Chapter Twelve
Susan started the shower. Wesley was surprised that she left the door open slightly and called for Angel every few minutes. "I can hardly believe this is the same person who almost killed herself so Solcapprodee couldn't live!"
"I told you this is way out of our control."
"I wondered why she was so upset when we were shopping," Cordy observed, "You guys really have it bad. Maybe it is meant to happen."
"Angel?" came the fourth call from the other room.
"Yeah, I'm here."
"Can you come in here?" Susan was stepping out of the shower and had a towel wrapped around herself.
"What is it?" Angel asked, poking his head around the door.
"Hold me a minute."
"Gladly," he said wrapping his arms around her.
"I just need to know that you are real and not a dream."
As she reached up to put her arms around his neck the towel fell to the floor.
"We still have company," but Angel kicked the door closed and covered her with kisses. "You better finish getting ready so I can have the bathroom for a few minutes. We have to get this done so we will know."
"What if it isn't good?"
"It will be good. It has to be good."
Susan came out of the bathroom a changed woman. It was the first time any of them had seen her with make-up and her hair tied back. She had picked a very flattering pair of jeans that laced up the back and a very nice low cut embroidered blouse.
"Wow," Wesley commented. "You'd never know you were the same person we met two weeks ago. We'll meet you guys at the bar, but be forewarned we'll be back if we feel you are taking too long."
But they weren't late at all. Within half an hour Angel took care of the hotel bill and they were on their way.
When they arrived at the bar, Susan wasn't too sure about going in. Everywhere she looked she saw very unusual beings.
"I know what you mean now that you won't leave me for a second."
"Huh?"
"You won't be able to, I'm going to be stuck to you like glue. I don't think I've seen so many demons in one spot before.
"You'll be okay, this is a type of sanctuary, but I won't leave you for a second," Angel said as he opened the door for her, and then entered the establishment with Susan on his arm. He felt so proud to have her there.
There were a lot of patrons tonight and most of the tables were taken. Angel's employees sat near the back. Cordy gave a little wave when they came in and a waiter directed them to a table very close to the green guy with horns singing on the stage.
"Can I get you a drink?" The waiter asked.
"Susan, what would you like?"
"A gin fizz?"
"Hold the eye." Angel added as Susan shuttered, "Garnishings are a little different here," then turning to the waiter continued, "Bloody Mary, real blood."
Before they sat down he helped her out of her coat and held her chair as she sat down.
"You are going to spoil me."
"Glad to, love." Angel put his chair close to Susan's and as he sat down pulled her in under his arm. "You're my woman and we'll make sure everyone knows it." Susan hoped that these feelings would last forever.
The three observed from the back of the room. "Have you ever actually seen Angel being so affectionate before?" Wesley asked the others.
"And so settled?" Gunn added.
"Maybe this is a good thing," Cordelia nodded.
The singer finished his song and came directly over to Angel and Susan, grinning from ear to ear. "Angel, welcome back." He offered Susan his hand and as she gave it to him he bent and gently kissed it. "Susy, I'm so honoured to meet you at last." He glanced at Angel who looked a little puzzled. "You've finally found her. I hoped I would be around when that happened and here I am. " Susan was starting to relax a little. The waiter delivered the drinks and Lorne added, "That's on the house."
"We've come for some answers to some very hard questions." Angel said.
"Well really not so hard, I think." Lorne was still grinning, "How about a song? This is a couple's question, so how about the first one together, then Susy, one on your own. That should tell all."
"You know I can't sing," Angel balked.
"You've done it before big boy. Besides it is a little price to pay. Isn't the question quite an important one?"
Angel was starting to get the idea that Lorne knew the answers already and was just playing them.
"Any favourite songs, Susy?" he asked.
"How about an oldie like "Memories", although I don't know if Angel will know the words."
"Don't worry Hun. Angel doesn't know the words to many songs," he joked. "I'm going to enjoy this."
Angel led Susan on stage and they found the song on the machine. She was a little nervous but the couple couldn't take their eyes off of each other and she started to feel like she was singing only to him. The difference between the two was that Susan actually could sing and the bar went silent through her solo of "Unchained Melody".
"Were those songs written for her?" Cordy asked the others.
"It looks like she really does love him," Gunn answered.
"And I think he really loves her, too." Wesley agreed.
As Susan sang her solo Angel sat down with Lorne at the table. She never took her eyes off of him for a second and each word seemed to come from her heart. Lorne talked privately with Angel.
"It's about time you've had this, Angel." he started.
"Sounds like you were expecting this."
"I knew it would happen sometime, but when you would actually find her no one knew for sure until very recently. She has had a very hard road to you and the odd thing standing in her way, but here she is at last."
"Why does it sound like you're not the only one in on this?"
"This is destiny Angel, real destiny, and sometimes it takes a bit of help in the right direction."
"So why all the mystery and confusion?"
"I really can't say too much as you are not meant to know until the right time. But let me say that you are on the right road. You've been strong to abstain under the circumstances."
"She has been stronger than I have. Susan finished the song to a room of applause. Angel rose from his chair as she came back to the table.
"That was beautiful," Lorne said. "You can come here any time. I was telling Angel-cakes here that I can't give you all your answers yet, … you are not to know everything until the time is right, otherwise it might not work, but let me assure you this is what you have lived your lives for. This is what makes it all worth while."
"This all sounds good, but what about the real reason we are here?"
"Oh yes, the coupling. This may not be exactly what you've hoped for, but please know that in the end it will be the right thing."
Susan looked close to tears, "So we can't then?"
"Oh you can, just not quite like you hoped for."
"Can you hold with the riddles?" Angel was obviously annoyed.
"Oh, getting a little testy are we? Who's giving you the answers here?"
"Not many answers for all the questions."
Lorne gave a sort of hand signal to the waiter who disappeared then returned with a small antique wooden case. Inside were many little divisions most of which contained a vial with a Roman numeral on each on. He pulled out two marked IXX and XX, both of which seemed to radiate just a little. "I sometimes need a little help from the powers," he said explaining the glow that faded away. He returned the case to the waiter. "This is your only means of a true coupling. When the time is right you will find the urge almost unbearable. Drink from these vials, pink for girls, blue for boys, but stay cool for an hour, and then you get the green light. Susan," he turned to her, "give Angel your gift after you drink from the vial."
"Gift? Is that the new word for it?"
"No the gift the old lady in the park gave you."
"Oh, I almost forgot. But I don't understand how..."
"You don't need to understand now, you will eventually." Lorne continued, "The sad part is that you will have only twenty five hours together after you drink from the vials. Then you must be apart - no contact with each other. Someone will direct you at the time."
"This is very cruel, to give it all to us only to take it away." Susan turned her head to Angel's shoulder to hide the tears. He pulled her in close trying to protect her.
Lorne continued, "The world is very cruel. You've both seen it before, but don't deny yourselves each other. It will be all repeated again in some other way if you do. This is your destiny."
"It doesn't look like the news is good," Wesley straightened in his chair.
"I was starting to hope they would really get to make it work," Cordy said disappointedly.
"Looks like they may need our help," Wes added.
Angel helped Susan out of the bar. She looked like the world was about to come to an end, and in her mind it almost felt like it would. Angel, himself was obviously disappointed.
The three followed them out in silence. As they got to the convertible Wesley spoke, "So it was not good then?"
"It is all a cruel game. He has given us only twenty five hours after we drink from these vials." He held them up for the others to see, "I'm taking Susan home. You guys can have some time off. I'll call you."
As the car left the lot Lorne came out of the bar.
"How can you be so cruel?" Cordelia scowled at him.
"Hey, it's not me. It comes from "the powers that be." But he smiled as he added, "What was old is new again.