A Time to dance
By Aphrodite Sky (
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, I just write about them for the pleasure of it.
Summary: A little puff piece about Angel and Cordy and the beginning of a more intimate relationship between them.
Spoilers: Events up to and including Epiphany
Author's note: So this ends my little story. I'm not sure I'm completely satisfied with the very end, but if I get a better idea I may edit. Thank you to everyone who has given my positive reviews for this so far. It really makes it easier to know that others appreciate your efforts.
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From Part III
Angel didn't notice Wesley's fatigue. He looked at Cordy, the tightness in his chest had eased to that pleasing ache. I don't believe it. Could the forces of the Earth finally be working in my favour? He held his hand out to Cordy and when she took it, he squeezed them together. He saw a small, tentative smile forming on Cordy's lips. When he smiled in response, no grinned - he couldn't help but note, Cordy's smile grew and her shoulders relaxed.
"Cordy…" he said… "I…"
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Part IV - The Soul
Cordy leant over to him before he could finish the sentence and placed her arms around him, tears welling in her eyes.
"Can you believe it?" she asked, echoing his thoughts. "I didn't. It is a dream come true, Angel." Her tears were well and truly falling now.
Angel pressed his body up against Cordy, stroking her hair with his hand. He hugged her as close to him as he could. In the corner of his eye, he saw Wesley and Gunn slinking away to a dark nook. He nuzzled his face against her neck and whispered in her ear, the words she most wanted to hear.
"I love you, Cordy."
He pulled back a bit so he could look her in the eye. "It took me a while to realise it, and I've done a lot of stupid things in the last month or two." He wiped a tear from Cordy's cheek and continued, "I've lived for centuries and have been damned to relive the past over and over. Getting mixed up with Darla again just served to keep me dwelling on past injustices. I want to move on, to start a new existence - with you."
Cordy's joy was increased with Angel's words and she squeezed his hand tighter. However, something was still niggling at the back of her mind. Something she had tried to ignore, but continued to enter her thoughts. Swallowing her fear she decided she had to say it. That one name which could undo everything.
"What about…" she swallowed again, her emotions choking the words in her throat.
Buffy?" Angel finished for her. She could only nod, words still escaping her.
"Buffy is the past," Angel stated. "You are the future - my future." He could see the pure relief, which passed over Cordy as she took in what he was saying.
He stood, pulling her up with him. With his right hand, he tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear, just as he had done on the dancefloor. So beautiful, he mused. If he had a heartbeat it would be racing. Instead, he felt an aching need reaching the centre of his being.
She was lost in those eyes again. They were so deep, so entrancing and they were gazing at her full of love and hope. Love. Hope. She could scarcely believe it. Wrapping her arms around his strong torso, she prayed, silently, that he would kiss her. She needed to feel his lips on hers to seal the commitment to each other.
As he stared into her eyes, Angel watched with wonder - Cordy's emotions, so pure, so true. Leaning in to her, he pressed his lips against hers. Eagerly she responded, urgently, as if it were their last moment on Earth. Her heart fluttered loudly in his ear as they came together as one. Souls melding together, joining in joy.
Angel relished in the feelings Cordy was creating in him, but he could not give in to them completely. Not yet. There was still something to be done.
"Cordy," he said, ruefully breaking off their kiss. "There will be time for us, but we need to get this incantation done, quickly, so we can begin shaping a new future."
"WESLEY," Angel called.
From the shadows a reply came, "Are you ready for the ritual?"
"Yes, we are. How long until you can recite the incantation?" Angel asked.
"I'll need to pop in at home to pick it up," Wesley said as he made his way back into the lit area of the foyer. "I'll have to get some Juniper berries too."
"Just hurry up," Cordy was beginning to get impatient. She was imagining all the things she and Angel would be able to share once the curse was lifted. All the joy and 'True Happiness', but most of all she just wanted to be alone with him. Just having him hold her was enough to send a shiver down her spine. It felt electric everywhere a part of his body was touching hers.
"Alright then, give me an hour or two and I'll be back. Come on Gunn, you'll need to drive so I can practise the incantation," he glanced back to Angel and Cordy. "Just control yourselves until I return, otherwise you know what will happen." With that warning reinforced with a stern glare at both of them, Wesley and Gunn retreated through the door, leaving them alone.
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Angel sat down in the wing chair, pulling Cordy onto his lap as he went. She fitted her head into the little hollow in his shoulder, letting out a small sigh.
"Angel?"
"Hmm.." he responded
"I love you, you know." It was the first time she had ever told anyone those three words. She'd never had time to tell Xander before the 'Willow experiment'. In hindsight she discovered that her feelings for Angel now where much stronger and deeper than anything she had felt for Xander.
"Just as well," Angel sighed.
Cordy looked up slightly, a perplexed look creasing her forehead. "Why do you say that, broody boy?" she teased.
"The Powers That Be would look pretty silly right now if you and I hated each other. Can't 'become one' when you don't get along, can you?" He was trying very hard not to smile at his attempt at witty repartee, but didn't really succeed.
So, he wants to be a comedian now, does he? "Who said I wanted to 'become one' anyway. If sharing you soul means sharing your sense of humour and your dress sense, then I don't want it. Keep your mouldy old soul," she retorted. She made a move to get up, but her pulled her back down. In the process, she accidentally kicked him in the shin with her heel.
"Ow," he complained.
Cordy shut him up by smashing her lips into his, her fingers digging into his shoulders. She felt him respond as he moved his hands up and down her back, but when his hands snaked around towards the buttons of her shirt, she ended the kiss.
"Uh Uh," she chided, "Broody boy needs to learn patience." She placed her head back in the hollow of his chest. They stayed that way, content, until Wesley and Gunn returned with the incantation.
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The ritual was over in minutes. A bit of a light show as these things tend to be, but ultimately unimpressive.
"Is that it?" Cordy asked incredulously, "a couple of Romanian words, throw Jupiter berries at him, and that's it? We could have done this ages ago. I thought this curse was supposed to be unbreakable, but all you need is four words."
Wesley threw up his hands in anguish. "Cordy, it's more the ritual than the words. Most of the work had already been done. The Gypsy Elders would have completed their own ceremony to remove the curse. All that was left for us to do was take care of the 'formalities'. And it's JUNIPER berries, not Jupiter."
"What Ever," she huffed.
"Wesley," Angel said quietly as he stared at Cordy. He hadn't taken his eyes off her since the ritual began.
"Yes, Angel," Wesley replied as Cordy looked back to Angel.
"I think it is time you and Gunn went home, don't you?"
"Well, actually I was going to fix up the - " Wesley looked from Angel to Cordelia and back again. They were staring at each other, transfixed as if in a trance, "Well, yes - on second thoughts it can wait until another time. Let's go, Gunn, we won't be needed here again tonight."
Gunn shook his head as he mumbled, "We're not gonna get any work done for weeks, now. I can see it happening. You an' me, Wesley, we're gonna have to do all the work until they snap out of it."
With that, the two men made their exit. Wesley permitted himself a small smile as they closed the door behind them.
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The two of them had never shared such a moment in all the time they had known each other. It was unexpected. There had been no 'signs' that this was coming. The Powers that Be had not sent Cordy a vision about this. This fact was another that seemed to make the entire situation unbelievable. Nonetheless, it had happened - it was happening, and Cordy had never felt such emotion and joy in her life.
Cordy smiled as the door closed behind Wesley and Gunn. They were alone. No curse. Free to love, free to be together. 'Become one', that is how the Powers That Be had described it. Angel's soul was secure; it was to be part of her. Just as Angel was to embrace her soul.
The ritual had been short, and Cordy had been critical of it when Wesley and Gunn were there. However, she had not told them how she felt - in her heart and her mind - the unshackling of Angel's soul.
No words were necessary; they knew all that needed to be known. Anything else would come later. Now it was time for them to follow their destiny and to become one soul - spiritually, cognitively and physically.
Angel closed the distance between them with two large steps. Enfolding her in his arms, he lifted her off the ground. She relaxed in Angel's embrace, letting her body react to his closeness. Cordy traced her fingers across his face, discovering the contours she found there. That smile that made her heart jump appeared on his face, the smile that melted her heart.
As he held her, his thoughts were moving quicker than ever before. The ache that I felt before - It's different now - as if it's been satisfied, quenched. Is it really true?
"Yes," Cordy said, "it's true."
A smile of wonderment adorned Angel's face as he bent his head to enclose her mouth in a deep, passionate kiss.
Yes, he thought, everything is right with the world.
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The End
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