Too Ill to grammer/spellcheck it. Sorry
At All Costs - Part Five
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Cordelia woke slowly from her deep sleep. The groggy feeling from the spent pain killers clouded her mind as she brought herself into the land of the living. Angel was sitting at the foot of the bed, clothed and a tray with breakfast things sitting on his lap.
"Mmm Morning, What are you doing up? It's morning and you are nocturnal. What you got there?" Cordelia asked looking down at the breakfast tray in hunger.
"Afternoon! I thought after four days of dream food you could do with some real food. We have cereal with chopped strawberries and toast, plain, I knew you didn't like butter. I didn't know what you would like." He shrugged shyly.
"I'll have the cereal. I could get used to this you know; waking up with you bringing breakfast in bed. You could take Dennis place and maybe he could have a retirement break in Hawaii. What time is it anyway?"
"It's 1:30 in the afternoon, we are going to get some visitor today. Everyone really want to see you." A door bell rang in the distance. "And that would be the first ones."
Dennis opened the door so Angel wouldn't get burnt. The two visitors walked straight in used to door being opened without a visible owner. Angel let out at sigh at the sound of the very different voices that now filled the house.
"I tell ya English, it was Astaroth. He was big bad and ugly, plus I saw it in one of your olde books." Gunn insisted.
"Gunn, you should pay more attention it was Ascaroth. Sound the same but it was too easy to kill. Astaroth was one of the chief Devils where as Ascaroth was a demon of spies. It remains well hidden and can take on many disguises, that's why you took so long to find it."
Angel moved back down to the foot of the bed and cleared his throat loudly. "What is this about the Chief Devils?"
"Nothin' man it was just English being a know-it-all again. How ya doing Cordelia? We brought flowers didn't we WESLEY." Gunn kicked Wesley gently in the shin.
"What, yes flowers." Wesley looked up from his walking stick for the first time on entering the room. "Good God girl! What did they do to you Cordelia?" Wesley exclaimed at Cordelias thick bandages.
"Way to make me feel better. It isn't as bad as it looks, well almost as bad. They come off when I go to the hospital to get the stitches out in 14 days. So what ya been slaying?"
"Astaroth!"
"Ascaroth!" They said in unison.
"Listen, MAN, I am the Watcher, I was taught about mythology and demonology for many years in a top institute. You." He pointed at Gunn "Are just the Freelance. I think that I might know better than you."
"You just had to fling your education back in my face, didn't ya." Gunn joked. "So Cordelia, when are you coming back to LA? English here needs someone to show him how to use a cross-bow properly. He hold it like a girl."
"I'm sure ..esley...esley."
"Wesley. She having trouble with some W words and some words with F's in them so far. The doctors said it was normal. Guys do you want tea, a diet soda, coffee."
Gunn asked for a coffee while Wesley followed Angel into the more utensiled kitchen and helped him with the coffee while balancing on his walking stick.
"So Angel what really happened to her?" Wesley asked now they were out of Cordelias ear shot.
"She was kidnapped by Darla and Lindsey. They used magicks so I couldn't have stopped them from taking her. Someone called Isabelle went to the Magic Box and said that you had sent them. Well Tara, a Wicca, Willows girlfriend, didn't know better and I was helping Buffy in a battle so Tara let her go. It took a while what with the daylight and all, but me and Spike tracked her down. She was at the Bronze and she stake Darla. Cordelia would had been better if Lindsey hadn't back handed her and she fell from the top floor to the ground. Giles had to bring her round. I can't believe how close we all came to losing her."
"Sound like you had another wake up call Angel. Lets hope you let us all in this time. Cordelia was ever so destressed when you went Absent With Out Leave. She told me about Doyle but apart from that she didn't talk a word except when the business was started up again. I think it was because it reminded her of you. I warn you now Angel, and I realise I am in no position to, but you hurt her again and I will stake you myself, if I can get near you. So Cordelia killed Darla huh?"
"Yeah, she's stronger than I was." Angel muttered to himself.
"Cordelia is not stronger than you. Oh I get what you mean. She has always been a strong girl Angel, you walking out made a harder shell. You have to break down some of that shell again. It will take time but I am sure you will be the best of friends again in no time."
"Me and Cordelia already made up when she was in her coma. We sorted everything out and I am coming back to work but I will work for you this time so I can't go firing any of you. Now we better get these back to Cordelia, she has to take medication."
The little group sat on Cordelia bed, Gunn and Wesley still arguing about the demon they had slayed the night before. They were disturbed from repairing their shattered group by a firm knock on the door.
Gunn rose from the bed and pulled the heavy door back to reveal a little blonde standing in the afternoons sunshine.
Buffy looked strangely at the dark-skinned man in front of her, having never seen him before. 'He is human at least.' she though to herself.
"Hi, I'm here to see Angel. I'm Buffy."
Gunn pulled his sunglasses down his nose and looked her up and down. He spread his arm to the left motioning for her to come in. She walked in unrestricted and Gunn smiled.
"He's in Cordelia's room with Wesley."
Buffy lifted an eyebrow and followed Gunns towering figure into a large room where she saw Wesley sitting at the foot of the bed balancing a wooden walking stick on his knee. Angel sat, his legs on the bed, beside Cordelia who had a glass of water in her hand and throwing little blue pills down her throat and quickly swallowing the water.
"Hiya Cordelia, Wesley...Angel." She hesitated.
"Hi Bu...Bu...Slayer." Cordelia stuttered.
Buffy looked at Cordelia then turned her gaze to Angel quizzically.
"She's having trouble with some words like Wesley and your name." Gunn cleared his throat loudly. "Oh sorry this is Gunn, he's a...freelance Vampire hunter."
"Great you get to freelance in my job now. I'm meant to be the only one. You know; Unto each generation a Slayer is born."
"Oh Buffy: The Vampire Slayer! Sorry I expected you to be..um..bigger, a lot bigger. I could kick your ass."
"I get that a lot. You know what they say about small packages: We bite back. Cordelia tell him."
"Gunn she'll kick your ass. She can kick Angel's ass, literally."
"I thought I would give you the latest on the lawyer. Someone put out a Missing Persons on him, Lehia? Anyway he's gone a little insane, Darla has that effect on people. The Initiative took him to Rio for some um..how did Riley put it? Reprogramming. It's not good to be besotted with a 400 hundred year old Vampire." Buffy missed
"Is that just available for humans or can Vampire get help as well?" Cordelia slyly asked.
Wesley, Gunn and Cordelia turned and looked directly at Angel and burst out in laughter. Buffy looked on from the doorway, never feeling so left out in her life. It was a new experience for her. During the time she had been in Sunnydale, she had, had Willow Giles and Xander by her side then Angel, she had never felt completely left out until now. She turned her attention away from the laughing group at the feel of a familiar presence staring at her back. She turned to find Spike standing with an annoyed look on his face. He walked straight past her and into the room.
"What the bloody hell is all this bloody noise? It's 3 O'clock in the bloody afternoon for Gods sake. Can't a Vampire get any sleep."
Cordelia let out an harsh laugh while Wesley and Angel smirked haplessly at him. Gunn raised his eyebrow and looked away in disgust. It was Buffy who spoke up.
"Nice boxers Spike, always been a fan of Mickey Mouse? There's me thinking you were always a Donald Duck man."
Spike stared helplessly down at his mid rift, robeless and in full view. Angel tried to hold in his snigger but the innocent look on Spikes face set him off. Wesley followed him while Gunn looked on in pure amazement. Buffy almost felt sorry for the Vampire, she knew he didn't take ridicule very well in front of anyone never mind his Sire. His face changed from innocence to humour as Spike regained his composer.
"Well my Pluto ones have gone missing, Last time I saw them Dennis had them on the other end of a pair of pokers from the fire. So Peaches did you relieve any of that tension last night then? I must admit it was very quiet last night."
They all turned to Angel and Cordelia blushed in the horror at Spikes innuendo. "He's talking about all the tension for worrying about Cordelia. Wesley have you heard of The Prophecy of Shabisha?" Angel asked quickly changing the subject.
"Yes I do believe it is mentioned in the scrolls but I haven't translated that part yet. It is written in the most peculiar language. It reminds me of Leonardo DiVinci's writings, why?"
"Oh you don't have to worry about it, we've already had it translated thanks to Lindsey. He was very...helpful. Don't worry it isn't an battle or demon rising. I willing to accept this part of the scroll." Angel said. He felt Cordelia smile beside him.
"Oh here Cordelia, Willow said to give you this. She will be by later with Giles and Xander. She said something about her mother giving her it when she was ill." Buffy handed her a small square box.
Cordelia opened the box's bowed lid to reveal a Orange, Blue, Red, Green and White Rubix Cube.
"Thanks Slayer, tell..." She paused to think of a description not involving the letters W or F. "Tell Tara's girlfriend Thank-You if you see her before I do." Cordelia let out a cat-like yawn.
"I think Cordelia needs some rest." Angel let out an exaggerated yawn. "And I need some sleep as well. Wesley, Gunn, I'm sure Dennis will make up some rooms if you don't want to drive back to LA on the Chopper."
The two men nodded and Cordelia snuggled deeper under her covers signalling she was ready to go to sleep. Angel closed the door and turned to face her. She smile slyly at him and he winked back at her.
"Wesley why don't you take the scroll over to Giles and try and use some of his reference books to translate some more of it. Gunn, I am sure Buffy would take you to the Magic Box and show you just how bad a little blonde can bite back and then maybe you can take up my slack of patrolling with Spike."
"What old Mickey draw's there? Sure why not." The tough man said as Spike tried to throw a punch at Gunns face but bucked back as the pain ripped through his head.
The three humans left leaving the immortal and the injured party to sleep. Angel walked up the stone steps and into the master bedroom. He lay down on the freshly made sheets and closed his eyes.
She was there waiting for him. It had been the first time they had met in their link since Angel had asked Cordelia to wake up. She was standing in her white PJ's smiling. He gently took her outstretched hand and they began to walk towards a group of people standing around in a circle.
"Cora what's going on? How did all these people get here?"
"The people are here because I wished them here. Just watched."
Angel stood back, his hand still in Cordelias and watched as the crowd threw hands full of confetti into the air and cheered. A woman and a man parted the excited crowd, the man dressed in a morning suit and the woman in a flowing cream dress. Angel turned to Cordelia.
"Cordelia why are we watching a wedding? Is it someone we know?"
"Angel this is what I want you to do when you get your Shansu. I know I won't be alive when you turn human and I'm OK with that really but I don't want you to mope when I'm gone. I want you to find someone else you love and if it feels right, get married to them and have lots of kids." Angel looked at her quizzically. "Listen Brood features, I want you to be as happy as you make me and I know I can't give you a family and all that mushy stuff so this is what I want you to do. Promise me?"
"Cordelia I can't pro..."
"PROMISE ME!" She shouted.
"OK, I promise you Cordelia but it won't be someone I love as much as you. Now come on, out of here. You need your rest now, and I have something's to do."
He waved Cordelia off as the mists descended once again into his mind. He woke up immediately and got back out of bed. He reached out for his cell phone and dialled out the number.
"Willies Bar, Willie speaking."
"Willie, it's Angel. Listen I need you to create an identify for a Mr. William O'Conner. Social Security, driver's licence, everything."
"Angel..." Willie stammered. "I thought you were in LA. I don't do that stuff anymore. I have a wife, kids to support. I don't do the demon thing anymore."
"Willie, I don't like being lied to, Spike was there last night. I'll pay what ever you need."
Willies voice changed at the sound of money. "Sure thing Angel, I'll get on it. I can get you them for Monday. Just come in and pick them up."
Angel hung up the cell phone abruptly and smiled to himself.
Later:
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Cordelia awoke to hear muffled voices of mixed anger and disbelief. She gentle pulled herself out of bed and stumbled out of her room into the living room. Cordelia propped herself up on the near-by couch, still a little unsteady on her feet, and watched Angel and Wesleys conversation.
"Angel I translated the part of the scroll you said you had done and I must say I am rather confused as to it's meaning."
"You mean the prophecy of Shabisha? I told you me and Cordelia had translated it."
"Yes but I was curious. It says that, 'You destiny lies within the one who holds your heart, the union of Sights and Protection will bring upon the Final One. The world once again breathes and the Gates are sealed.' Does that mean that you and Buffy will be destined together, the Sights must be her propherical dreams and you are the Protector of light against the evil. So when the two of you...em...then you will seal the gates of Hell?"
"Wesley for a Watcher you can be pretty dumb. When me and Buffy slept together, Hell broke lose and Buffy doesn't get the dreams anymore. Come on Wesley think about it, I know you can do it."
Cordelia cleared her throat loudly drawing the mens attention from each other to her. "Maybe I can shed some light on his mental block. I am a Seer...or a Receiver of Sights! So that means when me and Angel..em...then we will seal the Gates. Lindsey McDonald kindly let it slip before he was carted off to Rio."
Wesley looked surprise but his face soon turned to confusion. "Yes but what about the little matter of one happiness curse?"
"Doesn't exist anymore. When I went off the rails The Powers decided that I was enough trouble so they gave me an anchored soul plus they know about the Scrolls. They are going to everything in their power to make sure the prophecies come true."
"Well let me be the first to congratulate you on the chance to save the world. So you are going to be out of a job then Angel."
"The Gates closing will only stop more demons coming into the human world but there is still the demons that are already here are what we have to fight now."
"I don't think any union is going to be happening any time soon. Well not until I get these stitches out and I get the OK from the doctors. This goes no futher, I think the Slayer's having a hard time getting used to our family."
"I don't get this Final One part though. It could be the last apocalypse but it talk of your union so it has to be something good. I'm thinking it could be the final Vampire. So you get your Shansu when all the Vampires are dusted, which, as we thought, could be lifetimes away. Anyway, I must get back to Rupert. We are so close to translating another section and I think we have finally found common ground in our love for research."
Wesley limped through the Oak door and Cordelia caught a glimpse of the setting sun and a sudden itch to escape the confounds of the mansion developed.
"Angel, if you help me get dressed, can we go out please? I feel like I have been in these four walls for days."
"Cordelia, you know that the doctors told you to rest and that is what you are going to do."
"I wasn't talking a session at the gym or a ride on the Chopper, I just meant a walk or go and visit Giles. But this being Sunnydale, I guess a walk is not such a good idea. Demons much."
"Right we will go and see Giles and Buffy at the Magic Box but only for a little while and we will take the convertible, with the hood up. Now, I'm helping you get dressed?"
Angel helped her take a shower by holding her up, totally amazed by her determination to try and stand on her own. He dressed her in black leather trousers and a long sleeved black jumper with a high roll neck to keep her warm. Cordelia walked out to the car, only aided by Weselys spare walking stick and they headed off to the Magic Box as the last of the suns orange rays disappeared from the blackening sky.
The car pulled up into the vacant lot beside the Magic Box and Cordelia had forsaken the walking stick for the stronger support of Angels arm. They walked proudly into the Magic Box to find Wesley up on the balcony looking for a reference book and Giles behind the counter, hunched over the Scrolls. Willow was sitting behind the computer, a blue flickering on her face highlighting the concentration in her face, Tara was no where to be seen. Giles looked up from the scrolls as the bell above the door pinged.
"Hello Cordelia, how nice to see you up and about. You look so much better then when I last saw you."
Cordelia looked up to the balcony where Wesley was now hanging over it to see what all the commotion was about. "See English, now that is the greeting you give to a sick person. Thanks Giles. I feel a lot better and I owe you a big thank-you for that. Where is Gunn? I thought he was training with Buffy."
"He was but he left with Spike a few minutes ago. I kinda left him a bit black and blue. I don't think he will be taking on any blonde in the near future. So Cordelia, Angel let you out for the night then." Buffy muttered walking out of the training room. Her hands were still covered by training gloves.
"Very funny Slayer. So where is Captain America tonight? You let him out of your sight." Cordelia sized up Buffy, knowing that she had no chance no matter what condition she was in.
"He'll be in later before we go patrolling together. So what is for eats around this place."
"Well Xander and Anya went out for pizza and that was an hour so I don't think we'll be seeing them until tomorrow afternoon. They are like rabbits. I'll phone out for a pizza instead. Cheese, Ham and Pineapple for you Buffy. Cheese and Tomato for me and Wesley. What would you like Cordelia?"
"I'll have what Buffys having but make mine a large."
The group sat in silence until a knock at the door shattered the atmosphere. The pizza delivery boy stared at the group, sensing the tense atmosphere and was glad to leave when Giles had handed over the money. Cordelia balanced the pizza box on Angels knee and handed him a piece. Buffy watched the two intensely.
"I thought you didn't eat normal food Angel." Giles said.
"No he's very strange for a Vampire, he cooks wonderful food and he eats eggs and ice cream. I've never seen you eat pizza before."
"That's because we only order it when your out because you pick all the bits of pineapple off the pizza and complain because you never see what is wrong with a plain pizza." Cordelia mocked.
Wesley pretended to pout before starting to eat his own pizza. Cordelia stuck out her tongue in retaliation and Wesley stuck his out back. Angel let out a small growl. Wesley quickly pulled his tongue back into his mouth and shrunk back. Cordelia smiled at her victory.
"Wesley, I warned Cordelia, now I am warning you. Don't let the wind change on you." Angel stared at Wesley and then broke out into a playful smile. Wesley looked back at him in relief.
The Sunnydale gang just watched in amazement at the interaction between the three Slayerette misfits. They all felt the feeling Buffy had, had when she went to visit Cordelia to find the four of them camped up in Cordelias room. Angel looked at home in their company, a sight she had never saw when he was with her. The interaction was disturbed by the ringing of the bell above the shop door and Riley swaned, ginning happily, into the shop. Angel cautiously sniffed the air and looked quizzically at Riley. Riley bent down and kissed Buffy heavily on the forehead.
"Had a bit of trouble Riley?" Angel asked suspiciously. "You smell like a Vampire!"
"Yeah I...ran into a few of them on the way over here. The Inistive knew there was a nest in the area so i...helped them take care of them." Riley hesitantly asked.
"Yeah and got snacked on by one in the process by the look of your neck. You've got a bite mark." Cordelia piped up.
Buffys eyes flashed at his neck and she had seen them in the same place a few days before when she had been to his dorm before going on patrol. "Oh there old marks. We had a run in with Vampire cult and they got a hold of him but he's still here. It's the pills the army gave him, he doesn't heal as fast as usual."
"Trust me Slayer, i know about bite marks and they are as fresh as a daisy. I think some one has been telling lies somewhere along the line." Cordelia joked.
Riley turned angrily to face Cordelia and stared at her with eyes red in fury. "Buffy are you ready to go or are we gonna sit here and discuss my medical history a little more?" He spat.
Buffy put down her pizza and grabbed her jacket. The stakes that were sitting on the shop counter were quickly hidden in various places around her person as she gathered her hair up in her 'don't-mess-with-me' ponytail while Riley stood in the corner tapping his foot inpatcaniantly. Buffy nodded her goodbyes before Riley hurrdily pulled her out of the door, just missing Cordelias "Touchy, much!"
By the time Gunn and Spike returned back to the shop Giles had retired back to his apartment leaving Wesley still with his nose in the reference books. Anya and Xander still hadn't returned with the pizza but had, instead, phoned to let Giles know that they would see him in the mornig. Cordelia had fallen asleep in Angels lap and Angel sat, quite happily, stroking her hair. He had been reading her the last few chapters of the book since Cordelia had found it hard to focus on Willows computer. She had fallen asleep at, what Angel conseeded, as the the best part. Fergual and Mary had married after he had returned home from the richer lands in Europe and had finished when Fergual bought the mansion that he had longed for as a child, realising that his life was now complete. Angel was relieved when Cordelia had fell asleep before the end so she would not have heard the longing in his voice as he realised that he and Fergual shared a common propose: To furfil their dreams. Angel was already part way there but his soul cried silently as he realised that even with his Shansu he would never really furfil his dream to watch Cordelia walk down the ilse towards him, to father her children and to grow old with her in some old arm chair smelling of shared love and contentment. But that would never happen because Angels Shansu would only happen after lifetimes of battles, he couldn't rely on Lindseys rablings and Cordelia wasn't immortal, only to his heart and memory.
Cordelia stired in Angels lap and turned upwards slowly to face him. A large smile spread across her face as she woke to his intense chocolate eyes.
"Hey." She whispered sleepily. "I thought you would still be asleep."
"I didn't want to sleep incase i ended up back on that Phykick link of ours and you needed your sleep. Instead i stayed up and watched you sleep. You do realise that you mutter in your sleep and i am sure we can pick up on those mutterings when we need to complete our union!" She smiled at him again and his heart took a leap.
"Now i am going for a shower because i smell like a Angel and a mans scent on a woman doesn't smell the same plus you look a state so why don't you get some sleep. I can amuse myself exploring" She noted his concerned features. "Relax, i'll stay in the house. You could have secret panels and stuff in this house."
"OK, i conced defeat but do you need a hand in the shower." Cordelia pulled the best 'Kinky Vampire.' face she could manage and struggled off Angels chest and trudged off towards the shower.
~~**~~
Cordelia peared her head around Angels door frame and found him blissfully sleeping, deader to the world. Cordelia smiled to herself wickedly and began to explore the house that was once Angels home. The livingroom had been fully explored with her general shuffling in the boredom of her injury. Her room had one hollow panel but she couldn't find the switch that opened and unlike in the movies, there wasn't any books that she could pull and the dooor would magically pop open. In fustration she thumped her fists weakly off the panel and an idea sprung to mind. Spikes Room!
Spike had been caught by the first rays of sunshine and he and Gunn had sought refused at Giles who was rather angry at being waken up at 5am in the morning. She cationously opened the door, it creaked under it's own weight, and the darkened rooms musty scent hit her. She walked over to the window and forced it open, luckily on the ivy free side of the house, on let the suns natural light flood in. The site that greeted her was a surprise. There were books neatly stacked in the corner, clothes neatly folded on the bed side chair. All of the gels that Spike used on his hair were neatly stacked against a smashed mirrior, not that he would ever need to use it. She started work on the walls, lightly tapping her knuckles agains the wood and listening for a change in pitch of the return sound. Tap, Tap. Tap, tap. That was it, she had found a hidden panel. Her fingers serched along the picture rail feeling for an indent or a liuttle hook that would spring the panel. A sharp groove caught her finger and the door popped open. It was alittle cabinet buried deep into the wall like a safe without the metal door to protect it's contents. There were only two things in it: A leather bound book and a lock of blonde hair tied in a pink piece of ribbon. She carefully pulled out the leather bound book, expecting it to be covered in a thick layer of dust and she had discovered it a hidden treasure. She opened the first page to find the yellowed page covered in a scriptured writing.
"William the Bloody, Spike."
She held in a gasp as she realised she was holding Spikes diary. Cordelia pealed back the first page and sat down on the neatly made bed to read.
*I don't know what the hell has happened to me. There was this woman, an amazing woman who promised me she could show me a whole different world. The did something to my neck, bit me and the next thing i know i am being pulled out the ground by the same woman. I tried to breath but i found i didn't need to, it's bloody amazing. I could hear the insects in the air, the hum of the night and i could smell the jasmine from the near-by trees. The night was no longer night, it was alive. I could see the bats that hoovered upside-down from the trees. The strength, man the strength, i can feel in my body is fantastic. I have power, i'm no longer the skinny freak that they boo out of inns because of my poetry: i could take them all on now.
The girl has done something, she tried to explain it to me. I'm a Vampire; how stupid does that sound? They are of old folk stories and wives tale: There is no such thing. But there is, i felt it. I got real angry as this woman, Drucillia, danced around me calling me her childe, and i felt my face transform and the strength in body grew. I have all these memories but i feel nothing for all the bad things i did, even that sailor that i killed in Italy.
This Is Amazing*
Cordelia at last knew what Angel must have felt like when he woke up to find Darla by his grave, the feeling that he had as he grew to the new power he had. Spike had been there as well and she soon began to feel for the Vampire, the misunderstood Vampire. Cordelia flipped to the last page that had been written on, dated the night before.
*All this damn book is full of now is things about HER. The bloody Slayer. I sat trying to figure out where it all started and the truth is; i don't know. She attracts Vampires like a fly to shit, i know that is bloody awful but it's true. Look at Peaches, he was whipped if ever i seen it and i used to curse and hate him for it but now i totally understand what he is going through.
I seen him pine over the Cheerleader, Cordelia, in hospital. He sat by her bed for the whole time she was i there, never moving from her side. That is WHIPPED but then i realised if Buffy was in the same place i would do that. Her Nancy friends wouldn't let me and that Watcher...you would think he was her dad or some'it. I envy her you know? She has this great bunch of friends and her mum makes some mean fried eggs but i couldn't even keep a hold of Dru and she was glued to me.
GOD I HATE SLAYERS: NO I Love my Slayer.*
Cordelia dropped the book and her hand flew to her mouth in surprise as a little squel escaped. Angel came thundering down the hall in responce to the thump and a cry oput from Cordelia. He was realived to find her still standing but also with a look of the-cat-got-the-cream.
"Cordelia what happened? I heard you scream and what are you doing in Spikes room?"
"Has Spike mentioned a girl, a woman that he likes?"
Angel looked at her, not sure where the conversation was going, not sure if he wanted to know. "Yes, while we were at the hospital and looking for you why?"
"I know who she is." She stated simply. "It's Buffy!"
Angel stared at the unsteady girl standing with the old book back in her hands. "What do you mean 'It's Buffy'?"
Cordelia smiled at the reaction of surprise instead of the jealousy she had expected. "Spike has fallen in love with Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, you know your destiny." She winced. "Look!" She pointed to the last line in the diarys passage. 'I Love My Slayer!!'
Angel shrugged his shoulders and turned away from Cordelia. "I kinda guessed. Spike had said that if the woman he loved ended up in the O.R then nothing could save if her strength couldn't. In a funny way, i think that Buffy loves Spike as well but she is taking too long to realise it. I think Spike just needs some ammo to show Buffy how he really feels."
Angel swung around and picked his jumper up from Cordelias bed and then his duster before fleeing out of the door leaving Cordelia concerned in his wake.
~~**~~
As Angel neared the bar he could see the blonde Vampire waiting for him. Spike sat playing with the glass of O+ waiting for his Sire, who had told him that he held the key to his happiness. Spike had laughed and snorted but he was like a moth to a candle and not caring if he got burnt.
"Right Peaches, what is going on? You are acting all cryptic again. At least Angelus was straight to the point."
Angel grabbed Spikes leather sleeve and pulled him around to the other side of the bar. Spike watched as Riley strode in bold as brass and sat down at the bar beside a Vampiress. He nodded to her and they left the bar, with Angel and Spike in stealth following. They followed them back to the old Sunnydale High School, chared and burnt beyond reconistion except to the students who had burnt it down. Nothing could have prepared Spike for what he saw when he rounded the corner to one of the locker room off the gym. Angel, on the other hand, had seen it all before in the bars in the seedier parts of LA.
Riley sat on a make shift bed, reveling the adreniline that was pumping through his body, the light headed feeling as his body neared the edge, lack of oxygen making him see things: But it was his fix for that night. The Vampiress withdrew her fangs and licked the spot where they had just been. Riley stood up and handed her, her money before she left into the night. Riley soon followed her now that his deal had been done.
"God!" Spike thumped his fist into the crumbling wall. "I can't believe he would do that to Buffy. He says he loves her."
"He's not the only one. Cordelia found your diary; i know about Buffy." Spike put up his fists in a defensive stanse. Angel chuckled at his Childe. "I'm OK with it but you have to say something to her about Riley because she would only think i was being jealous. I think she feels the same but you know with you being a Vampire and trying to kill her at so many points in her life i think she just needs a nudge in the right direction."
"You are ever a poof if i ever heard one. Next you'll be giving the address of an agony aunt in some magazine the cheerleader reads. Just forget it mate."
"Spike! Why do you think you helped Buffy out when it came to defeating Adam? The Buffy-Bot helped her out when she had to go on her search for the First Slayer. Just tell her while i go and sort out Riley. He has one problem...all brawl and no brains, while i have both."
Spike snorted in hilarity but the two Vampires parted, marching off in opposite directions. One was harbouring a guilt and feeling dread for the first time in his un-life. The other was heading off to finish the night playing games with a certain ex-commando who had a very large debt to pay.
He couls see her through the window. She was combing her hair, it's soft blonde hazy in the dim light of her room. Buffy was dressed up for a night of slaying, her weapons conceled in ever imaginible place. Spike tried hard to not imagine where they were hidden and instead tapped lightly on the window pane. Buffy slid the window up and let the blonde Vampire in.
"What do you want Spike? 'Cos if you want a slagging match, i don't have time. I am late for my patrol as it is so hurry up."
Spike hestitantly stepped inside the Slayers room and let her scent wash over his. "Slayer sit down, there's something i need to tell you."
Buffy heard the worry in her voice and cautiously sat on the end of her bed. "It isn't Dawn is it?"
"No, she's hanging out with doughball, sorry, Xander and the demon. This is something about Riley."
Buffy sprung to her feet and stood up in front of Spike. "What, is he hurt? Is he in a battle. I told him not to patrol without me."
Spike growled and pushed Buffy back down to the bed by the shoulders. "Sit down Slayer. No he isn't hurt. We were out...er...patroling and we saw Riley going into the old high school, you know the one you burnt down. He wasn't alone. There was a femal Vampire, she was feeding from him. Riley was a willing victium but she stopped before ghe was draned. Buffy he paid her like some whore for sex."
Buffy stood up again and turned Spike around with his pacing until he felt the back of his knees hit the edge of the bed where she had been sitting. Spike watched it happen in front of his eyes bt could do little to stop her reaction. A resounding slap landed across Spikes face. "You lier. Your fucking liar." Buffy sethed. "You ever come near me or my friends and i will stake you so help me God."
Spike tried to reach out for Buffy as she ran passed him but she swatted his body away with souch force that he was back on the bed. Buffy lauched herself out of the window as across the roof before dropping and running in the direction of the cemetery. Spike sat on the bed, his head in his heads knowing that this was a bad idea. He thumped his hands on her comforter and followerd her scent out of the window, shouting, 'God I Hate Slayers!'
~~**~~
Angel had, had his fun with Riley, following him around all night, freaking him out in every alley way until he ran back into Willies, his face pure white in fear. Cordelia was sitting on the couch, her bandage now removed from her head as it was giving her 'a flat hair do.' Her speech had returned to normal and she was steady on her feet.
"Oh your back. Where did you go in such a hurry huh?"
"I had to show Spike something. For the first time, Spike reminded me of myself when i was first souled: insercure and still acting the Big 'I Am' because he is scared to admit to himself just how much of a heart he has."
"Cryptic, much! Anyway brood-boy, while you were out showing Spike he had a heart, Wes and Gunn went home. Wesley has a hospital appointment in the morning and Gunn has gone to get my apartment ready for when i get back, taking Dennis with him, and tidy up the hotel. They took the Plymouth with them and left the Chopper here."
"Right we are going to pack our bags and then we are heading home." Cordelia looked at him in confusion. "I miss LA and Spike discovering a heart is going to have concequences, whether good or bad and i don't want to be around when they happen. Plus you have to remember that your visions are going to come bvack soon and neather Gunn or Wesley are in a state to fight."
"I wish we could stay here. I get you to myself and i get to wake up beside you every night. It's just us, no demons, no past, no visions. You'll go back to that lonely, big, olde hotel and i wil go back to my comfy, possesed apartment."
"I can come over every night. I'm nocternal don't forget."
"So will i occasionally wake up and find you in my bed?"
"Will i occasionally sleep and find you in my dreams?"
"You better or your in big trouble buster." She giggled and wrapped her arms around Angels neck. "Now are you going to be a good little Vampire and pack Miss Cordys bags for her because i'm still too ill to do much?" Cordelia pouted inbetween feather light kiss along Angels jaw. "Hold on if Wes and Gunn took the Plymouth, how are we going to get our bags home?"
"We're not taking the Chopper home, Giles the Ripper is then coming home a few days later on the bus. He and Wes are on a big research kick. We are flying home, First Class."
Cordelia sprung up from the couch and began fliting around the room picking up objects while Angel just watched in amusment. "Well don't just sit there. Help me pack you big ofth." Cordelia shouted at Angel.
~~**~~
Spike struted through the graveyard, her scent hanging the air like a calling card. Her unqiue scent of vinilla and cinimmion invading his nostrels. He could hear her grunts and struggles before he could see them and he sensed the Vampires that she was fighting. As he rounded over the hill, he could see her surrounded by ten Vampires, each taking a hit but Buffy never having a ahance to stake or maim any before they got back up and started their attack on her again. Spuike ran uinto the middle and stood back to bnack with the Slayer as their armouray flew in every direction. Spike with hissilver handed stake and Buffy with her trusty Mr. Pointy dusted seven of the vamps fbefore turning tot he last three. They looked at each other then back at Buffy and Spike standing side by side and decided begtter of it. They turned heel and ran leaving Spike to try and explain himself to Buffy. She turned to him, hate and anger in her eyes.
"I thought i told you stay away from me!" She held her stake inches from his heart.
"Whoa Slayer, let me explain. What i told you was the truth. Listen if you don't believe me, i don't blame you, but talk to Angel he saw it all. Riley was willing playing snack food for a Vampire."
Buffy turned away from his and hugged herself against the suddern cold. "I know." She whispered. "I know about Riley." She repeated, turning back to face Spike with tears rolling down her face. "I've know about Riley for a month. I've been smelling it around him all the time, the Vampire bites, his constant disappearences. I slayed his first one but he must have found someone else."
Spike walked over and slide his arms around her, trying to comfort her platonically and yearning for more. She smothered her head into his leather duster, sliding her arms around his neck. Spike gently rubbed her back as the sobs racked her body in successive droves. Buffy pulled slowly from him and looked at is face, searching for his soul. Their lips hovered milimeters from each other, Spike feeling her warm breath against his lifeless one. The two connectedin a spark of passiona nd fury, each reveling in the sensations long forgoteen and long missed since the last time they had kissed. Tounges intermoingled as they deepened the kiss, Buffys fingers played with the soft, platium hairs on Spikes neck while Spike circles his arms futher around her waist,drawing her ever closer to him. It was minutes before Spike remembered that Buffy was mortal and needed to breathe, regreating that he had to losen his grip on her.
Buffy jumped back from Spike as if he were on fire but still clung to her hand. "I shouldn't have done that!" She forced out in panted breaths.
"You did, you know it was right."
"No it wasn't right. You're a Vampire, i'm a Slayer. It's not natural, we're born enemies."
"That has never stopped either of us before. Please just have tonight."
Buffy looked up from her chest and looked Spike in the eye. She saw his pleading, his urgency, They both had the urgency just feel loved again. A slight nod sealed the deal as Spike took her hand and lead her away from the hilltop.
"Where are we going?" She asked as they left the cemetery.
"Peaches is gone home with his Cheerleader and they have left a nice tidy mansion, a few of Cordelias candle and a big comforter. What do you say."
She didn't need to say anything as they headed towards the old, ivy claimed building just as the sky started to turn form midnight black to shades of indigo as the sun slowly claimed the night.
THE END....at last.
At All Costs - Part Five
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Cordelia woke slowly from her deep sleep. The groggy feeling from the spent pain killers clouded her mind as she brought herself into the land of the living. Angel was sitting at the foot of the bed, clothed and a tray with breakfast things sitting on his lap.
"Mmm Morning, What are you doing up? It's morning and you are nocturnal. What you got there?" Cordelia asked looking down at the breakfast tray in hunger.
"Afternoon! I thought after four days of dream food you could do with some real food. We have cereal with chopped strawberries and toast, plain, I knew you didn't like butter. I didn't know what you would like." He shrugged shyly.
"I'll have the cereal. I could get used to this you know; waking up with you bringing breakfast in bed. You could take Dennis place and maybe he could have a retirement break in Hawaii. What time is it anyway?"
"It's 1:30 in the afternoon, we are going to get some visitor today. Everyone really want to see you." A door bell rang in the distance. "And that would be the first ones."
Dennis opened the door so Angel wouldn't get burnt. The two visitors walked straight in used to door being opened without a visible owner. Angel let out at sigh at the sound of the very different voices that now filled the house.
"I tell ya English, it was Astaroth. He was big bad and ugly, plus I saw it in one of your olde books." Gunn insisted.
"Gunn, you should pay more attention it was Ascaroth. Sound the same but it was too easy to kill. Astaroth was one of the chief Devils where as Ascaroth was a demon of spies. It remains well hidden and can take on many disguises, that's why you took so long to find it."
Angel moved back down to the foot of the bed and cleared his throat loudly. "What is this about the Chief Devils?"
"Nothin' man it was just English being a know-it-all again. How ya doing Cordelia? We brought flowers didn't we WESLEY." Gunn kicked Wesley gently in the shin.
"What, yes flowers." Wesley looked up from his walking stick for the first time on entering the room. "Good God girl! What did they do to you Cordelia?" Wesley exclaimed at Cordelias thick bandages.
"Way to make me feel better. It isn't as bad as it looks, well almost as bad. They come off when I go to the hospital to get the stitches out in 14 days. So what ya been slaying?"
"Astaroth!"
"Ascaroth!" They said in unison.
"Listen, MAN, I am the Watcher, I was taught about mythology and demonology for many years in a top institute. You." He pointed at Gunn "Are just the Freelance. I think that I might know better than you."
"You just had to fling your education back in my face, didn't ya." Gunn joked. "So Cordelia, when are you coming back to LA? English here needs someone to show him how to use a cross-bow properly. He hold it like a girl."
"I'm sure ..esley...esley."
"Wesley. She having trouble with some W words and some words with F's in them so far. The doctors said it was normal. Guys do you want tea, a diet soda, coffee."
Gunn asked for a coffee while Wesley followed Angel into the more utensiled kitchen and helped him with the coffee while balancing on his walking stick.
"So Angel what really happened to her?" Wesley asked now they were out of Cordelias ear shot.
"She was kidnapped by Darla and Lindsey. They used magicks so I couldn't have stopped them from taking her. Someone called Isabelle went to the Magic Box and said that you had sent them. Well Tara, a Wicca, Willows girlfriend, didn't know better and I was helping Buffy in a battle so Tara let her go. It took a while what with the daylight and all, but me and Spike tracked her down. She was at the Bronze and she stake Darla. Cordelia would had been better if Lindsey hadn't back handed her and she fell from the top floor to the ground. Giles had to bring her round. I can't believe how close we all came to losing her."
"Sound like you had another wake up call Angel. Lets hope you let us all in this time. Cordelia was ever so destressed when you went Absent With Out Leave. She told me about Doyle but apart from that she didn't talk a word except when the business was started up again. I think it was because it reminded her of you. I warn you now Angel, and I realise I am in no position to, but you hurt her again and I will stake you myself, if I can get near you. So Cordelia killed Darla huh?"
"Yeah, she's stronger than I was." Angel muttered to himself.
"Cordelia is not stronger than you. Oh I get what you mean. She has always been a strong girl Angel, you walking out made a harder shell. You have to break down some of that shell again. It will take time but I am sure you will be the best of friends again in no time."
"Me and Cordelia already made up when she was in her coma. We sorted everything out and I am coming back to work but I will work for you this time so I can't go firing any of you. Now we better get these back to Cordelia, she has to take medication."
The little group sat on Cordelia bed, Gunn and Wesley still arguing about the demon they had slayed the night before. They were disturbed from repairing their shattered group by a firm knock on the door.
Gunn rose from the bed and pulled the heavy door back to reveal a little blonde standing in the afternoons sunshine.
Buffy looked strangely at the dark-skinned man in front of her, having never seen him before. 'He is human at least.' she though to herself.
"Hi, I'm here to see Angel. I'm Buffy."
Gunn pulled his sunglasses down his nose and looked her up and down. He spread his arm to the left motioning for her to come in. She walked in unrestricted and Gunn smiled.
"He's in Cordelia's room with Wesley."
Buffy lifted an eyebrow and followed Gunns towering figure into a large room where she saw Wesley sitting at the foot of the bed balancing a wooden walking stick on his knee. Angel sat, his legs on the bed, beside Cordelia who had a glass of water in her hand and throwing little blue pills down her throat and quickly swallowing the water.
"Hiya Cordelia, Wesley...Angel." She hesitated.
"Hi Bu...Bu...Slayer." Cordelia stuttered.
Buffy looked at Cordelia then turned her gaze to Angel quizzically.
"She's having trouble with some words like Wesley and your name." Gunn cleared his throat loudly. "Oh sorry this is Gunn, he's a...freelance Vampire hunter."
"Great you get to freelance in my job now. I'm meant to be the only one. You know; Unto each generation a Slayer is born."
"Oh Buffy: The Vampire Slayer! Sorry I expected you to be..um..bigger, a lot bigger. I could kick your ass."
"I get that a lot. You know what they say about small packages: We bite back. Cordelia tell him."
"Gunn she'll kick your ass. She can kick Angel's ass, literally."
"I thought I would give you the latest on the lawyer. Someone put out a Missing Persons on him, Lehia? Anyway he's gone a little insane, Darla has that effect on people. The Initiative took him to Rio for some um..how did Riley put it? Reprogramming. It's not good to be besotted with a 400 hundred year old Vampire." Buffy missed
"Is that just available for humans or can Vampire get help as well?" Cordelia slyly asked.
Wesley, Gunn and Cordelia turned and looked directly at Angel and burst out in laughter. Buffy looked on from the doorway, never feeling so left out in her life. It was a new experience for her. During the time she had been in Sunnydale, she had, had Willow Giles and Xander by her side then Angel, she had never felt completely left out until now. She turned her attention away from the laughing group at the feel of a familiar presence staring at her back. She turned to find Spike standing with an annoyed look on his face. He walked straight past her and into the room.
"What the bloody hell is all this bloody noise? It's 3 O'clock in the bloody afternoon for Gods sake. Can't a Vampire get any sleep."
Cordelia let out an harsh laugh while Wesley and Angel smirked haplessly at him. Gunn raised his eyebrow and looked away in disgust. It was Buffy who spoke up.
"Nice boxers Spike, always been a fan of Mickey Mouse? There's me thinking you were always a Donald Duck man."
Spike stared helplessly down at his mid rift, robeless and in full view. Angel tried to hold in his snigger but the innocent look on Spikes face set him off. Wesley followed him while Gunn looked on in pure amazement. Buffy almost felt sorry for the Vampire, she knew he didn't take ridicule very well in front of anyone never mind his Sire. His face changed from innocence to humour as Spike regained his composer.
"Well my Pluto ones have gone missing, Last time I saw them Dennis had them on the other end of a pair of pokers from the fire. So Peaches did you relieve any of that tension last night then? I must admit it was very quiet last night."
They all turned to Angel and Cordelia blushed in the horror at Spikes innuendo. "He's talking about all the tension for worrying about Cordelia. Wesley have you heard of The Prophecy of Shabisha?" Angel asked quickly changing the subject.
"Yes I do believe it is mentioned in the scrolls but I haven't translated that part yet. It is written in the most peculiar language. It reminds me of Leonardo DiVinci's writings, why?"
"Oh you don't have to worry about it, we've already had it translated thanks to Lindsey. He was very...helpful. Don't worry it isn't an battle or demon rising. I willing to accept this part of the scroll." Angel said. He felt Cordelia smile beside him.
"Oh here Cordelia, Willow said to give you this. She will be by later with Giles and Xander. She said something about her mother giving her it when she was ill." Buffy handed her a small square box.
Cordelia opened the box's bowed lid to reveal a Orange, Blue, Red, Green and White Rubix Cube.
"Thanks Slayer, tell..." She paused to think of a description not involving the letters W or F. "Tell Tara's girlfriend Thank-You if you see her before I do." Cordelia let out a cat-like yawn.
"I think Cordelia needs some rest." Angel let out an exaggerated yawn. "And I need some sleep as well. Wesley, Gunn, I'm sure Dennis will make up some rooms if you don't want to drive back to LA on the Chopper."
The two men nodded and Cordelia snuggled deeper under her covers signalling she was ready to go to sleep. Angel closed the door and turned to face her. She smile slyly at him and he winked back at her.
"Wesley why don't you take the scroll over to Giles and try and use some of his reference books to translate some more of it. Gunn, I am sure Buffy would take you to the Magic Box and show you just how bad a little blonde can bite back and then maybe you can take up my slack of patrolling with Spike."
"What old Mickey draw's there? Sure why not." The tough man said as Spike tried to throw a punch at Gunns face but bucked back as the pain ripped through his head.
The three humans left leaving the immortal and the injured party to sleep. Angel walked up the stone steps and into the master bedroom. He lay down on the freshly made sheets and closed his eyes.
She was there waiting for him. It had been the first time they had met in their link since Angel had asked Cordelia to wake up. She was standing in her white PJ's smiling. He gently took her outstretched hand and they began to walk towards a group of people standing around in a circle.
"Cora what's going on? How did all these people get here?"
"The people are here because I wished them here. Just watched."
Angel stood back, his hand still in Cordelias and watched as the crowd threw hands full of confetti into the air and cheered. A woman and a man parted the excited crowd, the man dressed in a morning suit and the woman in a flowing cream dress. Angel turned to Cordelia.
"Cordelia why are we watching a wedding? Is it someone we know?"
"Angel this is what I want you to do when you get your Shansu. I know I won't be alive when you turn human and I'm OK with that really but I don't want you to mope when I'm gone. I want you to find someone else you love and if it feels right, get married to them and have lots of kids." Angel looked at her quizzically. "Listen Brood features, I want you to be as happy as you make me and I know I can't give you a family and all that mushy stuff so this is what I want you to do. Promise me?"
"Cordelia I can't pro..."
"PROMISE ME!" She shouted.
"OK, I promise you Cordelia but it won't be someone I love as much as you. Now come on, out of here. You need your rest now, and I have something's to do."
He waved Cordelia off as the mists descended once again into his mind. He woke up immediately and got back out of bed. He reached out for his cell phone and dialled out the number.
"Willies Bar, Willie speaking."
"Willie, it's Angel. Listen I need you to create an identify for a Mr. William O'Conner. Social Security, driver's licence, everything."
"Angel..." Willie stammered. "I thought you were in LA. I don't do that stuff anymore. I have a wife, kids to support. I don't do the demon thing anymore."
"Willie, I don't like being lied to, Spike was there last night. I'll pay what ever you need."
Willies voice changed at the sound of money. "Sure thing Angel, I'll get on it. I can get you them for Monday. Just come in and pick them up."
Angel hung up the cell phone abruptly and smiled to himself.
Later:
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Cordelia awoke to hear muffled voices of mixed anger and disbelief. She gentle pulled herself out of bed and stumbled out of her room into the living room. Cordelia propped herself up on the near-by couch, still a little unsteady on her feet, and watched Angel and Wesleys conversation.
"Angel I translated the part of the scroll you said you had done and I must say I am rather confused as to it's meaning."
"You mean the prophecy of Shabisha? I told you me and Cordelia had translated it."
"Yes but I was curious. It says that, 'You destiny lies within the one who holds your heart, the union of Sights and Protection will bring upon the Final One. The world once again breathes and the Gates are sealed.' Does that mean that you and Buffy will be destined together, the Sights must be her propherical dreams and you are the Protector of light against the evil. So when the two of you...em...then you will seal the gates of Hell?"
"Wesley for a Watcher you can be pretty dumb. When me and Buffy slept together, Hell broke lose and Buffy doesn't get the dreams anymore. Come on Wesley think about it, I know you can do it."
Cordelia cleared her throat loudly drawing the mens attention from each other to her. "Maybe I can shed some light on his mental block. I am a Seer...or a Receiver of Sights! So that means when me and Angel..em...then we will seal the Gates. Lindsey McDonald kindly let it slip before he was carted off to Rio."
Wesley looked surprise but his face soon turned to confusion. "Yes but what about the little matter of one happiness curse?"
"Doesn't exist anymore. When I went off the rails The Powers decided that I was enough trouble so they gave me an anchored soul plus they know about the Scrolls. They are going to everything in their power to make sure the prophecies come true."
"Well let me be the first to congratulate you on the chance to save the world. So you are going to be out of a job then Angel."
"The Gates closing will only stop more demons coming into the human world but there is still the demons that are already here are what we have to fight now."
"I don't think any union is going to be happening any time soon. Well not until I get these stitches out and I get the OK from the doctors. This goes no futher, I think the Slayer's having a hard time getting used to our family."
"I don't get this Final One part though. It could be the last apocalypse but it talk of your union so it has to be something good. I'm thinking it could be the final Vampire. So you get your Shansu when all the Vampires are dusted, which, as we thought, could be lifetimes away. Anyway, I must get back to Rupert. We are so close to translating another section and I think we have finally found common ground in our love for research."
Wesley limped through the Oak door and Cordelia caught a glimpse of the setting sun and a sudden itch to escape the confounds of the mansion developed.
"Angel, if you help me get dressed, can we go out please? I feel like I have been in these four walls for days."
"Cordelia, you know that the doctors told you to rest and that is what you are going to do."
"I wasn't talking a session at the gym or a ride on the Chopper, I just meant a walk or go and visit Giles. But this being Sunnydale, I guess a walk is not such a good idea. Demons much."
"Right we will go and see Giles and Buffy at the Magic Box but only for a little while and we will take the convertible, with the hood up. Now, I'm helping you get dressed?"
Angel helped her take a shower by holding her up, totally amazed by her determination to try and stand on her own. He dressed her in black leather trousers and a long sleeved black jumper with a high roll neck to keep her warm. Cordelia walked out to the car, only aided by Weselys spare walking stick and they headed off to the Magic Box as the last of the suns orange rays disappeared from the blackening sky.
The car pulled up into the vacant lot beside the Magic Box and Cordelia had forsaken the walking stick for the stronger support of Angels arm. They walked proudly into the Magic Box to find Wesley up on the balcony looking for a reference book and Giles behind the counter, hunched over the Scrolls. Willow was sitting behind the computer, a blue flickering on her face highlighting the concentration in her face, Tara was no where to be seen. Giles looked up from the scrolls as the bell above the door pinged.
"Hello Cordelia, how nice to see you up and about. You look so much better then when I last saw you."
Cordelia looked up to the balcony where Wesley was now hanging over it to see what all the commotion was about. "See English, now that is the greeting you give to a sick person. Thanks Giles. I feel a lot better and I owe you a big thank-you for that. Where is Gunn? I thought he was training with Buffy."
"He was but he left with Spike a few minutes ago. I kinda left him a bit black and blue. I don't think he will be taking on any blonde in the near future. So Cordelia, Angel let you out for the night then." Buffy muttered walking out of the training room. Her hands were still covered by training gloves.
"Very funny Slayer. So where is Captain America tonight? You let him out of your sight." Cordelia sized up Buffy, knowing that she had no chance no matter what condition she was in.
"He'll be in later before we go patrolling together. So what is for eats around this place."
"Well Xander and Anya went out for pizza and that was an hour so I don't think we'll be seeing them until tomorrow afternoon. They are like rabbits. I'll phone out for a pizza instead. Cheese, Ham and Pineapple for you Buffy. Cheese and Tomato for me and Wesley. What would you like Cordelia?"
"I'll have what Buffys having but make mine a large."
The group sat in silence until a knock at the door shattered the atmosphere. The pizza delivery boy stared at the group, sensing the tense atmosphere and was glad to leave when Giles had handed over the money. Cordelia balanced the pizza box on Angels knee and handed him a piece. Buffy watched the two intensely.
"I thought you didn't eat normal food Angel." Giles said.
"No he's very strange for a Vampire, he cooks wonderful food and he eats eggs and ice cream. I've never seen you eat pizza before."
"That's because we only order it when your out because you pick all the bits of pineapple off the pizza and complain because you never see what is wrong with a plain pizza." Cordelia mocked.
Wesley pretended to pout before starting to eat his own pizza. Cordelia stuck out her tongue in retaliation and Wesley stuck his out back. Angel let out a small growl. Wesley quickly pulled his tongue back into his mouth and shrunk back. Cordelia smiled at her victory.
"Wesley, I warned Cordelia, now I am warning you. Don't let the wind change on you." Angel stared at Wesley and then broke out into a playful smile. Wesley looked back at him in relief.
The Sunnydale gang just watched in amazement at the interaction between the three Slayerette misfits. They all felt the feeling Buffy had, had when she went to visit Cordelia to find the four of them camped up in Cordelias room. Angel looked at home in their company, a sight she had never saw when he was with her. The interaction was disturbed by the ringing of the bell above the shop door and Riley swaned, ginning happily, into the shop. Angel cautiously sniffed the air and looked quizzically at Riley. Riley bent down and kissed Buffy heavily on the forehead.
"Had a bit of trouble Riley?" Angel asked suspiciously. "You smell like a Vampire!"
"Yeah I...ran into a few of them on the way over here. The Inistive knew there was a nest in the area so i...helped them take care of them." Riley hesitantly asked.
"Yeah and got snacked on by one in the process by the look of your neck. You've got a bite mark." Cordelia piped up.
Buffys eyes flashed at his neck and she had seen them in the same place a few days before when she had been to his dorm before going on patrol. "Oh there old marks. We had a run in with Vampire cult and they got a hold of him but he's still here. It's the pills the army gave him, he doesn't heal as fast as usual."
"Trust me Slayer, i know about bite marks and they are as fresh as a daisy. I think some one has been telling lies somewhere along the line." Cordelia joked.
Riley turned angrily to face Cordelia and stared at her with eyes red in fury. "Buffy are you ready to go or are we gonna sit here and discuss my medical history a little more?" He spat.
Buffy put down her pizza and grabbed her jacket. The stakes that were sitting on the shop counter were quickly hidden in various places around her person as she gathered her hair up in her 'don't-mess-with-me' ponytail while Riley stood in the corner tapping his foot inpatcaniantly. Buffy nodded her goodbyes before Riley hurrdily pulled her out of the door, just missing Cordelias "Touchy, much!"
By the time Gunn and Spike returned back to the shop Giles had retired back to his apartment leaving Wesley still with his nose in the reference books. Anya and Xander still hadn't returned with the pizza but had, instead, phoned to let Giles know that they would see him in the mornig. Cordelia had fallen asleep in Angels lap and Angel sat, quite happily, stroking her hair. He had been reading her the last few chapters of the book since Cordelia had found it hard to focus on Willows computer. She had fallen asleep at, what Angel conseeded, as the the best part. Fergual and Mary had married after he had returned home from the richer lands in Europe and had finished when Fergual bought the mansion that he had longed for as a child, realising that his life was now complete. Angel was relieved when Cordelia had fell asleep before the end so she would not have heard the longing in his voice as he realised that he and Fergual shared a common propose: To furfil their dreams. Angel was already part way there but his soul cried silently as he realised that even with his Shansu he would never really furfil his dream to watch Cordelia walk down the ilse towards him, to father her children and to grow old with her in some old arm chair smelling of shared love and contentment. But that would never happen because Angels Shansu would only happen after lifetimes of battles, he couldn't rely on Lindseys rablings and Cordelia wasn't immortal, only to his heart and memory.
Cordelia stired in Angels lap and turned upwards slowly to face him. A large smile spread across her face as she woke to his intense chocolate eyes.
"Hey." She whispered sleepily. "I thought you would still be asleep."
"I didn't want to sleep incase i ended up back on that Phykick link of ours and you needed your sleep. Instead i stayed up and watched you sleep. You do realise that you mutter in your sleep and i am sure we can pick up on those mutterings when we need to complete our union!" She smiled at him again and his heart took a leap.
"Now i am going for a shower because i smell like a Angel and a mans scent on a woman doesn't smell the same plus you look a state so why don't you get some sleep. I can amuse myself exploring" She noted his concerned features. "Relax, i'll stay in the house. You could have secret panels and stuff in this house."
"OK, i conced defeat but do you need a hand in the shower." Cordelia pulled the best 'Kinky Vampire.' face she could manage and struggled off Angels chest and trudged off towards the shower.
~~**~~
Cordelia peared her head around Angels door frame and found him blissfully sleeping, deader to the world. Cordelia smiled to herself wickedly and began to explore the house that was once Angels home. The livingroom had been fully explored with her general shuffling in the boredom of her injury. Her room had one hollow panel but she couldn't find the switch that opened and unlike in the movies, there wasn't any books that she could pull and the dooor would magically pop open. In fustration she thumped her fists weakly off the panel and an idea sprung to mind. Spikes Room!
Spike had been caught by the first rays of sunshine and he and Gunn had sought refused at Giles who was rather angry at being waken up at 5am in the morning. She cationously opened the door, it creaked under it's own weight, and the darkened rooms musty scent hit her. She walked over to the window and forced it open, luckily on the ivy free side of the house, on let the suns natural light flood in. The site that greeted her was a surprise. There were books neatly stacked in the corner, clothes neatly folded on the bed side chair. All of the gels that Spike used on his hair were neatly stacked against a smashed mirrior, not that he would ever need to use it. She started work on the walls, lightly tapping her knuckles agains the wood and listening for a change in pitch of the return sound. Tap, Tap. Tap, tap. That was it, she had found a hidden panel. Her fingers serched along the picture rail feeling for an indent or a liuttle hook that would spring the panel. A sharp groove caught her finger and the door popped open. It was alittle cabinet buried deep into the wall like a safe without the metal door to protect it's contents. There were only two things in it: A leather bound book and a lock of blonde hair tied in a pink piece of ribbon. She carefully pulled out the leather bound book, expecting it to be covered in a thick layer of dust and she had discovered it a hidden treasure. She opened the first page to find the yellowed page covered in a scriptured writing.
"William the Bloody, Spike."
She held in a gasp as she realised she was holding Spikes diary. Cordelia pealed back the first page and sat down on the neatly made bed to read.
*I don't know what the hell has happened to me. There was this woman, an amazing woman who promised me she could show me a whole different world. The did something to my neck, bit me and the next thing i know i am being pulled out the ground by the same woman. I tried to breath but i found i didn't need to, it's bloody amazing. I could hear the insects in the air, the hum of the night and i could smell the jasmine from the near-by trees. The night was no longer night, it was alive. I could see the bats that hoovered upside-down from the trees. The strength, man the strength, i can feel in my body is fantastic. I have power, i'm no longer the skinny freak that they boo out of inns because of my poetry: i could take them all on now.
The girl has done something, she tried to explain it to me. I'm a Vampire; how stupid does that sound? They are of old folk stories and wives tale: There is no such thing. But there is, i felt it. I got real angry as this woman, Drucillia, danced around me calling me her childe, and i felt my face transform and the strength in body grew. I have all these memories but i feel nothing for all the bad things i did, even that sailor that i killed in Italy.
This Is Amazing*
Cordelia at last knew what Angel must have felt like when he woke up to find Darla by his grave, the feeling that he had as he grew to the new power he had. Spike had been there as well and she soon began to feel for the Vampire, the misunderstood Vampire. Cordelia flipped to the last page that had been written on, dated the night before.
*All this damn book is full of now is things about HER. The bloody Slayer. I sat trying to figure out where it all started and the truth is; i don't know. She attracts Vampires like a fly to shit, i know that is bloody awful but it's true. Look at Peaches, he was whipped if ever i seen it and i used to curse and hate him for it but now i totally understand what he is going through.
I seen him pine over the Cheerleader, Cordelia, in hospital. He sat by her bed for the whole time she was i there, never moving from her side. That is WHIPPED but then i realised if Buffy was in the same place i would do that. Her Nancy friends wouldn't let me and that Watcher...you would think he was her dad or some'it. I envy her you know? She has this great bunch of friends and her mum makes some mean fried eggs but i couldn't even keep a hold of Dru and she was glued to me.
GOD I HATE SLAYERS: NO I Love my Slayer.*
Cordelia dropped the book and her hand flew to her mouth in surprise as a little squel escaped. Angel came thundering down the hall in responce to the thump and a cry oput from Cordelia. He was realived to find her still standing but also with a look of the-cat-got-the-cream.
"Cordelia what happened? I heard you scream and what are you doing in Spikes room?"
"Has Spike mentioned a girl, a woman that he likes?"
Angel looked at her, not sure where the conversation was going, not sure if he wanted to know. "Yes, while we were at the hospital and looking for you why?"
"I know who she is." She stated simply. "It's Buffy!"
Angel stared at the unsteady girl standing with the old book back in her hands. "What do you mean 'It's Buffy'?"
Cordelia smiled at the reaction of surprise instead of the jealousy she had expected. "Spike has fallen in love with Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, you know your destiny." She winced. "Look!" She pointed to the last line in the diarys passage. 'I Love My Slayer!!'
Angel shrugged his shoulders and turned away from Cordelia. "I kinda guessed. Spike had said that if the woman he loved ended up in the O.R then nothing could save if her strength couldn't. In a funny way, i think that Buffy loves Spike as well but she is taking too long to realise it. I think Spike just needs some ammo to show Buffy how he really feels."
Angel swung around and picked his jumper up from Cordelias bed and then his duster before fleeing out of the door leaving Cordelia concerned in his wake.
~~**~~
As Angel neared the bar he could see the blonde Vampire waiting for him. Spike sat playing with the glass of O+ waiting for his Sire, who had told him that he held the key to his happiness. Spike had laughed and snorted but he was like a moth to a candle and not caring if he got burnt.
"Right Peaches, what is going on? You are acting all cryptic again. At least Angelus was straight to the point."
Angel grabbed Spikes leather sleeve and pulled him around to the other side of the bar. Spike watched as Riley strode in bold as brass and sat down at the bar beside a Vampiress. He nodded to her and they left the bar, with Angel and Spike in stealth following. They followed them back to the old Sunnydale High School, chared and burnt beyond reconistion except to the students who had burnt it down. Nothing could have prepared Spike for what he saw when he rounded the corner to one of the locker room off the gym. Angel, on the other hand, had seen it all before in the bars in the seedier parts of LA.
Riley sat on a make shift bed, reveling the adreniline that was pumping through his body, the light headed feeling as his body neared the edge, lack of oxygen making him see things: But it was his fix for that night. The Vampiress withdrew her fangs and licked the spot where they had just been. Riley stood up and handed her, her money before she left into the night. Riley soon followed her now that his deal had been done.
"God!" Spike thumped his fist into the crumbling wall. "I can't believe he would do that to Buffy. He says he loves her."
"He's not the only one. Cordelia found your diary; i know about Buffy." Spike put up his fists in a defensive stanse. Angel chuckled at his Childe. "I'm OK with it but you have to say something to her about Riley because she would only think i was being jealous. I think she feels the same but you know with you being a Vampire and trying to kill her at so many points in her life i think she just needs a nudge in the right direction."
"You are ever a poof if i ever heard one. Next you'll be giving the address of an agony aunt in some magazine the cheerleader reads. Just forget it mate."
"Spike! Why do you think you helped Buffy out when it came to defeating Adam? The Buffy-Bot helped her out when she had to go on her search for the First Slayer. Just tell her while i go and sort out Riley. He has one problem...all brawl and no brains, while i have both."
Spike snorted in hilarity but the two Vampires parted, marching off in opposite directions. One was harbouring a guilt and feeling dread for the first time in his un-life. The other was heading off to finish the night playing games with a certain ex-commando who had a very large debt to pay.
He couls see her through the window. She was combing her hair, it's soft blonde hazy in the dim light of her room. Buffy was dressed up for a night of slaying, her weapons conceled in ever imaginible place. Spike tried hard to not imagine where they were hidden and instead tapped lightly on the window pane. Buffy slid the window up and let the blonde Vampire in.
"What do you want Spike? 'Cos if you want a slagging match, i don't have time. I am late for my patrol as it is so hurry up."
Spike hestitantly stepped inside the Slayers room and let her scent wash over his. "Slayer sit down, there's something i need to tell you."
Buffy heard the worry in her voice and cautiously sat on the end of her bed. "It isn't Dawn is it?"
"No, she's hanging out with doughball, sorry, Xander and the demon. This is something about Riley."
Buffy sprung to her feet and stood up in front of Spike. "What, is he hurt? Is he in a battle. I told him not to patrol without me."
Spike growled and pushed Buffy back down to the bed by the shoulders. "Sit down Slayer. No he isn't hurt. We were out...er...patroling and we saw Riley going into the old high school, you know the one you burnt down. He wasn't alone. There was a femal Vampire, she was feeding from him. Riley was a willing victium but she stopped before ghe was draned. Buffy he paid her like some whore for sex."
Buffy stood up again and turned Spike around with his pacing until he felt the back of his knees hit the edge of the bed where she had been sitting. Spike watched it happen in front of his eyes bt could do little to stop her reaction. A resounding slap landed across Spikes face. "You lier. Your fucking liar." Buffy sethed. "You ever come near me or my friends and i will stake you so help me God."
Spike tried to reach out for Buffy as she ran passed him but she swatted his body away with souch force that he was back on the bed. Buffy lauched herself out of the window as across the roof before dropping and running in the direction of the cemetery. Spike sat on the bed, his head in his heads knowing that this was a bad idea. He thumped his hands on her comforter and followerd her scent out of the window, shouting, 'God I Hate Slayers!'
~~**~~
Angel had, had his fun with Riley, following him around all night, freaking him out in every alley way until he ran back into Willies, his face pure white in fear. Cordelia was sitting on the couch, her bandage now removed from her head as it was giving her 'a flat hair do.' Her speech had returned to normal and she was steady on her feet.
"Oh your back. Where did you go in such a hurry huh?"
"I had to show Spike something. For the first time, Spike reminded me of myself when i was first souled: insercure and still acting the Big 'I Am' because he is scared to admit to himself just how much of a heart he has."
"Cryptic, much! Anyway brood-boy, while you were out showing Spike he had a heart, Wes and Gunn went home. Wesley has a hospital appointment in the morning and Gunn has gone to get my apartment ready for when i get back, taking Dennis with him, and tidy up the hotel. They took the Plymouth with them and left the Chopper here."
"Right we are going to pack our bags and then we are heading home." Cordelia looked at him in confusion. "I miss LA and Spike discovering a heart is going to have concequences, whether good or bad and i don't want to be around when they happen. Plus you have to remember that your visions are going to come bvack soon and neather Gunn or Wesley are in a state to fight."
"I wish we could stay here. I get you to myself and i get to wake up beside you every night. It's just us, no demons, no past, no visions. You'll go back to that lonely, big, olde hotel and i wil go back to my comfy, possesed apartment."
"I can come over every night. I'm nocternal don't forget."
"So will i occasionally wake up and find you in my bed?"
"Will i occasionally sleep and find you in my dreams?"
"You better or your in big trouble buster." She giggled and wrapped her arms around Angels neck. "Now are you going to be a good little Vampire and pack Miss Cordys bags for her because i'm still too ill to do much?" Cordelia pouted inbetween feather light kiss along Angels jaw. "Hold on if Wes and Gunn took the Plymouth, how are we going to get our bags home?"
"We're not taking the Chopper home, Giles the Ripper is then coming home a few days later on the bus. He and Wes are on a big research kick. We are flying home, First Class."
Cordelia sprung up from the couch and began fliting around the room picking up objects while Angel just watched in amusment. "Well don't just sit there. Help me pack you big ofth." Cordelia shouted at Angel.
~~**~~
Spike struted through the graveyard, her scent hanging the air like a calling card. Her unqiue scent of vinilla and cinimmion invading his nostrels. He could hear her grunts and struggles before he could see them and he sensed the Vampires that she was fighting. As he rounded over the hill, he could see her surrounded by ten Vampires, each taking a hit but Buffy never having a ahance to stake or maim any before they got back up and started their attack on her again. Spuike ran uinto the middle and stood back to bnack with the Slayer as their armouray flew in every direction. Spike with hissilver handed stake and Buffy with her trusty Mr. Pointy dusted seven of the vamps fbefore turning tot he last three. They looked at each other then back at Buffy and Spike standing side by side and decided begtter of it. They turned heel and ran leaving Spike to try and explain himself to Buffy. She turned to him, hate and anger in her eyes.
"I thought i told you stay away from me!" She held her stake inches from his heart.
"Whoa Slayer, let me explain. What i told you was the truth. Listen if you don't believe me, i don't blame you, but talk to Angel he saw it all. Riley was willing playing snack food for a Vampire."
Buffy turned away from his and hugged herself against the suddern cold. "I know." She whispered. "I know about Riley." She repeated, turning back to face Spike with tears rolling down her face. "I've know about Riley for a month. I've been smelling it around him all the time, the Vampire bites, his constant disappearences. I slayed his first one but he must have found someone else."
Spike walked over and slide his arms around her, trying to comfort her platonically and yearning for more. She smothered her head into his leather duster, sliding her arms around his neck. Spike gently rubbed her back as the sobs racked her body in successive droves. Buffy pulled slowly from him and looked at is face, searching for his soul. Their lips hovered milimeters from each other, Spike feeling her warm breath against his lifeless one. The two connectedin a spark of passiona nd fury, each reveling in the sensations long forgoteen and long missed since the last time they had kissed. Tounges intermoingled as they deepened the kiss, Buffys fingers played with the soft, platium hairs on Spikes neck while Spike circles his arms futher around her waist,drawing her ever closer to him. It was minutes before Spike remembered that Buffy was mortal and needed to breathe, regreating that he had to losen his grip on her.
Buffy jumped back from Spike as if he were on fire but still clung to her hand. "I shouldn't have done that!" She forced out in panted breaths.
"You did, you know it was right."
"No it wasn't right. You're a Vampire, i'm a Slayer. It's not natural, we're born enemies."
"That has never stopped either of us before. Please just have tonight."
Buffy looked up from her chest and looked Spike in the eye. She saw his pleading, his urgency, They both had the urgency just feel loved again. A slight nod sealed the deal as Spike took her hand and lead her away from the hilltop.
"Where are we going?" She asked as they left the cemetery.
"Peaches is gone home with his Cheerleader and they have left a nice tidy mansion, a few of Cordelias candle and a big comforter. What do you say."
She didn't need to say anything as they headed towards the old, ivy claimed building just as the sky started to turn form midnight black to shades of indigo as the sun slowly claimed the night.
THE END....at last.