1 Title: The Walking Wounded

2 Author: Spike 'n Cordy

Summary: When Angel's soul becomes permanent but he neglects to tell the group and they hear it from Spike. How will they react?

Rating: PG13

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Authors notes: This chapter is just filler. It's not very good, I know that but chapter 13 should be good. Also, I have many ideas for a sequel but none of them seem to be working right now but it will come, or maybe an unrelated story, but something soon. Someone said they didn't see Lorne as God or the PTB and I have to agree. But when I was writing it I wanted you to read it with Lorne's personality in mind. Enjoy and please review.

Timeline: Set after Reunion and Crush



3 Chapter Twelve: Confirmation

Wesley looked up from the scroll he was trying to decipher to the tension filled lobby. Willow, Xander and Buffy were glaring at Cordelia and Spike, who were trying to ignore them and play their card game.

"I'll see you and I'll raise you ten," Cordelia threw the twenty dollar chip on top of the pile. She then hid her face with her cards.

"You're bluffing. I'll see you and call." Throwing in his chip. "What do you have, pet."

"Well sweetheart, I suggest you fork it all over. In your honor," she faked an English accent, "a royal flush."

"You little cheat," he grabbed her arms and rolled up her sleeves. "Where'd you hide them?"

Cordelia tried to pull her hands away only managing to bring Spike closer, "I don't cheat. You're the one who cheats, you freaking baby."

Spike pinned Cordelia to the ground with his knees on her upper arms and butt across her lower stomach. She tried to buck him off but couldn't get enough drive in her hips. The way he was positioned she couldn't possibly move her legs to knee his back. Her hands and lower arms flailed around uselessly. "Spike, get off of me. Get off of me."

With both hands free Spike could do a lot of damage. He decided that the worst punishment for cheating at poker was to get poked. He started banging his forefinger against her forehead. She tried to turn her head, but his other hand held it still, "Who's the most bad-ass vampire in the world? Huh? Say it, who's the most handsome and bad-ass vampire in the world?"

Spike heard a popping sound behind him but chose to ignore it. Big mistake. Cordelia's ankles wrapped around his neck and pulled him to the ground. She had him pinned in the same position he just had her in before he realized how she did it. She had managed to dislocate her knees and bend them backward to pull him down. Spike couldn't imagine how much that had hurt.

She flipped all of her dark hair over one shoulder and grabbed his face, "So Spiky, who's the most beautiful woman in the world?"

"You are pet," he answered right away.

"Good answer," Cordelia smiled, then started banging on his forehead, "Name ten chocolate bars, name ten chocolate bars. I'm not stopping until you name ten chocolate bars."

Spike started to rattle off names of chocolate bars as the others all sat around, quite entertained. Cordelia released Spike's arms when he had completed his task but continued to straddle his waist. "Bloody hell, pet," he was holding his forehead, "that was amazing. You'll have to teach me that trick with your knees."

"Sure but right now, I don't think I can walk," she lowered her head to his shoulder. Spike wrapped his arms around her back and just held her.

Buffy had to admit that watching that move Cordy put on Spike was humorous. But the hugging and straddling was a little inappropriate. She and Angel don't straddle each other in public. Come to think of it they haven't done that in private much either lately. But they loved each other very much. Cordelia and Spike seemed to love each other too. Could her and Angel call themselves friends? Spike once told them that it was impossible for them to be friends, was he right? Did she even like Angel? She knew she loved him but did she like him? How could she be with someone for the rest of her life if she didn't even like him? Lots of things about him annoy her. She just thought they were quirks. Things couples didn't like about each other but then they learned to love them most of all. Buffy sure as hell didn't like that he preferred to read after sex instead of cuddle, never mind love it. Were they really meant for each other? Were they only together because it was so forbidden? Did he really love her?

Angel had been asking himself these questions all day. Was his attraction to Cordelia real or just a test of his fidelity? He is suppose to have sex with her one day, why would the PTB put them together if it wasn't meant to be? Was he going to become human only to sleep with Cordelia and ruin his relationship with Buffy? Or was Buffy going to die long before he ever became human and he and Cordelia got together? So many questions, so many possible answers, but which ones are right? The vampires might have been wrong too. They might have been hired by Wolfram & Hart in order to throw Angel off his game. They'd all just have to wait for Wesley to find out what the prophecy says.

"Eureka!" Wesley's yell echoed off the walls of the lobby making everyone jump.

They all ran to where Wesley sat at his table. Spike helped Cordelia with an arm around her waist. Angel nearly threw the door to the office off its hinges trying to get to Wes.

"What is it? What did you find out?" Angel demanded.

"All I have to say is that the vampires seemed to be telling the truth. When the vampire with a soul becomes human, so does his immortal seer, and together they will create a child who will be the last slayer." Wesley's face was red with excitement. "I think we should get some confirmation just in case I'm off in my translations."

Spike's grip tightened on Cordelia's waist, and Angel was by her side in a second. They both held her up as the vision forced its way into her head. It was unlike any vision she had ever had. It was a really painful memory.

~*~*~*~

C: Oh. So I'll be alive to have the visions for as long as he needs them.

L: Exactly. That and together you will create a child who will be the last slayer.

S&C: What!

L: The last slayer. It is quite an honor that has been bestowed upon you. Of course if anyone knows of this prophecy your life will be in constant danger. But isn't it always in this line of work?

S: Wait if she gives birth to the last slayer does that mean I'll die?

L: Every vampire in the world will die including you

S: Maybe I should get the soul

C: And be all 'Nancy Boy'. Spike you'd still die even with the soul. You'd just die human.

S: Man this sucks. Do you know what it's like to find out that one day you're going to die?

C: I've been dying since the day I way born. I just found out I might live longer then I expected or possibly die tomorrow because I might eventually have a child that will kill all the vampires of the world

L: Sweetheart are you okay? Oh, I always do that. I give out too much vital information and someone starts vomiting or choking. Forget.

~*~*~*~

When Cordelia opened her eyes two pairs full of concern looked back into hers.

"What did you see?" They both asked in unison, then turned and glared at each other.

"It wasn't a vision. Well it was, but it wasn't." They helped her move to the couch. "It was like a memory. I think it was one of when we first met Lorne in his dimension."

Spike sat next to her, "What did you see pet?"

She explained what she saw, how they were told about the prophecy.

Buffy interrupted, "So you knew about the prophecy when you came here. Why'd you play dumb? Were you trying to get Angel to leave me for you before he had to? Couldn't stand that he wanted to be with me even though he was destined to be with you?"

"Actually I don't care one way or the other. But you should tell your girlfriend, Angel, that the only reason you're still with her is because Spike turned down your soul when it was offered to him."

"What?" Angel stared open mouthed at Cordelia, "Why was Spike offered MY soul?"

"Because when we were brought before Lorne you had strayed from your path, but Spike was right on. Lorne seemed disappointed that he didn't take it. But if he did I'd have a chipped, souled vampire in one hand. And a beyond evil vamp in the other. Not that tough of a choice."

"I haven't strayed. I'm still fighting."

"But warriors for the PTB don't just fight, we save souls, peaches. And from what I've seen the last few days, you haven't been doing that. But thank God I'm not all soul having. That put such a damper in my attempts to take over the world." Spike smiled at Cordelia, who just shook her head.

Cordelia turned to the fuming slayer, "Buffy, I didn't know about this. Lorne did a spell that made Spike and I forget. If I had known I would have fought for Angel from the beginning. I wouldn't have run. I'm not trying to get in the way of your relationship. We might not even have to do this. We could die or be sucked into alternate dimensions where we live on opposite sides of the planet. But if we do have to you can't get in the way. The future of the world depends on whether or not Angel and I conceive this child. It could even happen after you're dead and gone. That's what I figure will happen because it will take more then fifty years for Angel to redeem himself for everything he's done."

Buffy silently pouted, Willow and Xander comforted her.

Spike's curiosity got the better of him, "Why would Lorne make us forget the most vital piece to the prophecy?"

"Well, we both freaked out."

"And we aren't freaking out now?"

"We're better equipped and stronger now. We have more courage and knowledge to go about this properly. I'm not as worried about people wanting to kill me. And your not going to run out and get yourself staked because some day you will die. Now is just the right time for us to know."

"I still think Lorne should explain himself. We should go to Caritas and have a talk with the PTB."