Long Overdue
"… That's Fred and I," Angel finished. "Now it's your turn, are you really in love with the Grooselog? Enough that you're willing to give up your world for him?"
Cordelia smiled. "I never used to believe in love at first sight," she said.
"Oh it's real," Angel replied, his voice husky with pain.
"Buffy huh?" Cordelia asked sympathetically.
"Yeah, I love her for almost a year before we even spoke. I became someone solely to be able to protect her. I don't think I'll ever stop loving her," Angel said quietly.
"But I thought you and Fred…" Cordelia asked.
"Does how you feel about the Grooselog change your feelings for Doyle?" Angel asked.
Cordelia nodded her understanding.
"I do love Groo," she said. "He's so sweet and sincere… and I could just drown in his eyes. But if that was all of it I don't think I could go. Moving to Pylea isn't even like moving to Iowa, more like moving to some third world country where they don't have indoor plumbing. But Groo thinks I can make a difference there. Right now I can give the visions to anyone, but I'm the only one who might be able to help Groo. Plus he pretty much staked everything on me coming back with him. …Ooh, I probably shouldn't have said 'staked' to a vampire, right?"
"It's fine Cordelia," Angel replied.
"Okay, anyway, he got everyone to declare a cease fire while he went on this big quest to bring me back if he fails it'll be majorly bad," Cordelia explained.
"It's not fair for him to put that kind of pressure on you," Angel protested.
"Why not, it's true," Cordelia sighed. "And anyway, the world, all worlds, aren't big on fair. Groo used up all the influence he had to get that cease fire, he's counting on my influence to make it a permanent peace."
"It won't be that simple," Angel said quietly. "Don't let him tell you that you're being there will make all their problems go away."
"I know," Cordelia shrugged. "We'll get a tenuous peace between the main-streamers at best. But some of the Rebels are really just bandits and others are hurt so bad that all they want is a chance for vengeance. The real, sane Rebels trust me though. On the other side the Priest all knew I was just a puppet and so did their soldiers. Groo says a few of them will take positions as my advisors and in my military, but those will be the weakest of the Priests and their flunkies. They're the ones who can't expect to get much real power anyway things go. Still if even one or two of the Priests support me a lot of their civilian backing will come to me as well. Groo's support comes from the death or dishonor types. They respect him and people respect them, that's one group that's ours securely. But Pylea's champions aren't that numerous, or team players. Groo doesn't have a real army; he has about a dozen groups like the Scoobies or us. They've sworn loyalty to Groo, but he's trying to stand between a full-fledged military and a serious guerilla force. I'll pull some people from both, hopefully enough to field our own army, and I'll hopefully get popular support on our side. But it isn't going to be pretty. Groo doesn't try to tell me otherwise."
"It sounds like you've decided to go," Angel said.
"Do you think I'm crazy?" Cordelia asked. "'Cause sometimes I think I'm crazy, but you're right; When Groo and I talk, he's not trying to convince me, we're making plans. I'm so scared of this, but I still can't say no."
Suddenly Cordelia giggled. "It's going to be like being Queen C of Sunnydale High all over again, only this time when someone backstabs you, they'll be using a real knife."
Angel looked serious. "We need to talk to Fred about more than the visions. She's the best person to ask about creating some kind of inter-dimensional distress signal. If you're serious about this you should have someway to call in the cavalry if things turn ugly."