Title: Angel's up

Author: Joy

Email: SleepingBeauty2@ziplip.com

A/N: I don't like it when I don't receive feedback. If you don't like a chapter, just say so. Now review this chapter please!

Angel decided to intervene before Cordelia ran off. "Now I know you think I sing badly," he said walking up to her at the bar, "but you have to stay until you hear the songs I picked out for you and Connor." Angel got into Cordelia's personal space nicely, pretty much pinning her to the bar with his body by where he stood.

"You picked out a song for me?" Cordy whispered as Buffy and Spike smirked then excused themselves from the bar and headed for the table.

Angel took Buffy's stool and pulled it next to Cordelia. "Sure… Who else would I be singing too?" Cordelia's face turned a nice salmon color as it heated. "I've been meaning to tell you how much it means to me that you've been helping me with Connor. I couldn't have asked for a better mom for my son." Cordy looked like she swallowed her tongue.

 "What'd he just say?" Buffy asked squirming next to Spike, wanting to know what was so funny.

"He's playing up on how much he likes her being there with Connor. He just pulled the 'no better mom for my son' routine… This is why I call him a poof," Spike answered.

Angel bit the inside of his mouth to prevent him from yelling at Spike, "I heard that." Things hadn't been easy with Cordelia recently because of the whole Darla thing. Fred made little comment about them being good partners and implying they would make a good romantic couple and Angel had to rethink his whole relationship with Cordy. He became fully aware of his feeling for her when she was sick from her vision. Angel realized he was upset before by the thought of losing Cordelia, but nothing like this last time. He had started to make plans and build dreams for his son, but Cordy was in all of them as his partner… his love. Convincing her that this was a good idea was another matter.

"What's going on Buffy?" Dawn asked as she and Wolf came to stand with Buffy and Spike.

Spike smirked, "Angel is trying to have 'the talk' with Cordy."

Wolf scrunched up his face and turned to Dawn, "The Talk?"

"An RDT," Buffy filled in and then returned to watching her ex with the former cheerleader that had always had her sights set on Angel in high school.

"Yeah, that helped a lot," Dawn snickered. "A Relationship Defining Talk," she explained.

Spike began to laugh. "What?" Buffy asked.

"He's botching things up with his poofterness," Spike said getting a glare from Angel. "Tell her what it felt like to almost lose her," Spike ordered Angel.

"I don't think I've told you how scared I was when you were in the coma," Angel said softly as he looked to Spike, who was smiling and nodding his head.

Cordelia's eyes met his, "Angel, you don't have to…" Angel interrupted her mid sentence by placing a finger to her lips to stop her words.

He sucked air for a minute. "Your lips are so soft," he muttered closing his eyes. Cordelia froze at his statement. Her face was extremely heated, as her heart was pounding fast. She couldn't believe he was doing all this in front of Buffy. Angel's cold lips on hers interrupted all of Cordy's thoughts. Rational thoughts left her brain because everything in her was focused on the feeling of their first real kiss.

"Way to go Angelus," Spike smirked as Buffy and Dawn looked on with great amusement. Wolf stood quietly not understanding the significance of this kiss… He would have rather been kissing Dawn at the moment.

"Okay… Where is Dead Boy? Cordy asked me to remind him he would be up in after the next performer and…when did Cordelia and Angel start up with the kissage?"

Xander said quickly trying to figure out the best way to respond. He smiled and singsonged, "Your ex and my ex sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"

All of a sudden, Angel started to laugh having over heard the Xander's ism. This, of course, bothered Cordelia, who thought he was laughing at her. She went to leave but Angel grabbed her arm saying, "All of a sudden I heard Xander making a funny… And it was funny."

Cordelia hissed, "Why weren't you paying attention to what we were doing?" The wrath of Cordelia Chase was severe and brutal.

            Spike began to snort trying to contain his laughed. "Now you've had it mate. How ya gonna get out of this one?" Angel raised his eyebrows as he was trying to concentrate on Spike and Cordelia at the same time. "Fine, I'll go get bite size to come save you." Angel smiled big trying not to say anything stupid.

            "Hey Cordy, Little One wants you or Angel. Not the happiest of tykes," Spike said as he brought the fidgeting child over. "I'm surprised you didn't hear him fussing Angel. I know how protective you are of him. I would have thought you'd been over in a minute."

            Angel took his son and replied, "I was in the middle of something really important." Angel and Cordelia looked at each other for a moment. "But you're right, with the vampire hearing thing sometimes it's really hard to tune out everything around you."

            "Yeah, tell me about it. I can't tell you how many tiffs Buffy and I have gotten into about overheard stuff. This one time Willow's in the next room with Tara and its like 'stop, stop, stop… I'm trying to sleep here'. Then I get chewed out for having heard and am seen as the mean guy in the house that is such a Wanker that he listens to lesbians at play… No respect for a vampires gifts that can also be curses," Spike said trying to dig Angel out somewhat. "Right then, be good bite size."

            Angel smiled hopefully at Cordelia who just gazed wickedly back. "He's been listening the whole time, telling you what to say because you aren't this smooth most of the time… You also were listening in on Buffy and my discussion, jumping up make sure I wouldn't cut out in a panic," Cordelia nodded her head as she smirked. "Very sly… Sly you have down but not smooth. You use to smooth with Buffy but out here you are lost." Her smirked brighten, "You may have the amazing hearing and the baby I love, but you got nothing on my dating skills. I can stop with the worries and freak out because I just remembered I can totally be in control of this situation… You are toast."

            Angel stood slack jawed with his son in his arms as he watched the storm that is Cordelia Chase strut over to the table. "She's right you're toast," Spike said as he put a hand on Angel's shoulder.

            "You have no idea what you're getting into, man," Xander said from the other side. "When she's mad you will know about it, quickly and you'll be glad you she doesn't rip your throat out."

            "She's not really bitchy anymore. Cordy has changed a lot since she's been here," Angel said with a dumb smile on his face. "She is the only one that can successfully keep me in line. She makes sure I don't forget the role we play for the Powers… And she has a huge heart."

            With a start, Cordelia stood suddenly and strolled back over to the three men. "Guess what new demon power I discovered?" she said confidently. Spike began to laugh, Xander stared confusedly, and Angel looked afraid. "If I focus on the voice of a person, I can hear them from far away… Isn't that amazing?"

            "Amazing…" Angel said as if he swallowed his tongue. Fear of her next action totally immobilized Angel.

            Cordelia swiftly took Connor from his arms and passed him to Spike. Suddenly her hands were cupping Angel's face and then she kissed him deeply. "That was really sweet the way you defended me to Xander… You're mostly forgiven for listening to Spike and not concentrating on kissing me…" She turned to Xander and hit him upside the head. "You lay off the jokes in Angel's hearing range… you messed up our first kiss. And you…" Cordelia focused next on Spike who could care less about the wrath of Cordy. She smiled big and said, "Thank you for making him sound better then he normally does so I wouldn't run off."

            "Not a problem, pet. Better you looking after him then Buffy and I. Can you imagine the chaos that would cause. The Nipper'd be screaming and this overgrown pansy would call us crying… So thank you for saving me from that scene…and also for taking care of me family," Spike said sincerely then gave her a hug. "Xander and I are going back to the table to report all the new developments… Have fun…"

            "Why do I have to leave? I was getting to make fun of Angel and Cordelia at the same time," Xander fussed as they headed back to the table.

            Cordy and Angel smiled as the idiots went back to the mass group. "Spike really just wants to get back to watching over Dawn and the Boy," Cordy said with a smile as she swung her arms around his neck.

            "Yeah well, we'll see how that goes… I'm sure he's going to pull a father knows best routine," Angel said before leaning in to kiss her.

            Spike yelled over, "You do routines, not me, mate."

            Now Angel was slightly pissed because he was being interrupted again from kissing Cordy. "Sid Visage much?" Angel called back.

            "Bleeding good artist," Spike snapped back.

            "Will you stop, so I can kiss the woman I love," Angel snarled.

            "As long as it's not Buffy, go ahead," Spike said waving his arm.

            "Thank you," Angel snapped and kissed Cordelia passionately.

            "Repressed much?" Dawn snipped as she watched.

            The couple parted lips. "Don't even think of arguing back with her too," Cordelia warned.

            Angel gazed over her face and torso, "Not a worry. You're very distracting." He swooped back in to kiss her again.

            A very cautious Lorn said, "Angel," interrupting their few moments of bliss. Angel and Cordelia parted very annoyed. "This is the singer's last song. Just to let you know you're up next."

            Angel sighed and walked Cordelia back to the table. In one swift motion Angel removed Connor from Spike's arms and placed him in Cordelia's. Spike's collar was yanked up, "Hey mate!"

            "Come with me," Angel commanded as he physically removed Spike from the table.

            When they reached the side of the stage, Spike said, "What's up Peaches?"

            "I need you to play… the guitar… for me… for my songs. It'll sound better," Angel entreated.

            "What's my motivation? Money, gift… or am I to believe you actually thought I'd go back up there from the goodness of my undead heart."

            "What are they saying?" Buffy asked tugging at Cordelia's arm.

            "I don't know… Some demonic language," she responded.

            Lorn put a cup of hot chocolate in front on Dawn, "Fiorle."

            "Excuse me?" Buffy says, confused.

            "They're speaking Fiorle," Lorn said calmly.

            "Tell me you can understand them?" Cordelia stated.

Lorn went to object but Slayer strength got the better of him as he was dragged down to their level. "Alright green guy, help us out. What are they saying?" Buffy fussed.

Turning to Cordelia was no help Lorn soon found out. "Fine… They're bargaining over some trunk that Angel has… NO wait… It's the use of the stuff in the trunk. Both are growling and Angel is swearing at Spike who is being smug. He wants to have access to the trunk and…a big room at the end of one of the halls in the Hyperion."

Buffy starts to laugh hard. "What?" Cordy asked curiously. "You know what this is about?"

"Oh yes, and you will to in the near future…"

"Wait, this is interesting… He is calling some things off limits in the Hotel. Spike just got in Angel's face and asked 'then why did he still have them?' More growling and posturing… Oh My God… I'm not repeating the last part. Thus endith the lesson," Lorn said quickly and stood.

Buffy pulled him back down. "Was it one of the… more interesting…toys?" she asked putting the words together carefully.

Lorn leaned into her ear, "I had no idea Angel was into that."

Buffy smiled, "Generations of being without a soul does have a tendency to shape your sexual preferences."

"Too much information," Cordy fussed.

Buffy laughed as Lorn snuck away. She pulled Cordelia, with Connor sleeping in her arms, away from the table, "I don't want my sister to get the wrong idea… I've seen the chest and what is in it, but the only thing in it that Angel ever used on me was a tickler.  He's not stupid enough to use anything else on a sixteen year old… You, however, are an adult. He would be more likely to ask you… Spike probably just wants to give Angel a freak out."

"Why would he do that? Oh wait this is Spike I'm talking about," Cordy answered.

"That and Angel dragged Spike back on stage to accompany him," Buffy commented turning Cordelia toward the stage. Buffy pushed Cordy back to her seat to watch Angel sing. "Hey, how'd it feel to have Angel call you the woman he loves?"

"Amazing," Cordelia responded wistfully. She gently rocked the baby in her arms, "Wake up little one. Your daddy's going to sing to us." Connor started to come around as Cordy repositioned him to sit in her lap so he could see the stage.

Spike sat wearily on the stool on stage smirking smugly at how well he had frazzled Angel… and still gained access to some of his favorite toys. Angel took deep breaths to calm his nerves. Air wasn't necessary but it was still a comfort from life. "Thanks for the intro Lorn. I will spare much of my singing but I did want to sing to my son and to my love, in that order." Cordelia chuckled as Spike began to play.

"Another turning point a fork stuck in the road

Time grabs you by the wrist directs you where to go

So make the best of this test and don't ask why

It's not a question but a lesson learned in time

It's something unpredictable

But in the end is right

I hope you had the time of your life

So take the photographs and still frames in your mind

Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time

Tattoos of memories and dead skin on trial

For what it's worth it was worth all the while

It's something unpredictable

But in the end is right

I hope you had the time of your life

It's something unpredictable

But in the end is right

I hope you had the time of your life

It's something unpredictable

But in the end is right

I hope you had the time of your life"

Cordelia began to cry at the sweetness of Angel at moments. The entire table of White Hats looked on to great love in his eyes. Angel took in the sight of his son in Cordy's lap while she teared up. "Hey, let's get going, mate," Spike whispered. "I want to snuggle with my girl," he said pointedly.

            Angel nodded. "This is for you Cordy," he said softly, "my sweet girl from the Hellmouth."

"And even though the moment passed me by I still can't turn away
I saw the dreams you never thought you'd lose tossed along the way
Letters that you never meant to send lost or thrown away
And now we're grown up orphans that never knew their names
Don't belong to no one that's a shame
You could hide beside me maybe for a while
and I won't tell no one your name
I won't tell em' your name

Scars are souvenirs you never lose, the past is never far
Did you lose yourself somewhere out there, did you get to be a star
Don't it make you sad to know that life is more that who we are
You grew up way too fast and now there's nothing to believe
And reruns all become our history
A tired song keeps playing on a tired radio
and I won't tell no one your name
I won't tell em' your name

I think about you all the time
But I don't need the same

It's lonely where you are come back down,
and I won't tell em' your name"

            Spike stood and nudged Angel who had been staring at Cordelia the whole time. Angel nodded to the audience as they both exited the stage. "Don't go soft on me now Angel," Spike muttered with his hand on his Sire's shoulder. "Go back to the table straight away. Don't look freaked or all shaky like you do now. Seat yourself next Cordelia hugging her from behind with confidence. Because as of now I am off the clock of Angel watching/ helping… I have a teenage boy I have to instill the fear of God...or at least me…into!"

Angel snorted a bit at the notion, "God help the boy."

TBC….            The father talk to come.