Chapter 13 – 'Fast Cars'
Cordelia sank wearily into the couch, letting it mould to her shape. She heard light footsteps behind her and knew who it was before the English accent yelped in surprise.
"Ah, Cordelia. I didn't see you there. Shouldn't you put a light on?" Wesley asked noticing the darkness of the room. "I think Angels traits are rubbing off on you more than you would like to admit." He chuckled to himself.
"When did the English get a sense of humor? I am *trying* to calm my head, all these voices are echoing. It just takes a while to stop them all." Cordelia noticed the tome in Wesleys hands for the first time. "What ya doing?"
He closed the book in his hands and sat down next to Cordelia. "I was researching your new ability. I think you may have a part Zunflux Demon in you."
Cordelia scrunched up her nose. "That sounds like some sort of kitchen cleaner. What does it do? Scrub you clean?"
"Yes quite." Wesley muttered dryly. "It is a demon that has the ability to read minds at will. They can even read through walls and barriers that are erected during times of stress, mental anguish or mental disturbance. Very good for tracking down serial killers I think."
"Yeah, that helps. WE are really the FBI! Now we have figured out what kind of a freak I am I am, I was wondering if you had seen Gunn recently? I haven't seen him since the wacko took Allen."
Wesley moved over the couch and coughed uncomfortably. "Umm…I don't know. Maybe is socializing with his crowd or maybe he has gone to Mexico to get some real tacos for Fred." Wesley finished without looking at Cordelia.
Cordelia lifted her eyebrow skeptically. "Now Wesley we both know I can read minds so I m giving you a chance to tell the truth before I go raking around in that twisted mind of your and trust me here that is not something that I wanna be doing to you."
"You see…Umm. Me and Fred…Gunn came in and…"
"Wesley spit it out. You're worse than Angel and his stutter." Cordelia shouted half-heartedly.
"Me and Fred have sort of got together, but Gunn caught us before Fred could explain the situation to him. It was as Alishia attacked Allen." He saw Cordelia pale a little. "We were paying attention. I don't think he will be back. He was talking about going back to his gang but his allegiance to Angel kept him here when Holtz recruited his friends. I hated betraying him Cordelia, I really did but there was always something between Fred and I. I think we had denied it long enough and sadly Gunn found out. Don't be angry with either of us Cordelia. We can't help what we feel."
Cordelia gently took Wesleys hand in his and held it tight. "God, if the Sunnydale crew could see this. I never thought I would hear myself say this but…I understand, you know. It was like that for me and Angel and as far as Buffy was concerned. She sees what we've done as a betrayal and now she's gone all Spikey she still blames me. She had this thing in her head that her and Angel were always meant to be tormented lovers and that the world revolves around her. Egotistical, much. I don't know how everyone will take this but me and Angel will stand by you, if he kicks up a fuss I'll kick his butt." She nudged Wesley playfully in the side. "Is that why Fred has been avoiding me."
"She thinks that you and Gunn had something is the passed! I tried to tell her it was just attraction but you know Fred and her idea's."
"Eww, Me and Gunn. No I think Cordelia and Angel sounds better. Specking of Fred, where is she?"
"Explaining some formula to Giles. She seems to be in her element. Giles has helped bring her out of her shell and between us I think we may have convinced her to go back to University. Maybe UCLA to do Physics. I think she would make a good teacher."
Cordelia smiled at Wesleys last statement. "So you two have started planning the future already. Let me guess. Rose fronted cottage with a white picket fence out front, 2.4 kids running around in the garden while Fred cooks brownies in the kitchen." She watched Wesleys eyes close to imagine the scene. "Well at least you can plan for the future. I mean we can't even get Allen's christening over with."
"Well I could ask our priest to come over and we could have it under a marquee in the courtyard. That way Angel can come out during the day and everyone we wanted to invite would be here anyway."
"That's a good idea Wes. I think we better find another Godfather though. Any ideas?" Cordelia asked. She was already in love with the idea of Angel being able to be there during the day.
"How about Giles? He has been very good to both of you though the years and is also a dear friend of all of us. It was also mean that Allen has someone in LA and in Sunnydale should anything happen to either you or Angel." Cordelia nodded her head. "Right, you take some Aspirin and I will go and talk to Giles for you."
Wesley left and went into his office. Cordelia rubbed her temples, her head still pounding with the whispers in her head. She felt the whispers dull as Angel approached the couch; he slid his arms around her shoulders and kissed her head. Cordelia smiled.
Buffy watched the interaction of Angel and Cordelia in subdued anger. *Yes* she loved Spike and *Yes* she knew that Angel would never be hers again but it still hurt and it was that hurt she was going to have to fix if she was going to be able to love Spike. Buffy watched the way Angel held Cordelia from behind before gently jumping onto the seat next to her. He smiled a smile ever so small and ever so gentle yet Cordelia smile back with the intensity to light up a room. Her heart pained a little as Cordelia nuzzled into Angels chest and Angel stroked shoulder length brown hair down her shoulders. She watched as Cordelia talked into Angels knees, her head now supported by his hand.
"Wesley had a great idea, which is rare. He decided that we should have the Christening outside."
"Um…Cora, I don't mean to rain on your parade but I would like to be there for Allen's funeral as well and in case it slipped your mind, me and sunlight don't mix, in fact it's deadly as in a bad way."
Cordelia sat herself up and looked at Angel with one eyebrow raised. "Well Duh. God Angel for a Vampire that is over 250 years old you sure can be dumb. Wes and me were gonna get a huge marquee and put it up in the courtyard. Your only allergic to direct sunlight so being under a marquee should make you into a walking, screaming fireball should it?" She didn't wait for Angel to answer. "And there will be this tunnel thing which means you covered from door to alter. Wes has a priest friend who can do the Christening and everything." Cordelia took Angels hand in hers and looked at him with her best expression. "Please say yes. You wanna make your Seer happy don't you, you know a pissed fiancée can be an expensive one. I mean we have all the people we wanted here and we can have Giles as the other Godfather since Gunn isn't coming back." She noticed Angels startled face, "I'll explain later. So you gonna say yes or do I have to beg some more?" Cordelia pouted.
"When did Queen C ever have to beg. You know I could never say no to you. As long as I don't burst into flames then I agree but the priest thing maybe difficult. I can't even set foot inside a church Cordelia, let alone stand in front of a priest for 30 minutes."
Cordelia chuckled a little. "Duh. I looked in some of Wesley's books and it said that you couldn't go into churches because they are holy grounds, where as the Hotel isn't so 'poof' you shouldn't have any problems. So do I give Wesley the OK?"
"Yeah OK." Angel answered.
Buffy watched from the shadows as Cordelia rewarded Angel with a kiss. She had heard the whole thing. A silent last tear ran down her cheek as she felt Spike show himself from the shadows.
*You've got a fast car
But is it fast enough so we can fly away
We gotta make a decision
We leave tonight or live and die this way*
"Goodbye Angel." She whispered to the couple that so curled up in each other that it was hard to tell where one started and the other finished. She turned and let her body mould into Spikes form. Now was the time for letting go, now was a time to start a fresh.
This was a character building chapter that MY characters needed. There will be one more chapter where you can find out how this all ends…Nutty.
Cordelia sank wearily into the couch, letting it mould to her shape. She heard light footsteps behind her and knew who it was before the English accent yelped in surprise.
"Ah, Cordelia. I didn't see you there. Shouldn't you put a light on?" Wesley asked noticing the darkness of the room. "I think Angels traits are rubbing off on you more than you would like to admit." He chuckled to himself.
"When did the English get a sense of humor? I am *trying* to calm my head, all these voices are echoing. It just takes a while to stop them all." Cordelia noticed the tome in Wesleys hands for the first time. "What ya doing?"
He closed the book in his hands and sat down next to Cordelia. "I was researching your new ability. I think you may have a part Zunflux Demon in you."
Cordelia scrunched up her nose. "That sounds like some sort of kitchen cleaner. What does it do? Scrub you clean?"
"Yes quite." Wesley muttered dryly. "It is a demon that has the ability to read minds at will. They can even read through walls and barriers that are erected during times of stress, mental anguish or mental disturbance. Very good for tracking down serial killers I think."
"Yeah, that helps. WE are really the FBI! Now we have figured out what kind of a freak I am I am, I was wondering if you had seen Gunn recently? I haven't seen him since the wacko took Allen."
Wesley moved over the couch and coughed uncomfortably. "Umm…I don't know. Maybe is socializing with his crowd or maybe he has gone to Mexico to get some real tacos for Fred." Wesley finished without looking at Cordelia.
Cordelia lifted her eyebrow skeptically. "Now Wesley we both know I can read minds so I m giving you a chance to tell the truth before I go raking around in that twisted mind of your and trust me here that is not something that I wanna be doing to you."
"You see…Umm. Me and Fred…Gunn came in and…"
"Wesley spit it out. You're worse than Angel and his stutter." Cordelia shouted half-heartedly.
"Me and Fred have sort of got together, but Gunn caught us before Fred could explain the situation to him. It was as Alishia attacked Allen." He saw Cordelia pale a little. "We were paying attention. I don't think he will be back. He was talking about going back to his gang but his allegiance to Angel kept him here when Holtz recruited his friends. I hated betraying him Cordelia, I really did but there was always something between Fred and I. I think we had denied it long enough and sadly Gunn found out. Don't be angry with either of us Cordelia. We can't help what we feel."
Cordelia gently took Wesleys hand in his and held it tight. "God, if the Sunnydale crew could see this. I never thought I would hear myself say this but…I understand, you know. It was like that for me and Angel and as far as Buffy was concerned. She sees what we've done as a betrayal and now she's gone all Spikey she still blames me. She had this thing in her head that her and Angel were always meant to be tormented lovers and that the world revolves around her. Egotistical, much. I don't know how everyone will take this but me and Angel will stand by you, if he kicks up a fuss I'll kick his butt." She nudged Wesley playfully in the side. "Is that why Fred has been avoiding me."
"She thinks that you and Gunn had something is the passed! I tried to tell her it was just attraction but you know Fred and her idea's."
"Eww, Me and Gunn. No I think Cordelia and Angel sounds better. Specking of Fred, where is she?"
"Explaining some formula to Giles. She seems to be in her element. Giles has helped bring her out of her shell and between us I think we may have convinced her to go back to University. Maybe UCLA to do Physics. I think she would make a good teacher."
Cordelia smiled at Wesleys last statement. "So you two have started planning the future already. Let me guess. Rose fronted cottage with a white picket fence out front, 2.4 kids running around in the garden while Fred cooks brownies in the kitchen." She watched Wesleys eyes close to imagine the scene. "Well at least you can plan for the future. I mean we can't even get Allen's christening over with."
"Well I could ask our priest to come over and we could have it under a marquee in the courtyard. That way Angel can come out during the day and everyone we wanted to invite would be here anyway."
"That's a good idea Wes. I think we better find another Godfather though. Any ideas?" Cordelia asked. She was already in love with the idea of Angel being able to be there during the day.
"How about Giles? He has been very good to both of you though the years and is also a dear friend of all of us. It was also mean that Allen has someone in LA and in Sunnydale should anything happen to either you or Angel." Cordelia nodded her head. "Right, you take some Aspirin and I will go and talk to Giles for you."
Wesley left and went into his office. Cordelia rubbed her temples, her head still pounding with the whispers in her head. She felt the whispers dull as Angel approached the couch; he slid his arms around her shoulders and kissed her head. Cordelia smiled.
Buffy watched the interaction of Angel and Cordelia in subdued anger. *Yes* she loved Spike and *Yes* she knew that Angel would never be hers again but it still hurt and it was that hurt she was going to have to fix if she was going to be able to love Spike. Buffy watched the way Angel held Cordelia from behind before gently jumping onto the seat next to her. He smiled a smile ever so small and ever so gentle yet Cordelia smile back with the intensity to light up a room. Her heart pained a little as Cordelia nuzzled into Angels chest and Angel stroked shoulder length brown hair down her shoulders. She watched as Cordelia talked into Angels knees, her head now supported by his hand.
"Wesley had a great idea, which is rare. He decided that we should have the Christening outside."
"Um…Cora, I don't mean to rain on your parade but I would like to be there for Allen's funeral as well and in case it slipped your mind, me and sunlight don't mix, in fact it's deadly as in a bad way."
Cordelia sat herself up and looked at Angel with one eyebrow raised. "Well Duh. God Angel for a Vampire that is over 250 years old you sure can be dumb. Wes and me were gonna get a huge marquee and put it up in the courtyard. Your only allergic to direct sunlight so being under a marquee should make you into a walking, screaming fireball should it?" She didn't wait for Angel to answer. "And there will be this tunnel thing which means you covered from door to alter. Wes has a priest friend who can do the Christening and everything." Cordelia took Angels hand in hers and looked at him with her best expression. "Please say yes. You wanna make your Seer happy don't you, you know a pissed fiancée can be an expensive one. I mean we have all the people we wanted here and we can have Giles as the other Godfather since Gunn isn't coming back." She noticed Angels startled face, "I'll explain later. So you gonna say yes or do I have to beg some more?" Cordelia pouted.
"When did Queen C ever have to beg. You know I could never say no to you. As long as I don't burst into flames then I agree but the priest thing maybe difficult. I can't even set foot inside a church Cordelia, let alone stand in front of a priest for 30 minutes."
Cordelia chuckled a little. "Duh. I looked in some of Wesley's books and it said that you couldn't go into churches because they are holy grounds, where as the Hotel isn't so 'poof' you shouldn't have any problems. So do I give Wesley the OK?"
"Yeah OK." Angel answered.
Buffy watched from the shadows as Cordelia rewarded Angel with a kiss. She had heard the whole thing. A silent last tear ran down her cheek as she felt Spike show himself from the shadows.
*You've got a fast car
But is it fast enough so we can fly away
We gotta make a decision
We leave tonight or live and die this way*
"Goodbye Angel." She whispered to the couple that so curled up in each other that it was hard to tell where one started and the other finished. She turned and let her body mould into Spikes form. Now was the time for letting go, now was a time to start a fresh.
This was a character building chapter that MY characters needed. There will be one more chapter where you can find out how this all ends…Nutty.