Disclaimer in Part One. This is Chapter Seven in the Lost Years Series and the FINAL one because I've run out of ideas.
Summary: When the going gets tough, Cordelia got going. Angel realises that life has reached it's end and most cope in denial. But it's a fluff filled fic because chapter six was so depressing.
Dedications: I would like to dedicate this to my mum because she is ill right now and reading this has made her
laugh if not made her think I am mad! Last and least to my dad-you'll never know what you've been missing.
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Two Months Later:
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Cordelia paced around the apartment, two hours left and he would be back. She had two hours to make up her mind. She paced surrounded by memories she couldn't stand to be around anymore. Cordelia and Angel had made a pact that they would move on but the memories stopped her from doing this. Her bags were already packed and sitting on the bed ready to go. She walked past the bedroom that used to be the nursery. Angel had moved the cot out and put the spare bed back in. The pictures of her ultrasounds still adorned the walls. He had tried to make the months as painless as possible, tried to make sure she didn't blame herself but she saw it in his eyes everytime she looked into his eyes. It wasn't blame; it was pity. Willow had the same pity in her eyes when she had shown up in Sunnydale.
*Cordelia still loved Angel with all her heart and she knew he loved her. He had whispered it in her ear as they lay in bed, two weeks ago, the passion expelled and sleep claiming her essence. The words had echoed around in her head as she tried to subdue the nightmares that had plagued her dreams. Dreams that were of what could of been that turned into nightmares as she watched her baby boy die in front of her eyes all over again. She woke with a start and found Angel sleeping soundly beside her. It was then she made the decision to leave. Angel would get another seer, he wouldn't have to wake up with pity in his eyes anymore and he could forget her. She would come back when she became the person she was before Xander died, before William died.*
She walked solemnly through the apartment to their bedroom, drinking in every smell and sight locking them deep in her thoughts. She called the cab firm from her cell phone so Angel couldn't trace her call. 6 and a half years working in a private investigations had taught her many lessons like how to stay one step ahead and how to stay hidden. She scribbled a note to Angel explaining how she needed to find what she had lost. The cab driver put her bags in the trunk and Cordelia watched as Angel Investigations faded into the darkness, guilt's lead weight hitting her like a sledgehammer.
Angel walked into the A.I building immediately sensing something was wrong, he couldn't feel Cordelia anywhere yet he was surrounded around her scent. He stormed down to the apartment, still not sensing her. He moved through the rooms shouting her name receiving no reply. Angel stopped in his tracks spotting the white crisp note lying on the coffee table in the lounge. He read it falling to the leather couch behind him.
Angel.
Forgive me please, I'm gone and I'm not coming back just yet. I cannot live here anymore, the pain is too much for me to handle. I love you so much, remember that OK but the pity I see in your eyes everyday and that on top of grief that is too much of a bitter pill for me. Don't try and find me 'Cos you won't. I have to find what I lost those months
ago when Xander died then we lost William. I know you will understand, you've been here before. I'm sorry
Love Your Cora.
Angel sat with the note in his hand as bloody tears tracked down his face. He tried to rationalising with himself that she would be back within a week. He kept telling himself, his denial, for a year before things would change.
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One And A Half Years Later:
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Cordelia sat looking out of the hospital window, watching the snow fall against the darkness. She had twenty minutes till work finished. The secretary job in the local hospital had came along at the right time for Cordelia, it provided excellent medical cover and they had playgroup on the middle floor. She sat twiddling the pen between her fingers. She had the apartment to tidy, formula to make up, cat to fed. Everyone in the office had gone home but she had stayed, she needed the money. Cordelia had revelled in the silence, the voices in her head had ceased as the power of visions were ripped from her head. 'Shit!' she thought to herself 'I need to get cat food, oh and I can't cart the carrier through the crowded hyper-market.' She looked at her watch. '15 minutes, no one will notice if I pop out and get back in time..' She never finished off her thought as she left through the office door.
The supermarket had been packed with everyone getting last minute Christmas turkey and yams. She carried the bag of tinned food along the street, the empty street. She neared the hospital when a fledgling Vampire about 25 years dead jumped into her path. She screamed slightly before realising who she was.
"Now don't scream and I won't make it hurt, much." The fledgling said slyly
Cordelia swung the bag of cat food at his head hoping it would be enough to stun him. No such luck, he came back twice as angry.
"Oh your gonna pay for that, slowly."
Cordelia reached for the stake she kept in her purse. "Oh you young ones are all the same. 'I'm big and bad, grr, hear my roar.' You know it gets really tiresome sometimes. Get a new life, on second thoughts not a good idea I bet you were a jock in high school."
The Vampire looked confusingly at Cordelia as she aimed for his heart and lunged forward. He stared at her unable to believe what she had done before disappearing in a swirl of dust. Cordelias head sprung up as her sensing heightened. She watched the well-built figure sprinted out of the shadows. Cordelia took a moment to register who
was standing before her.
"Angel? Angel is that you?"
Angel stopped running, panting. "Cordelia? My god Cordelia I can't belie...I didn't think it was you."
"Oh my god, Angel I'm so happy to see you. I've just dusted a va...what do you mean you didn't think it was me?"
"My seer seen a girl with short brown hair being attacked by a Vampire, it was you. I can't believe you cut all your hair. Are you OK?"
Cordelia stood in silence for a second realising the situation. Her Angel was standing in front of her, she hadn't seen him in a year and a half and all he was asking was what had she cut her hair for! "Yeah I'm fine. I thought I would try the short look, it's in this year. So you got a new seer then huh."
Angel shifted nervously from foot to foot. "Yeah, he's a pain in the butt most of the time but I'm getting used to him, he's not you though. Um can I give you a lift home?"
"Yeah sure, I have to stop off at the hospital, I've got to pick someone up."
They pulled up in front of the stark concrete building while Cordelia jumped out into the hospitals entrance. Angel watched in wonder as she emerged carrying a baby carrier in her arms. She opened the back door and placed the carrier in the back, it's occupant sleeping soundly. Angel drove away but couldn't let the carrier issue lie.
"So em...your with someone then?" He glanced back into the back seat then back at Cordelia.
"No, I haven't since I left...um no she's 9 months old. Isn't she a cutie."
Angel sat the rest of the journey in silence, unsure of what to say or when to say it. He had wished so many times for her to come back, just to speak to her, smell her again. He pulled up in front of her apartment across the city from A.I. Cordelia pulled the baby carrier out of the car.
"You want to come in?." Cordelia asked begging for the answer to be yes.
He slowly climbed out of car and went a head to open the door. He watched as Cordelia glided passed him, her scent knocking the wind out of him. He had missed that scent since it had finally cleared out of the apartment a week after she left. He woke up and it was gone. Cordelia placed the diper bag and the carrier on the large wooden coffee table in the lounge. Angel watched in amusement as Cordelia went around the apartment whispering 'Here Tigger, come get the food mummy has for you.' A ginger cat came strutting out of the bedroom and curled itself around Cordelias legs. Angels attention diverted again as the baby in the carrier stirred gently before drifting back into her dreamful land.
"Cordelia so are you going to tell me who the baby is." Cordelia drifted back into the lounge and sat down on the opposite couch. "Well?"
"This is Angelica, my baby girl. Her name means Daughter of an Angel." She studied his face for a reaction but found none. "Angel she's yours and mine. She's your daughter."
Angel shot a look at Cordelia and then to the beautiful, raven-haired baby girl in the carrier. He saw the resemblance in her now he knew. He was looking at HIS DAUGHTER. His heart filled with joy and happiness as clear tears ran down his face. He stared again at Cordelia before pulling her into an embrace. "Can I hold her?"
"Yeah just be careful not to wake her, she sleeps really well, like her father and she gets grumpy when she's woken up, like her father." Cordelia watched in awe as her greatest dream unfolded in front of her eyes. Angel sat cradling their tiny baby into his stark figure while she watched, taking it all in incase it was a cruel dream and it would disappear in front of her. "Your a natural. I guess I have some explaining to do. You see I left and PTB took away my visions. About a month after I left I was feeling ill again so I went to the doctors and they told me that I was pregnant. I tried to phone you to tell you but everytime you answered the phone I put it down. I was scared you would tell me that you didn't care or you had gone and done something stupid after I left. You wouldn't believe how many times I tried to write you a letter but it never came out the right way. I had the little girl your cradling in your arms and I was told that I couldn't have anymore children without killing myself in the process. I didn't get in touch then because you always wanted a big family but I couldn't give you that. I will never be able to."
"Cora I can't believe you would think that, I love you, no matter what happens I will always love you. I was happy not to have a family; you are my family. I searched for you for nearly two years I never gave up but then I realised that you didn't want to be found. I understand why you left but why you didn't phone or write or visit. Does Angelica have any side effects of me?"
"Yeah, she doesn't drink blood or have fangs but the doctors said her hearing and eyesight are unlike anything they've ever seen. She's fast as well, I have trouble keeping up with her now she's crawling. She hasn't started to walk yet thank goodness."
"God Cora you have no idea how much I've missed you, are you coming back to me?
"I've missed you just as much as you've missed me, I don't have any photos to look at. I will come back if you would have me. I promise I won't run off again. I found me again. I found my selflessness, I found the love I needed to our baby, I didn't have that after we lost William. I didn't think I deserved to be loved but then coming here made me realise that what happened wasn't my fault and I couldn't have stopped it. Look," She pulled herself reluctantly from his lap and went over to the dresser. She opened the draw and pulled out a leather bound book. "These are all the pictures I ever took of Angelica, her ultrasounds, a lock of her hair, everything. I was going to send it to you then again you probably would have thought it was from a wacky client. When do you want me to..."
Her question was cut off by the shrill ringing of Angels mobile phone. The frantically searched for it, trying not to wake Angelica and talked in muted tones to the person on the other line.
"That was Benjamin, my seer, more evil afoot in LA. My life doesn't stop, mainly because I won't let it! I'll come by tomorrow and pick up you and your stuff up. I'll turn the spare room back into a nursery." He stood up. "I better be going." Angel pulled Cordelia into his arms and kissed her passionately, exploring each other as if a life-time had passed between them, not 18 months. She expected his cold, tingling sensation but instead found warm, thumping lips. She shudder at the NW the feelings she feelings she felt running through her. Angel held her body close as her felt Cordelia gasp as his lips acceded on hers. His thoughts were drowned with the wonder if she knew his new found secret. They pulled apart, both breathing heavily. "I think I better...um...go. I'll be back tomorrow."
Cordelia watched as Angels convertible faded into the background, feeling her life was back again. She sat on the couch in confusion. His warm lips, his need for breath were almost human except he still had a seer and fought in the darkness. She was still wondering as she fell asleep dreaming of her new life. She awoke the next day and set to
work packing, she didn't have much stuff knowing that she wouldn't be there for a long time and she didn't exactly have the cash to buy lots of things. Cordelia was piling up the last box when her clock struck 2 in the afternoon. She sat down on the couch which she was leaving with her diet soda and turned up the radio. She was stunned to hear a knock at the door. Cordelia opened the door to find Angel standing there in the blazing sunlight, she simply stood stunned and silent.
"Well can I come in?"
"Oh my God Angel, your standing in the sunlight, not turning into the literal human fireball I hasten to add. What's going on?" Cordelia asked still shell shocked.
"Well, if you let me past the door I'll explain everything." He strode past her, plonking himself on her couch. "Where's Angelica?" He asked knowingly playing with Cordelia as she stood before him, hands on her hips and an exasperated expression on her face.
"She' sleeping in her crib. Now explain to me how you can show up here in the daylight, you come into my apartment UNinvited last night, and your lips aren't cold anymore. Your almost human unless...your Shansu happened. Oh my God, Angel are you human.
Angel simply sat on the couch as he purposely built up the tension, smugly. "Yeah my Shansu came true. I'm human, no fangs, no Angelus, just a healthy beating heart. I just woke up one night, went into the bathroom. When I looked in the mirror, there I was. I must say I'm better looking than I first thought." He chuckled as he was hit, playfully, on the arm by Cordelia. "It was like your visions, one day they're there the next they're not."
"Angel my visions didn't just disappear, they were ripped from my head. I was at my first day at the hospital and I felt a pain sear through my head like when I used to get vision but I felt them pulling at my head. It felt like they were pulling extra long hairs out of my legs. Then they were gone. I woke up to find myself on the neuro-psyc ward again except the voices were gone but the memories of all the people that we saved were still there. I guess they decided I wasn't worthy anymore huh?"
"No, that was around the time that I receive my new seer. He told me you had lost them. If I had know I would have..."
"What? Stopped them taking them, you couldn't do anything to stop them. My life goes on Angel. It was just as well 'Cos three days later I found out about Angelica and I doubt Visions + Pregnancy = Bliss, plus having Angelica takes up a lot of my time no so I wouldn't have time for the PTB little slide show."
Angel beamed feeling his heartbeat accelerate and the butterflies flutter in his stomach. It was a new sensation to him and he didn't like it. He hesitantly got to his feet before dropping to his knees in front of Cordelia, smiling.
"Get up you big auff." She shrieked trying to drag Angels muscular build off the floor.
"Cordelia let me do this before I wimp out again. Cora, I have loved you for 8 years as my best friend and as a lover. I can't believe I left you ever get away from me." He reached slowly into his duster pocket and pulled out a little velvet box. "Now don't squeal or cry or get all gushy on me 'Cos you'll make me cry. Will you make me very happy and be my wife, please."
Cordelias hands rushed to her face as emotions over came her. Angel pulled her hands apart to find glass tears trickling down her cheeks. She was crying, crying tears of joy.
"You don't have to ask twice. Yes of course I will. I'll be your long suffering wife forever and ever." She flung her arms around his neck, feeling the comfort of a pulsing beat beneath her arms. He kissed her with joy and passion. He pulled away and began loading up the boxes to take Cordelia home.
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6 Months Later:
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Angel stood at the top of the short runway, dressed in a black breasted jacket, white shirt and black trousers. He looked at all the people sitting on pews that were sinking into the sand, white and lemon roses adorning every pew end and vase that would stand up in the sand. He glanced over all the friends that sat under the canvas marquee. Will sat with Oz, he diamond ring catching the sunlight. Oz had come back to Sunnydale, still with his cool outer shell, confessing his love for the red-headed wicca, but seeing she was with Tara and back off. Tara has seen how much Willow loved Oz and grudgingly let her go. Willow flashed a smile at Angel her hand resting on her widening stomach. Wesley and Anastasia were sitting, glowing in the late June sunlight. Wesley sat clutching at the handkerchief in his hand incase the tears that glistened in his eyes actually feel. Anastasia, her head on Wesley shoulder, slept off the after effects of the long flight from Japan. Angel smiled proudly at Wesley, he had became the man Angel always thought he could be, given a chance. Angel turned back to the front, flashing a quick but nervous smile at the minister.
The string quartet started up as the wedding march filled the air. Angel slowly turned to see Cordelia, dressed in a simple silk cream dress hugging in all the right places making Angel growl inwardly, white roses littered through her, now long, brown curls. Angelica toddled behind, in her pale lemon dress, easily keeping up with her mothers swift pace. Angel gazed deeply into Cordelias eyes as she turned to face him.
The minister began. "Do you, Angel, take Cordelia to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, 'till death do you part?"
Angel lifted her manicured hand and slipped the gold band, with an engraved A in a heart, over her finger. "I Do."
"And do you, Cordelia, take Angel to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, 'till death do you part?"
She slipped his ring over his finger, engraved with a C, and stared into his eyes. "You know I Do."
"You may kiss the bride."
Angel pulled her softly into his arms, kissing her passionately and she replied even more passionately. Whoops, cheers and claps erupted around the over-sized tent. Angel pulled away and picked Angelica up, swinging her over his hip. He took Cordelias hand and lead her down the walkway as his wife. He took in a deep breath, smelling the sweet fragrance of life. Now they could started making up for all those lost years. Now their lives could begin. Again.
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At last it is finished. I'm sorry about the soppy ending but the chapter before was quite depressing. I hope you liked it, if you did TELL ME. if not, TELL ME. Get the hint, please review. Thank-you.
Nuttyginger
Summary: When the going gets tough, Cordelia got going. Angel realises that life has reached it's end and most cope in denial. But it's a fluff filled fic because chapter six was so depressing.
Dedications: I would like to dedicate this to my mum because she is ill right now and reading this has made her
laugh if not made her think I am mad! Last and least to my dad-you'll never know what you've been missing.
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Two Months Later:
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Cordelia paced around the apartment, two hours left and he would be back. She had two hours to make up her mind. She paced surrounded by memories she couldn't stand to be around anymore. Cordelia and Angel had made a pact that they would move on but the memories stopped her from doing this. Her bags were already packed and sitting on the bed ready to go. She walked past the bedroom that used to be the nursery. Angel had moved the cot out and put the spare bed back in. The pictures of her ultrasounds still adorned the walls. He had tried to make the months as painless as possible, tried to make sure she didn't blame herself but she saw it in his eyes everytime she looked into his eyes. It wasn't blame; it was pity. Willow had the same pity in her eyes when she had shown up in Sunnydale.
*Cordelia still loved Angel with all her heart and she knew he loved her. He had whispered it in her ear as they lay in bed, two weeks ago, the passion expelled and sleep claiming her essence. The words had echoed around in her head as she tried to subdue the nightmares that had plagued her dreams. Dreams that were of what could of been that turned into nightmares as she watched her baby boy die in front of her eyes all over again. She woke with a start and found Angel sleeping soundly beside her. It was then she made the decision to leave. Angel would get another seer, he wouldn't have to wake up with pity in his eyes anymore and he could forget her. She would come back when she became the person she was before Xander died, before William died.*
She walked solemnly through the apartment to their bedroom, drinking in every smell and sight locking them deep in her thoughts. She called the cab firm from her cell phone so Angel couldn't trace her call. 6 and a half years working in a private investigations had taught her many lessons like how to stay one step ahead and how to stay hidden. She scribbled a note to Angel explaining how she needed to find what she had lost. The cab driver put her bags in the trunk and Cordelia watched as Angel Investigations faded into the darkness, guilt's lead weight hitting her like a sledgehammer.
Angel walked into the A.I building immediately sensing something was wrong, he couldn't feel Cordelia anywhere yet he was surrounded around her scent. He stormed down to the apartment, still not sensing her. He moved through the rooms shouting her name receiving no reply. Angel stopped in his tracks spotting the white crisp note lying on the coffee table in the lounge. He read it falling to the leather couch behind him.
Angel.
Forgive me please, I'm gone and I'm not coming back just yet. I cannot live here anymore, the pain is too much for me to handle. I love you so much, remember that OK but the pity I see in your eyes everyday and that on top of grief that is too much of a bitter pill for me. Don't try and find me 'Cos you won't. I have to find what I lost those months
ago when Xander died then we lost William. I know you will understand, you've been here before. I'm sorry
Love Your Cora.
Angel sat with the note in his hand as bloody tears tracked down his face. He tried to rationalising with himself that she would be back within a week. He kept telling himself, his denial, for a year before things would change.
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One And A Half Years Later:
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Cordelia sat looking out of the hospital window, watching the snow fall against the darkness. She had twenty minutes till work finished. The secretary job in the local hospital had came along at the right time for Cordelia, it provided excellent medical cover and they had playgroup on the middle floor. She sat twiddling the pen between her fingers. She had the apartment to tidy, formula to make up, cat to fed. Everyone in the office had gone home but she had stayed, she needed the money. Cordelia had revelled in the silence, the voices in her head had ceased as the power of visions were ripped from her head. 'Shit!' she thought to herself 'I need to get cat food, oh and I can't cart the carrier through the crowded hyper-market.' She looked at her watch. '15 minutes, no one will notice if I pop out and get back in time..' She never finished off her thought as she left through the office door.
The supermarket had been packed with everyone getting last minute Christmas turkey and yams. She carried the bag of tinned food along the street, the empty street. She neared the hospital when a fledgling Vampire about 25 years dead jumped into her path. She screamed slightly before realising who she was.
"Now don't scream and I won't make it hurt, much." The fledgling said slyly
Cordelia swung the bag of cat food at his head hoping it would be enough to stun him. No such luck, he came back twice as angry.
"Oh your gonna pay for that, slowly."
Cordelia reached for the stake she kept in her purse. "Oh you young ones are all the same. 'I'm big and bad, grr, hear my roar.' You know it gets really tiresome sometimes. Get a new life, on second thoughts not a good idea I bet you were a jock in high school."
The Vampire looked confusingly at Cordelia as she aimed for his heart and lunged forward. He stared at her unable to believe what she had done before disappearing in a swirl of dust. Cordelias head sprung up as her sensing heightened. She watched the well-built figure sprinted out of the shadows. Cordelia took a moment to register who
was standing before her.
"Angel? Angel is that you?"
Angel stopped running, panting. "Cordelia? My god Cordelia I can't belie...I didn't think it was you."
"Oh my god, Angel I'm so happy to see you. I've just dusted a va...what do you mean you didn't think it was me?"
"My seer seen a girl with short brown hair being attacked by a Vampire, it was you. I can't believe you cut all your hair. Are you OK?"
Cordelia stood in silence for a second realising the situation. Her Angel was standing in front of her, she hadn't seen him in a year and a half and all he was asking was what had she cut her hair for! "Yeah I'm fine. I thought I would try the short look, it's in this year. So you got a new seer then huh."
Angel shifted nervously from foot to foot. "Yeah, he's a pain in the butt most of the time but I'm getting used to him, he's not you though. Um can I give you a lift home?"
"Yeah sure, I have to stop off at the hospital, I've got to pick someone up."
They pulled up in front of the stark concrete building while Cordelia jumped out into the hospitals entrance. Angel watched in wonder as she emerged carrying a baby carrier in her arms. She opened the back door and placed the carrier in the back, it's occupant sleeping soundly. Angel drove away but couldn't let the carrier issue lie.
"So em...your with someone then?" He glanced back into the back seat then back at Cordelia.
"No, I haven't since I left...um no she's 9 months old. Isn't she a cutie."
Angel sat the rest of the journey in silence, unsure of what to say or when to say it. He had wished so many times for her to come back, just to speak to her, smell her again. He pulled up in front of her apartment across the city from A.I. Cordelia pulled the baby carrier out of the car.
"You want to come in?." Cordelia asked begging for the answer to be yes.
He slowly climbed out of car and went a head to open the door. He watched as Cordelia glided passed him, her scent knocking the wind out of him. He had missed that scent since it had finally cleared out of the apartment a week after she left. He woke up and it was gone. Cordelia placed the diper bag and the carrier on the large wooden coffee table in the lounge. Angel watched in amusement as Cordelia went around the apartment whispering 'Here Tigger, come get the food mummy has for you.' A ginger cat came strutting out of the bedroom and curled itself around Cordelias legs. Angels attention diverted again as the baby in the carrier stirred gently before drifting back into her dreamful land.
"Cordelia so are you going to tell me who the baby is." Cordelia drifted back into the lounge and sat down on the opposite couch. "Well?"
"This is Angelica, my baby girl. Her name means Daughter of an Angel." She studied his face for a reaction but found none. "Angel she's yours and mine. She's your daughter."
Angel shot a look at Cordelia and then to the beautiful, raven-haired baby girl in the carrier. He saw the resemblance in her now he knew. He was looking at HIS DAUGHTER. His heart filled with joy and happiness as clear tears ran down his face. He stared again at Cordelia before pulling her into an embrace. "Can I hold her?"
"Yeah just be careful not to wake her, she sleeps really well, like her father and she gets grumpy when she's woken up, like her father." Cordelia watched in awe as her greatest dream unfolded in front of her eyes. Angel sat cradling their tiny baby into his stark figure while she watched, taking it all in incase it was a cruel dream and it would disappear in front of her. "Your a natural. I guess I have some explaining to do. You see I left and PTB took away my visions. About a month after I left I was feeling ill again so I went to the doctors and they told me that I was pregnant. I tried to phone you to tell you but everytime you answered the phone I put it down. I was scared you would tell me that you didn't care or you had gone and done something stupid after I left. You wouldn't believe how many times I tried to write you a letter but it never came out the right way. I had the little girl your cradling in your arms and I was told that I couldn't have anymore children without killing myself in the process. I didn't get in touch then because you always wanted a big family but I couldn't give you that. I will never be able to."
"Cora I can't believe you would think that, I love you, no matter what happens I will always love you. I was happy not to have a family; you are my family. I searched for you for nearly two years I never gave up but then I realised that you didn't want to be found. I understand why you left but why you didn't phone or write or visit. Does Angelica have any side effects of me?"
"Yeah, she doesn't drink blood or have fangs but the doctors said her hearing and eyesight are unlike anything they've ever seen. She's fast as well, I have trouble keeping up with her now she's crawling. She hasn't started to walk yet thank goodness."
"God Cora you have no idea how much I've missed you, are you coming back to me?
"I've missed you just as much as you've missed me, I don't have any photos to look at. I will come back if you would have me. I promise I won't run off again. I found me again. I found my selflessness, I found the love I needed to our baby, I didn't have that after we lost William. I didn't think I deserved to be loved but then coming here made me realise that what happened wasn't my fault and I couldn't have stopped it. Look," She pulled herself reluctantly from his lap and went over to the dresser. She opened the draw and pulled out a leather bound book. "These are all the pictures I ever took of Angelica, her ultrasounds, a lock of her hair, everything. I was going to send it to you then again you probably would have thought it was from a wacky client. When do you want me to..."
Her question was cut off by the shrill ringing of Angels mobile phone. The frantically searched for it, trying not to wake Angelica and talked in muted tones to the person on the other line.
"That was Benjamin, my seer, more evil afoot in LA. My life doesn't stop, mainly because I won't let it! I'll come by tomorrow and pick up you and your stuff up. I'll turn the spare room back into a nursery." He stood up. "I better be going." Angel pulled Cordelia into his arms and kissed her passionately, exploring each other as if a life-time had passed between them, not 18 months. She expected his cold, tingling sensation but instead found warm, thumping lips. She shudder at the NW the feelings she feelings she felt running through her. Angel held her body close as her felt Cordelia gasp as his lips acceded on hers. His thoughts were drowned with the wonder if she knew his new found secret. They pulled apart, both breathing heavily. "I think I better...um...go. I'll be back tomorrow."
Cordelia watched as Angels convertible faded into the background, feeling her life was back again. She sat on the couch in confusion. His warm lips, his need for breath were almost human except he still had a seer and fought in the darkness. She was still wondering as she fell asleep dreaming of her new life. She awoke the next day and set to
work packing, she didn't have much stuff knowing that she wouldn't be there for a long time and she didn't exactly have the cash to buy lots of things. Cordelia was piling up the last box when her clock struck 2 in the afternoon. She sat down on the couch which she was leaving with her diet soda and turned up the radio. She was stunned to hear a knock at the door. Cordelia opened the door to find Angel standing there in the blazing sunlight, she simply stood stunned and silent.
"Well can I come in?"
"Oh my God Angel, your standing in the sunlight, not turning into the literal human fireball I hasten to add. What's going on?" Cordelia asked still shell shocked.
"Well, if you let me past the door I'll explain everything." He strode past her, plonking himself on her couch. "Where's Angelica?" He asked knowingly playing with Cordelia as she stood before him, hands on her hips and an exasperated expression on her face.
"She' sleeping in her crib. Now explain to me how you can show up here in the daylight, you come into my apartment UNinvited last night, and your lips aren't cold anymore. Your almost human unless...your Shansu happened. Oh my God, Angel are you human.
Angel simply sat on the couch as he purposely built up the tension, smugly. "Yeah my Shansu came true. I'm human, no fangs, no Angelus, just a healthy beating heart. I just woke up one night, went into the bathroom. When I looked in the mirror, there I was. I must say I'm better looking than I first thought." He chuckled as he was hit, playfully, on the arm by Cordelia. "It was like your visions, one day they're there the next they're not."
"Angel my visions didn't just disappear, they were ripped from my head. I was at my first day at the hospital and I felt a pain sear through my head like when I used to get vision but I felt them pulling at my head. It felt like they were pulling extra long hairs out of my legs. Then they were gone. I woke up to find myself on the neuro-psyc ward again except the voices were gone but the memories of all the people that we saved were still there. I guess they decided I wasn't worthy anymore huh?"
"No, that was around the time that I receive my new seer. He told me you had lost them. If I had know I would have..."
"What? Stopped them taking them, you couldn't do anything to stop them. My life goes on Angel. It was just as well 'Cos three days later I found out about Angelica and I doubt Visions + Pregnancy = Bliss, plus having Angelica takes up a lot of my time no so I wouldn't have time for the PTB little slide show."
Angel beamed feeling his heartbeat accelerate and the butterflies flutter in his stomach. It was a new sensation to him and he didn't like it. He hesitantly got to his feet before dropping to his knees in front of Cordelia, smiling.
"Get up you big auff." She shrieked trying to drag Angels muscular build off the floor.
"Cordelia let me do this before I wimp out again. Cora, I have loved you for 8 years as my best friend and as a lover. I can't believe I left you ever get away from me." He reached slowly into his duster pocket and pulled out a little velvet box. "Now don't squeal or cry or get all gushy on me 'Cos you'll make me cry. Will you make me very happy and be my wife, please."
Cordelias hands rushed to her face as emotions over came her. Angel pulled her hands apart to find glass tears trickling down her cheeks. She was crying, crying tears of joy.
"You don't have to ask twice. Yes of course I will. I'll be your long suffering wife forever and ever." She flung her arms around his neck, feeling the comfort of a pulsing beat beneath her arms. He kissed her with joy and passion. He pulled away and began loading up the boxes to take Cordelia home.
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6 Months Later:
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Angel stood at the top of the short runway, dressed in a black breasted jacket, white shirt and black trousers. He looked at all the people sitting on pews that were sinking into the sand, white and lemon roses adorning every pew end and vase that would stand up in the sand. He glanced over all the friends that sat under the canvas marquee. Will sat with Oz, he diamond ring catching the sunlight. Oz had come back to Sunnydale, still with his cool outer shell, confessing his love for the red-headed wicca, but seeing she was with Tara and back off. Tara has seen how much Willow loved Oz and grudgingly let her go. Willow flashed a smile at Angel her hand resting on her widening stomach. Wesley and Anastasia were sitting, glowing in the late June sunlight. Wesley sat clutching at the handkerchief in his hand incase the tears that glistened in his eyes actually feel. Anastasia, her head on Wesley shoulder, slept off the after effects of the long flight from Japan. Angel smiled proudly at Wesley, he had became the man Angel always thought he could be, given a chance. Angel turned back to the front, flashing a quick but nervous smile at the minister.
The string quartet started up as the wedding march filled the air. Angel slowly turned to see Cordelia, dressed in a simple silk cream dress hugging in all the right places making Angel growl inwardly, white roses littered through her, now long, brown curls. Angelica toddled behind, in her pale lemon dress, easily keeping up with her mothers swift pace. Angel gazed deeply into Cordelias eyes as she turned to face him.
The minister began. "Do you, Angel, take Cordelia to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, 'till death do you part?"
Angel lifted her manicured hand and slipped the gold band, with an engraved A in a heart, over her finger. "I Do."
"And do you, Cordelia, take Angel to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, 'till death do you part?"
She slipped his ring over his finger, engraved with a C, and stared into his eyes. "You know I Do."
"You may kiss the bride."
Angel pulled her softly into his arms, kissing her passionately and she replied even more passionately. Whoops, cheers and claps erupted around the over-sized tent. Angel pulled away and picked Angelica up, swinging her over his hip. He took Cordelias hand and lead her down the walkway as his wife. He took in a deep breath, smelling the sweet fragrance of life. Now they could started making up for all those lost years. Now their lives could begin. Again.
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At last it is finished. I'm sorry about the soppy ending but the chapter before was quite depressing. I hope you liked it, if you did TELL ME. if not, TELL ME. Get the hint, please review. Thank-you.
Nuttyginger