then she heard someone clear their voice. She turned and saw Liam. He looked absolutely gorgeous and handsome. She remembered the time when they went to the opera and he had worn a tux.

"My Lady, I hope I haven't kept you waiting too long," he said to her as he extended his hand to her. Cordelia smiled and took it. They went out to the dance floor and engaged in a dance that was appropriate to the medieval times. Cordelia didn't know the steps but after a while she caught onto them. She made sure that she was as far away as possible from Wesley. She didn't want to be around him. He had become so obnoxious.

"Liam, I need to talk to you. Do you think we could go to an empty hall?" she asked him.

"Of course," he said as she led him over to one. She made sure that nobody was around.

"I need your help. I know what I'm about to tell you will probably not make sense and you'll probably think I'm completely whack, that is if you don't already think that but I promise you everything I say is true and you're my last hope," Cordelia said to him.

"Well, what is it?" Liam asked but then he noticed that Cordelia's expression changed.

"Oh no," she whispered as she held onto her head and endured the pain. She couldn't hold herself up and gave way but Liam caught her before she fell. She was sitting on the ground enduring some pain he could not understand but all he knew was that he couldn't stand seeing her like that. She seemed to be in more pain than she could handle.

Cordelia held on to her head. Why was her vision being so painful? They weren't supposed to be like that anymore. She held on as she watched the vision pass through her mind. She saw Angel or Liam whoever it was, fighting against Wesley in a swordfight to the death. Then the vision slowly faded away and Cordelia opened her eyes. A few tears streamed down her face from the pain she had endured and from what the vision had made her seen.

"My Lady? Are you alright?" he asked her. He noticed that some tears were streaming down her face. He only hoped that it wasn't from the pain.

"Can you get me some water please?" she asked him. He agreed but first he helped her up and then it hit him. This was familiar. He had done this before. Then a memory went through his mind. He remembered seeing Cordelia on the floor and he was helping up. She was weak and had just gone through something similar to what had happened now. He helped her up and she looked up at him and muttered that she was fine and that he had to go look for some key with a hole in it. He shook the memory away and realized that Cordelia was waiting for her water. He left her there and looked back to make sure she was OK. He saw her holding on to her head.

He walked over to the table and poured some water into a glass. Wesley was still dancing with Lilah and noticed Liam getting the water. He couldn't see where Cordelia was but he only guessed that she had had a vision. He smiled.

"What are you grinning about?" Lilah asked Wesley.

"I think the spell worked," Wesley said. Lilah looked at him and smiled. Little by little, their revenge was coming true.

Liam went back and handed Cordelia the water. She thanked him and he just stood there and looked at her. He wanted to make sure that she was alright.

"My Love, are you sure you're alright?" he asked her. Cordelia could tell he was worried. Wait, did he just call her his love?

"Yeah, I'm fine. It'll pass, they always do," she said as she sipped the water.

"You mean this has happened before?" he asked her hoping that maybe she could make some sense from his memory.

"Yes. Liam, I need to tell you something. Don't say anything until I finish. I don't know if you will believe me but try," she said. Liam nodded and then listened to her story. She told him about how they were all actually from LA and about him being a vampire, Connor being his son, her visions, everything. She didn't leave anything out. She finished telling her story and then took a deep breath.

"Well? What do you think? Do I sound like a nut?" she asked him.

"A nut? Nuts don't make noise except when they are eaten," Liam said. Cordelia laughed. How cute!

"No, I meant do I sound crazy?" she asked him.

"Well I'm not going to lie to you. A lot of the things you mentioned sound far fetched but I believe you," he said to her. Cordelia looked up at him and couldn't believe it.

"You do?" she asked still confused that he would believe her so soon and not hesitate.

"Well, I have a confession to make. Before yesterday, I could have sworn to you that I had met you before, that I had some connection with you. I also have recurring memories of us," he said hoping not to scare her off.

"What do you see?" she asked trying to piece things together.

"I see what happened today. I see you going through a painful vision and I help you out. I've seen it over and over. Not the same one but of other times. They always take a lot out of you. These memories I have are not of this world either. We are dressed in clothes not of this world. I'm dressed in black shiny material and you..."

"And me what?" she asked, curious to know what he thought of her.

"It might sound odd to you," he said getting a bit embarrassed.

"Trust me, I won't. Tell me," she said knowing where this was going.

"Well you are dressed in pants. They are blue and really tight as is the shirt which sometimes shows a little more than would be accepted here," he said trying to sound nice and not like a pervert. Cordelia laughed.

"Don't worry. It's the fashion. It's what people wear in my time," she said. Liam was beginning to understand. Cordelia started to get up and Liam helped her up. Together they walked. She was still weak and she didn't think she would make it up to her room by herself. Fred was dancing with Sir Charles and noticed them. She motioned for Sir Charles to come with her.

"Cordy, what happened?" she asked her. She noticed Liam as well.

"Don't worry about it. I just need to go to my room and lie down for a bit," she said.

"I can take you," she said as she went over to Cordelia. Liam stayed with Sir Charles. The rest of the party continued but Liam retreated back to his home. Wesley stopped dancing with Lilah and just left her there and walked up to Sir Charles.

"You are my most trustworthy knight and I can ask this favor from only you," King Wesley said to Sir Charles.

"My Lord, I will comply with what you ask me," he said.

"I need you to execute the peasant, Liam, tonight. Bring him in as a prisoner," King Wesley said.

"But my Lord, he is my good friend. What harm has he done to you?" Sir Charles asked.

"He has done nothing to me but has to people I love. He hurt my Princess. Did you not see how weak she looked," the King said to him.

"He did not do that to her, my King," Sir Charles said.

"If you do not follow my orders I will personally execute you and that girl of yours. Mark my words. Is that understood." King Wesley said to him.

Sir Charles only looked back to him. He couldn't do that. Liam was the closest thing he had to a friend but he had fallen for Miss Winifred and he didn't want to get her killed. Maybe if he just brought him in as a prisoner he could somehow figure out a way to get him out. Either way he knew he wouldn't win. He would lose something he treasured.

"Yes, my Lord," Sir Charles said. Wesley smiled victoriously and then walked back to Lilah. Sir Charles noticed that he whispered something into her ears and then saw her smile. Sir Charles lowered his head and then went outside, got some men together and headed towards Liam's house. He didn't want to betray his friend but he had no choice.