Part: 14/14 (Finally!)
Author: PsycGurl
Rating: PG-13
Couples: C/A, B/S, C/Groo

Summary: Cordelia has to choose between the two men she loves. (BTVS Crossover)
Spoilers: up to Couplet (I live in UK so these are pretty much based on stuff I've read!)

Feedback: Beggin' for it!

Disclaimer: Not mine, please don't sue

A/N I had major writer's block so I'm sorry if the ending wasn't what you expected or good.

Chapter 14

The Choice

Angel turned to Cordelia and grasped her hands in his and continued.

" Then I met you Cordy…and my life suddenly changed. Buffy may have taught me to love…but you taught me to live. In the three years that I've known you better…I've come to really know you. We've been through a lot together. Many demons and many visions. Wesley, Gunn, Fred, Connor, you and me…we're family." 

Cordelia nodded in agreement.

" And I know I almost screwed all that up by going all dark and cryptic last year but you won't believe how thankful I am that you're back in my life. I'm thankful for you being by my side everyday, for patching me up when I'm hurt, for taking care of Connor, for being the mother to him that he so desperately needs and for…for everything really. Suddenly, somehow all those things started to mean a lot to me…you started to mean a lot to me." Angel halted briefly. Cordelia swallowed hard…her mouth feeling suddenly dry.

" A lot of people can't understand how people could live with or be married to someone for so long and still remain in love. I understand that…it's because if they were to lose their love they would be heartbroken. They love each other so they won't lose each other. And I realise that…I realised that around your birthday time. I realised that I couldn't live without you in my life. If something had happened to you that night then I would've been heartbroken. I would have killed myself." Small tears fell down Cordelia's eyes as she looked down at the ground. Angel's eyes filled with his own tears. Angel's hand then picked her head up by her chin and placed his hand on her cheek, caressing it. Angel's voice croaked as he continued.

"What I'm trying to say Cordelia is that you're my soul mate. I see you and my un-beating heart seems to beat. I see your smile and I just can't help but smile back. I could never imagine a life without you, Cor. I don't know if this is showing you my love but…I just want you to know that I don't love anyone else…I can't love anyone else…you're 'the one' and you're the only one who I love… with all my heart. I really truly love you and only you." Angel finished as a few tears fell from his eyes and he closed his eyes. Cordelia looked up at him, her own tears streaked down her face. She clasped his head with her hands and wiped his tears with her thumbs, opening his eyes.

" I love you too Angel…I love you too…I love you so much." Cordelia replied. Angel looked down into Cordelia's eyes. He seemed to want to say something but Cordelia leaned up and captured Angel's mouth with hers. She moved her hands to his neck and she stroked the hairs on his neck. Angel grasped her from her waist and circled the bottom of her back with his hands.

" Ahmmm!" Spike coughed, as Angel and Cordelia seemed to get more intimate. The two suddenly realised that they had an audience and quickly untangled themselves. Cordelia quickly wiped her tears and her face turned bright red with embarrassment.

" Forgot that we were here didn't you?" Spike asked smugly as the two nodded in shame and looked at the other people around them uncomfortably. Willow, Tara, Anya, Dawn and even Buffy had shed a few tears and were smiling with joy. Xander looked like he was on the verge of crying and when no one looked quickly turned around and rubbed his eyes.  Spike gave them a cheesy grin. Buffy walked up to the two with Connor still in her arms.

" Hey." She greeted quietly as Cordelia and Angel both gave her a small smile.

" Well…I never thought I'd say this…but I am so happy for you two. Angel's right…I see you two and I can tell you…you two are soul mates. Cordy, you'll be there for him till the end and he's your first priority. It was different with us…we were different…" Buffy said softly. Connor then whimpered in her arms. Buffy looked down at him.

" I'm sure Connor's happy too…that his parents finally came together." Buffy said as she laughed lightly. She handed Connor to Cordelia who suddenly started to squeal with glee being in Cordelia's arms. Cordelia smiled at the baby and then at Buffy.

" I just want to say one last thing…congratulations." Buffy ended as she hugged Cordelia and Angel.

" Don't let her go again Angel…ever." Buffy whispered to Angel as they hugged. The others then moved to congratulate the new couple.

~*~*~*~

" Hey Nancy Boy…never thought I'd be congratulating you for hooking up with a dame…but you've done good…real good." Spike whistled as he examined Cordelia.

" Thanks…I think." Angel replied. Angel then leaned in closer to Spike's face.

" Don't know why I'm telling you this…but she loves you too Spike." He whispered, glancing at Buffy. Spike looked at her too and then he grinned.

" Never would've imagined this three years ago eh? Me with Buffy…you with a brunette."

" Yeah…times really have changed."

~*~*~*~

Cordelia hugged Willow tightly. This was a great feeling. Her and Angel together… and it wasn't as if it was wrong or a sin. Everyone was happy for them…even Buffy.

" I'm so happy for you!" Willow exclaimed as Cordelia thanked her.

" But Cordy…I think you might want to talk to him." Willow mumbled.

" Who?"

" Him." Willow said as she gestured to a body slumped in the dark near the back of the shop.

" Groo…" Cordelia whispered quietly.

~*~*~*~

" So anyways so I saw this Shronok demon and he was really really big and I wasn't sure if I could take him…well until he dissed my hair…so I then grabbed my sword and…" Angel rambled on to Xander, Spike, Dawn and Buffy. Buffy was standing with Spike's arm around her and had to gasp now and again at Angel's casual language and openness.  Angel, mid-sentence, suddenly felt a hand on his elbow.

" Angel…ummm we have something to tend to…" Cordelia mumbled quietly motioning to Groo.

" Oh…" Angel said as Cordelia handed Connor to Willow and the two excused themselves from the others. Cordelia then led Angel to Groo. Cordelia breathed heavily…this was going to be hard.

" Groo…"

" Princess."

" Are you okay?"

" Not really."

" Oh…ummm I'm sorry. I'm really sorry."

" It's not your fault…you fell in love. Undying passionate love."

" If you want to put it like that…" Cordelia said awkwardly and a bit confused.

" Angel is a good vampire…I know that he will never hurt you and he will treat you really good." Groo said faintly as Cordelia nodded.

" Are you going to be going back to Pylea?"

" Yes…I cannot stay here…this is not my place…anymore."

" I understand."

" Keep her safe." Groo mumbled to Angel and Angel nodded. Groo then slowly got up and walked out of the shop, not before taking Cordelia's hand and laying a light kiss on it. Angel slightly growled with jealousy but relaxed once Groo left the shop and disappeared into the darkness. Angel gave Cordelia a small hand squeeze and leaned down and planted a light kiss on her lips.

" You know that pouring your heart out isn't exactly showing me your love…" Cordelia said once they broke apart.

" Well…if you want me to really show you my love…how 'bout when we get back to L.A, we'll drop Connor off in Lorne's care and we'll head off to the place where we got your potion and grab a little bottle of potion for me…and I'll show you my love in a 5-star hotel…" Angel said smirking.

" Really? And you know that little bottle of potion that was for me…still full in my bag." Cordelia said as she tugged on Angel's shirt, her face glowing. An equally huge smile plastered on Angel's face.

" Yeah so this potion is safe right?" Cordelia continued.

" The potion will anchor my soul for the night…allowing us to have sex…no soul to worry about."

" Well we had better leave…quick!" Cordelia replied as the two kissed again and when they broke apart just stared at each other…with love in their eyes. Everyone else averted their eyes and started finding things to get busy with…not wanting to ruin the moment.

~*~*~*~

Angel looked into Cordelia's eyes and knew that he did the right thing. With Buffy there was always pain and agony but with Cordelia he had a chance. He knew that with her there was chance of him being normal.  With her he had a family…with her he had both his soul mate and a child. With her he had a life worth living.

~*~*~*~

Cordelia gazed into Angel's eyes and thought about the choice she had made. Why had they waited so long for this moment? She had known for a few years that she was in love with Angel, but she couldn't ever tell him. In a way she was thankful for Groo's appearance, he had opened both their eyes. When Groo had asked her about leaving Angel to be with him…that wasn't an option. She had to be with Angel…forever. He was her soul mate. She now realised that Groo was never someone she loved…she always loved Angel…and only him. And she knew she had made the right choice. She knew that her choice would stay with her forever. Her choice would never hurt her. Her choice would care for her. Her choice would love her.

Her choice was Angel.

~*~*~*~

THE END

~*~*~*~

A/N again- Now that took a lot out of me…but I hope you liked it!!! Thanx for all the reviews and if you haven't reviewed…then click on that button and do it now!!! And if you have reviewed…consider reviewing again! Feedback is always appreciated.