"It's over. Things are back to the way they should be and nothing's
ever going to break us apart again. And if anything tries, I'm going to
have to go all glowy, and personally kick its ass."
Hallucination Cordy, Deep Down
--
The small room was very quickly, very efficiently being torn to shreds.
Wesley, as usual, fought with power and finesse, a half smile on his face as he ducked and parried, using his enemies strengths against them. With a small fencing sword, he danced around the demons, eerily reminding Cordelia of Wesley in the Princess Bride with his taunts and small bursts of laughter as he rolled under another Champion, who could have easily been Andre the Giant.
His significant other, however, was no Buttercup. Faith had absolutely no problem getting down and dirty with her fists. Her hair flew around her, as if it had a life of its own, and her smile was wide and painful, rolling under the two coming after her with all the grace of a street fighter. Her face was scratched, she was bleeding, but ever the cheerful healer, Faith only took one swipe at the cut, studying the blood on her fingers, before catching Al in turn with a sidekick that cracked across his face and sent him halfway across the room, forcing Connor's charge, the ever flexible Marj, to double over to avoid the contact.
Lilah Morgan was doing her best to glower at the scene and avoid getting caught at the same time, but even she didn't get far, because a now smirking Bethany shook an arm out just as she reached the door, and pulled back, swinging her with her invisible tractor beam directly in front of Faith.
The dazed lawyer didn't even have a moment to say a word before Faith stared, grinned and slammed a fist into her face.
"Cordelia?!" Angel's voice was worried, and with good reason. It had been a while since she had done this.
"Just fine," she answered. She must have looked quite the sight, what with the heels and the skirt, and the sword that kept slipping on Skip's natural armor. Throughout the fight, Cordelia's own quarrel remained with her demon guide, and despite the demon's much larger size, she kept her ground covered, managing to twist in moves she had thought she had long forgotten.
"Violence isn't you, Cordelia," he said, mouth set in a grim line as he fought defensively. She noted that, found that weird, that he never attacked, never set out to thrust toward her, almost as if he didn't want to hurt her.
"Are you turning soft on me, Skip?" she bit, ducking under, and allowing just a moment to find Angel and Connor, father and son fighting side by side, before yanking her blade up and catching his with a clash of sparks and metal. "I thought you said there was no room for emotions in this game."
"There isn't. Not in mine." He advanced harder now, a split second move that caught her off guard. In a second she landed hard on the dirt floor, dazed and out of breath. Mind reeling, she managed to catch her senses as the blade arched down. With a yelp, she rolled away, watched as the blade slammed into the dirt she had just occupied.
"Then why are you so intent on bringing down Angel?" she asked flatly, sweaty now as she circled him, eyes dark and glowering. "You've always hated him. Isn't that emotion?"
"How I feel about him has nothing to do with my mission, or about you, Cordelia," he answered. "Face it, Light Bright. The only one here who's never been able to get away from him, is you."
She flashed him a quick smile, patronizing and almost angry. "You think I can't get away from him?"
"I think you can't get away from him, Trinity."
"Trinity was a wuss," Cordelia tossed back, shoulders pushing back, the short exclamation suddenly making her pause, consider. "But then again, that's what you always thought of me, didn't you? Weak and spineless for my ties on earth? Oh, the big bad Higher Beings could never know something like love, could never tie themselves to such a damning thing because heaven forbid they care about something other than their own asses! Their own prophecies and idiotic trials!"
"If you think that's what they're about, then you never really knew them, Cordelia."
"Maybe you never gave me a chance to."
Pausing in the sword play, Skip tilted his head, suddenly scrutinizing as he regarded her. "Tell me, something, Cordelia. You ever really felt the Powers? Ever think that you had a choice in all of this?"
"In between every single damned test, and cutting me off from everything I loved, I stopped trying," she remarked flatly. "You know me, Skip. Undisciplined, jaded, and bitter and angry." With a swing, and a twist of her torso, suddenly palming his wrist with her own glowy charge, until the shock of it sent him slamming against the rocks, dark head cracking against the stone.
"So what do you think now?" he asked. "You managed to get out, think a little bit. You came back despite everything, threw away everything you thought meant something for one little soul. Just one, when before, you dropped seven without even looking back. Tell me, what's your mission, Cordelia? Your little character of witness, your little charade." He blocked her blow, and with a hiss, she found her arm wrenched up, nearly torn out of her socket as he breathed his sulphuric breath into her ear, pinning her against him. "This your mission, Cordelia?"
"What's yours, Skip?"
"To get back what belongs to the Powers," he answered stiffly.
The dry laughter fell on deaf ears, as Cordelia managed through the pain, "Is this what they want?"
"They might want it."
"How do you know?"
"I don't. I only know what I feel."
With a move that nearly caused her to scream in pain, Cordelia jerked up, swung over, and nearly flipped her legs across her body, using the momentum to bring him to his knees, glowing palm now connecting to his face, eyes glittering with anger. "And what do you feel, Skip?"
"Would you kill me, Cordelia?" Skip asked.
"No," she whispered. "But I'd make it hurt like hell."
Around them, weapons clashed and demons howled. She smelled blood, and she knew he could sense the fear in the chaos surrounding, all for the sacred purity of the mission, the boiling point that brought both demon guide and higher being to this point, at a stand still, her hand boiling against his skin, causing what she knew had to pure, unfiltered agony.
"Fine, Skip," she whispered, chest rising and falling in uneven attempt to catch her breath as she held him this way. Angel's family was lost in the battle behind her, and she paid no attention to anyone but this demon, this one who had transformed her and changed her and forced her to choose so many times. "You know what my mission is? What I truly believe in? The Powers are screwed. You can't be a champion without love, there are no higher beings in us down here, no matter how powerful we get, or how honored, and there are no more real tests than the ones we make ourselves. I may have passed your tests, Skip, but I failed mine. I abandoned the man I swore to be with as long as it took because of my damned calling, I damned a man who should have been given a choice because I made one, and I made all of that, alone. THAT was my downfall, Skip. The good guys, what people you see in here, they think with their hearts, because it doesn't matter where they come from, or what they've done, but what they feel. As long as they FEEL they have a chance to save someone, anyone, just a little bit from that heartbreak and aching that they feel, they'll do it. They'll die for it." Straightening up, she lifted the palm from his cheek, heard him take in a shaky gasp in response. Her own voice was soft, barely heard about the racket at the noise, but it didn't matter, she really only spoke for herself. "It's worth it, Skip, in the end, because you're never really alone. And in this game, that's all that matters. The truth is, Skip, alone, you're nothing."
"STOP THE FIGHT! STOP IT!"
Whipping her head around, Cordelia lost her focus when someone that looked like a sweaty, panicked version of Fred stepped into the room. Tumbling forward, Winnifred took in the scene, gave a small gasp and a muttered 'oh dear', motioning quickly.
"STOP it," Fred said again, this time to Angel and Cordelia, eyes darting between the pair.
"Ya'll better do it," Charles Gunn shouted, his glare for the demon quotient of the room, half bending with the weight of the guy covered in glitter, arm slung over his shoulder. "If you know what's good for you. You know who this guy is, don't you?"
Slowly, every figure in the room watched as the oracle was dropped on the floor, blinking with confusion as he took in the state of the Pressroom.
"Wow," he said. "I was out for a while."
"It's okay, guys," Skip said, breathing heavily, taking in a huge, gasping gulps of air. The demon looked worn out, hands on his knees as he tried to get his bearing thanks to Cordelia's glowy torture. "Drop the weapons. It's over."
Miller, hand still in mid-air, wore features laced with confusion, head tilting from a still fisted Angel back to Skip. "But-"
"I said it's over," Skip snapped, scales glistening in the light as he once again looked toward Cordelia. "It's over." With one long arm, he shoved Marj to the side, skittered past Faith and then stopped in front of the Oracle. "You okay?"
"I could use a bleaming pint!" The Oracle rubbed his chin ruefully. "Never said it was gonna HURT, man!"
"Sorry." Punching at his shoulder, Skip grinned. "You're a champ, Doyle."
It took a couple seconds of bewildered confusion for Cordelia to get it. To really get it. Suddenly, her mind skipped, and her heart jumped, and her gaze locked with Angel, stunned silent.
"DOYLE?!"
The oracle paused in his task, white robe splotched with blue and gold paint as he rubbed at his face, suddenly lighting up in a beautifully familiar smile as he caught eyes with his princess. "Hey, there, beautiful!"
Her heart jolted, and suddenly she raced forward, throwing her arms around the little Irish man as he chuckled and hugged her back. "Look at ya," he chortled. "You're like... deep and everything."
"Oh, my GOD, shut up!" she whispered, suddenly overwhelmed with tears as Angel gently pushed her to the side, getting his own hug from their lost companion. "What are you DOING here?!"
"What, you think my sacrificing anything would make it all stop?" Doyle grinned. "I got promoted! Though, the pay sucks, and I gotta wear this blasted paint, and act like a sap." The Irish tilt was still present, as he winked. "Not exactly up there with higher beings like, you, but... ya know... I got my own niche."
"Doyle..." Even Angel was caught offguard. The vampire found himself frozen to the floor, mouth opening and closing as he tried to catch his emotions at seeing his old friend, and comprehend what it all meant. "Wait a... what are you- I'm confused."
"Dad?" Connor's glower was nothing short of scary, the Destroyer now standing directly behind him. "We're not killing them?"
"I'm not sure..."
Cordelia, Doyle's hands still locked around her waist, caught Angel's eyes, and found herself turning to study the room, confusion suddenly overwhelming every other emotion. There was Faith and Wesley, the ex-Watcher breathing heavily, the Slayer still holding Marksy by the scruff of his neck. Under the desk, Mrs. Sanderson blinked, for once at a loss of words, holding a sword in her shaky palms to ward off any of the attack. Bethany had Lindsey in her arms, the lawyer clearly injured, holding his evil hand to him as he bled just a little. Every champion watched the reunion, and even Lilah Morgan, holding a hand up to a bruising eye, had a bewildered expression in her pretty face.
And Skip, the bastard, was smiling.
"WHAT'S going ON?!" she burst, pushing out of Doyle's embrace, and whirling to face him.
"You passed, sweetie."
Cordelia stared blankly. "Passed what?"
"Your test," Doyle spoke up behind her, Irish accent thick and cheery. "Took you long enough, darlin'. I was startin' to think they were right about you."
Catching Angel's glance, she shrugged, once again completely bewildered. "What are you talking about?!"
"It's simple, Cordelia," Skip said, proud face beaming. "The Powers led you back to town to try you one last time. You quit, and it was a good thing, but they really wanted to make sure you were truly ready. Whether or not you were really ready to sacrifice everything for the mission, what you believe in. Saving Bethany was as good a way as any."
"You set this up?" Angel asked, voice low, and more than a little angry.
"No. This was real. Cordelia's play in all of this was unforeseen, but upon her entrance, the rules changed." Skip smiled grimly, crossing his arms. "You found your mission, Cordelia. Your true calling, after all these years."
"You're beautiful, darlin'," Doyle popped up, voice warm with amusement. "But you've got a hell of an ego. You failed your first two tests, when you decided you had the right to judge a human, and call yourself a higher being."
"I FAILED?!" Cordelia blinked. "What do you mean I failed?! You never said I failed?! You LET me go up there, and you LET me –"
"The Powers don't want trained monkeys, Cordelia," Skip said, motioning across the room. "We've got enough of those."
"HEY!"
"Shut up, Miller," he replied, keeping his eyes on Cordelia. "We need people with souls, Cordelia. A person who believes that above all, what this world should be is what it needs to be. There's no room for higher beings, no room for anything but the sacrifice of love. A person needs to be connected to the world, follow their emotions and instincts, and with blind faith? How can they do that? You questioned the Powers, Cordelia, but you always obeyed. That was your failing."
"You LET ME LEAVE?!" Cordelia apparently was a one idea woman. "YOU JUST LET ME!?"
"I'm just a guide, Cordelia. I'm not your boss, or your leader. It's always your choice. That's the whole point of being a champion. Trained monkeys who stopped caring, they won't understand." He grinned. "It took you a long way, but I knew you'd figure it out."
He punched her playfully in the shoulder, affectionate and teasing. Cordelia responded by cracking her fist across his face.
"YOU LET ME LEAVE?! YOU LET ME THINK THAT I DIDN'T HAVE A CHOICE?!"
Faith and Angel both lunged, keeping the scrambling and pissed off Seer from getting at Skip.
"Told you she was going to be pissed when she found out, man," Doyle said, whistling admiringly.
The demon guide blinked, "Well... okay, then. We'll talk when you're a little calmer. You're free to go, all of you. And you, Bethany." His gaze hardened, his voice was scratchy, rough, and angry. "You're free too. The Powers have granted your freedom pending the character of witness."
"Just like that?" Bethany asked.
"WOAH, WOAH!" Lilah Morgan, hand still over her eye, waved her arms emphatically. "I don't think so. There's still a matter of Wolfram and Harts interest in this whole thing-"
And when every Champion in the room turned to glare at her, Lilah Morgan realized she probably shouldn't have spoke up at all. "But we'll let it go..."
Skip rolled his eyes, a testament to his irritation. "You came back," he said to Bethany. "You came back at the risk of your own soul to save the lives of others. There may be hope for you yet." He motioned to Angel. "Bethany, consider Angel and his family your probation officers. Stay closest to them, keep control of yourself, you should be fine. You lose it, we'll come after you." Skip took in a breath, looking around the Pressroom. "Let's go, guys."
"You know, you are SUCH a Powers' Pet," Miller grumbled, moving past Cordelia. "See you later, Light Bright."
"Told you the marriage wouldn't last," Marksy said, pushing off Faith's hand. "Didn't even make it to the altar."
"I... Good God... I..." Mrs. Sanderson blinked stupidly.
"Wait, wait..." Cordelia stopped Doyle's exit with a hand on his shoulder, suddenly too overwhelmed to think properly, latching on to one damning thought. "You're saying... I have to work the mission again?"
Doyle paused, scrutinizing in his study of her, and the half-demon slash Oracle finally broke into a charming grin. "Darlin', haven't you been listening? It's your choice. All they wanted was to make sure you graduated. The choice, that's up to you. You always have a choice. That's the whole point." Leaning forward, he pressed a kiss to her cheek, leaving a smudge of blue and gold paint. "Love you."
She blinked, standing perfectly still as the other dimension's champions filed out of the room, each in turning muttering their good-bye's as they limped.
"I can't believe he let us get our asses beat for nothing," Miller groused.
Doyle snorted. "Did you just hear me? You always have a choic-"
"SHUT UP, DOYLE!"
"I can't believe this." Lilah Morgan pushed files and papers into her briefcase, a murderous look on her face as she strode to the doorway. "The Senior Partners are going to be PISSED, thank you VERY much."
"Lovely to see you again, Lilah."
"BITE ME, Wesley."
She didn't resist flicking her old lover off before she exited. Faith gave a low whistle. "Shit. Now I almost like her."
"I... my... that was... did you see- I can't..."
Fred, who at the moment was in the process of wringing her hands at the glazed look on Cordelia's frozen features, finally took pity on the blubbering Mrs. Sanderson. Kneeling down, she peeked under the desk and offered a smile. "Why don't we get you out of here."
"I... did you see- with the... and the... oh my... and the-"
"Yes, I know. Pretty amazing violence," Fred agreed, gently pulling the lady out from under the desk. "Charles?"
"What?" Her boyfriend stood blankly, holding onto his trusty axe.
She gave him a pointed look. "Let's get Mrs. Sanderson home."
"Take Bethany and Lindsey while you're at it," Angel said, nodding toward the couple in the corner. "Drop them off at the hotel, I'll be there as soon as I can."
"Why do WE have to do it?" Charles groused, moving forward obediently. "Takin' care of the crazy old lady, and following it up with evil Lawyer Boy? I tell you, Fred. We're getting the short end of the stick like nobody's business."
"He always this much fun?" Bethany asked, helping Lindsey toward the door.
"Funner," Fred smiled, keeping her hold on the still stammering Mrs. Sanderson. "Relax, Charles. I'll make it up to you."
"Next time we're the ones that stay and fight. You hear me?! It's OUR TURN!"
Dazed emotion scuttled through Cordelia's brain. Suddenly light-headed, she walked the room, glancing over the desk and the scattered weapons, eyes falling on her tattered remains of a jacket, the laptop sitting undisturbed on the overturned table. Reaching up slowly, she tenderly felt the bruised area on her cheek, hissed in pain.
It had really happened. In here. Her heart was beating wildly, and in the dizzying torrent of events that settled in the dust of this hell dimension, she laughed shakily.
"What is it?" Angel remarked.
"Do you remember?" she almost whispered. "The time we got stuck with the Sluks in the hotel, and I lit up like crazy, freaked out as hell because of it?"
"We almost died," Angel remarked, arms crossed as he regarded her, a slight smile forming on his lips.
"Yeah..." she smiled again, eyes on some distant part of the room, lost in her memories, adrenaline pumping into her veins. "God."
Angel came forward, patted gently at her shoulder. "Cordelia?"
She looked back to him, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "Yeah?"
"You better hurry if you're going to catch up."
The smile froze, and Cordelia blinked, heart suddenly caught in her throat. "What?"
"Douglas."
Douglas. Cordelia blinked, suddenly unsure, unable to breathe as she twisted in her seat, found Angel dismissing her as he crossed his arms, spoke in low voices to Faith and Wesley, some mission or other that she knew nothing about.
Her throat was oddly dry. Swallowing in an attempt to remove the lump that made it almost impossible to speak, she tried to speak. "But... he's gone. He took the flight."
Angel paused, turning back, almost as if he was surprised to discover she was still there. "You know very well he won't leave without dear old Mother, Cordelia."
"You wanna bet on that?" she snapped.
"Cordelia, it's late. You better go."
There was a distance in his words, a callous betrayal that she wasn't quite ready to face. "But... Angel- I don't... I mean... with what happened- How can you just-"
Her vampire ex-husband, with his large hands and beautifully brown eyes, once again turned back to her. She felt lost, standing next to a tattered desk in a tattered pressroom with her tattered heart. She wondered if he saw it, because his face softened. Stepping forward, he once again rested his palms on her shoulders, squeezing Cordelia.
"Cordelia, I'm trying to be noble here, okay? I'm letting you go, just like you asked me to. Can't you understand that?"
"Angel, but you have-"
"Just call him. He loves you. He'll take you back, Cordelia."
"But what about Bethany and the character of witn-"
"Faith'll write it."
"FAITH?!"
"Damn, 'C. Don't sound so damned surprised," Faith said easily. "I know my way around a few sentences. Won't be as good as yours, but damned good enough." She slapped Wesley's butt, making the Englishman yelp. "He'll help."
"Angel-"
"Cordelia." Angel's thumb now caressed her cheek, a shiver of a jolt coursing through her at the impossible warmth in his brown eyes, the depth of his emotion as he smiled, an oh so small smile that made her suddenly remember why she had loved him. "What Douglas is offering, maybe that's what you need. I'm not putting you through that, again, Cordelia. You deserve a normal life. That's what you wanted, isn't it?"
She blinked, and suddenly, her frazzled mind couldn't take it. "I GET IT. I get it!" She pushed away from him, hands on her hips in a sudden glare. "I know what you're doing! You're trying to get me to stay by trying to get me to leave!"
"Huh?"
"That's IT, isn't it?!"
"Cordelia-"
"HA! That's it! You think that by making me go, that you're going to make me stay, and you're using all this psychological mumbo-jumbo to make me think you want me to go, when you really want me to stay-"
"Kay, I'm officially lost," Faith offered, settling into the wooden chair as she watched the scene.
"Cordy-"
"And you're just-"
"HEY!" Once again, Angel had her in his arms. "Calm down-"
"BUT-"
"You're screeching!" Stopping her words with a palm on her mouth, he gave a shaky laugh, eyes suddenly blinking with moisture. "Okay, I had that coming, all right? I'm serious. All right? This whole... thing at the end... What the Powers put you through... I know why you left, and... don't get me wrong, okay? It's killing me to let you go, but... there's a whole new world that you've never seen, because of me. Because of this... and... Look, I made fun of all of that, okay? Of Douglas and Maine and the stupid life insurance thing, you know why?"
"No," she answered, voice oddly uneven. "Why?"
The sheepish grin was almost a direct contradiction to his normally broody expression. "I was jealous. That you wanted anything that I couldn't give you. I've tried so long to believe that I was enough, but I'm not. It's your choice, and... you chose what you want."
"Angel-"
And suddenly his lips were on hers, gentle and sweet, and beautiful. Her eyes closed involuntarily, swept into his arms, and into his heart as he slid his lips hotly over hers, jerking her heart, and sealing her fate.
And suddenly, he pulled back. Cordelia's eyes fluttered open to find him clapping her companionably on the shoulders, and pushing her on her way. "Good luck, Cordelia." His back was turned toward her as he moved back to Faith and Wesley. "Okay, the motorcycle gang on 3rd and Beverly."
"They back at it?"
"According to Kate, they are."
"Then we didn't do it right the first time."
"Well, let's head back to the hotel, take care of Bethany and... Lindsey, I guess, and we'll work on a game plan."
"I still have the bike Wes gave me. You think they'd recognize you if you did a little infilt-"
She wasn't a part of this anymore. The proof was there, in living color, as her three old friends continued to talk, continued the mission, without her.
With a shaking numbness, Cordelia turned, movements hazy as she slowly gathered her purse, cellphone clutched to one hand, and sunglasses in the other.
"Maybe a gang bang is what we need. We have the man power."
"Don't you think a little finesse is required-"
"You and your damned finesse, Wesley. Get over it. Even Connor could take them out-"
"Where IS Connor?"
The side of her face hurt, and she still tasted a little blood on her lips, mixed in with the unmistakable taste of Angel.
She was getting out of this, and that was a good thing. Of course, Douglas would forgive her, and all she really needed was a chance to clear her head, get away from this damned Pressroom, and away from them, remember that it was what she wanted. Her closure. Her choice.
"We're still getting the commission from the Police on the black market jobs, right?"
"If Kate keeps her word."
She blinked, steps suddenly faltering at the doorway. Her legs wouldn't move. Everything was so heavy, the ruined jacket, the cellphone, the phone. The heels that dug into the ground.
This was Cordelia Chase. Leaving.
Oh, HELL NO.
"No," she breathed. "No, way. NO." Whirling, she dropped her jacket, glare icy and cold as she stared down the three members of Angel Investigations. "NO. No. NO."
"Uh... Cordy-"
"SHUT UP," she snapped, suddenly shaking with the anger flooding through her. "You're not getting rid of me that easy. You're not!"
"Cordelia-"
"NO! You need me, all right?" They all gave her blank stares. "YOU DO!" Stamping her foot, she continued her tirade, pointing a finger into Angel's chest as she strode down the steps. "You're NOT going to put me through all that shit, and then kick me out. I'm not going anywhere, and you can't make me leave, because you NEED ME, dammit! I'm staying, and there's not a damned thing you can do about-"
"Cordy-"
"SHUT UP! I'm tired of everyone telling me I have to make choices, and then never letting me MAKE THEM! I'm making up my damned mind, and you guys are going to LET ME, JUST THIS DAMNED ONCE!" The cell phone rang, jumping with vibration in her hand. Growling at the intrusion, she flipped it open, answering with a strangled, "WHAT?!"
"CORDELIA?!"
Huh? "Douglas?"
"What the hell kind of money did you give me?!"
"What are you talking about?!"
"I'm at the 4th Precinct Police Station, having just been arrested for having COUNTERFEIT MONEY!"
"Counter..." trailing off, Cordelia turned, found one Slayer smirking, one British Guy looking almost guilty, and one vampire scratching at his head trying to look anywhere in the room but her.
"CORDELIA?!"
She blinked, staring down at the receiver, and suddenly her heart jumped, and she gasped openly for breath, realization of what that meant flooding through her.
Oh, God... oh, God... Oh, God...
Her knees gave out from under her, and with no pride left in her, Cordelia slumped onto the desk, buried her head into her arms, and began to cry.
"What the fuck?"
"Cordelia?"
Shaking with uncontrollable sobs, Cordelia's heart ached, coursing through every emotion that had flooded her recently, tired body suddenly unable to take it all. Oh, God. Oh, God... Oh, God.
"Cordelia?!" Soft hands covered her hair, stroking quickly, gently. "What's..."
Standing up suddenly, she smacked Angel in the arm. "Oh, GOD," she managed. "I hate you guys. I hate you guys so much..." Sniffling in, she grabbed his sleeve, hiccupping as she wiped her still shedding tears.
"Uh... Cordy?"
"I thought you were really sending me away! I didn't know you guys had screwed him again..." She glared up at him, voice suddenly tiny and meek. "I thought you were actually being noble. That you were just going to be all self-sacrificing and.... ANGEL and let me leave without doing anything about it!"
Angel stared blankly, processing her words. "Cordelia," he said matter-of-factly. "What do you think I am? An idiot? I'm never doing that again!"
With a strangled laugh, and the unmistakable urge to choke her vampire husband, Cordelia threw herself into his arms, wrapping herself into his embrace. "YOU BASTARD!" He held her close, all of him, with his beautiful big arms, and his wonderfully strong embrace, and that damned chuckle on the end of his voice as his lips brushed against her brow. "I thought you didn't LOVE ME!" she wailed.
"Cordelia, if you thought that shit, you're dumber than I thought." And suddenly, there was Faith, DAMNED HO FAITH, with her slutty smile and her slutty clothes, and her crossed arms.
Faith's self assured smirk quickly turned into one of panic when Cordelia launched towards her, arms gathering the Slayer in a huge embrace. "I HATE YOU," she managed. "I hate you, Faith."
The brunette ex-con stood frozen for exactly half a second, wild eyes searching for Wesley or Angel to tell her what to do with an armful of blubbering Seer. "All right, all right," she finally managed. "I hate you, too. Geez, Cordelia. You're damned dense when you want to be. For second there I thought I'd have to plant a damned bomb in the airport!"
Cordelia kissed her on the lips, shutting her up. Soundly.
Faith was still blinking when Cordelia smacked Wesley, and then hugged him fiercely, sucking in her breath.
"Well..." she managed. "What are you guys waiting for? We have to get him out of jail. Give him his real money, and send him back to Maine where he belongs. Oh, and by the way? Connor followed the demons into the portal. He's probably going to try and kill them or something. Skip will send him back, eventually."
"Did she just fucking kiss me?!"
"I rather enjoyed it myself."
"Shut the fuck up, Wesley."
Cordelia sniffled, her throat aching, but suddenly deliriously relieved, happy, and scared. When Angel's glance caught hers, she managed a smile, only for him, always for him.
He grinned back, nodding slightly. "Faith. Wes. Get out of here. Cordy and I will finish up in here. Right after we grab Connor, and get that damned divorce annulled."
"Angel, you can't really annul a divorce."
"Are you going to get technical with me?" Angel asked, picking up an axe, throwing it back to the weapons closet.
Cordelia grinned, shaking her head, turning to follow Wesley and Faith-
Simple darkness permeated the room, and there was fear, torture, blood. Pentagrams marked the location, and all around her there was screams, agony- marked into the face of the children as they scrambled in the well, awaiting their sacrifice-
"Wait." Cordelia paused, hand on Angel's arms as she slowed, pushing out a breath.
Immediately, Angel's expression was back to his most beautiful. Concentrated, focused, eyes narrowing as he waited.
"Figueroa and 4th," she said, motioning for Wesley and Faith to come forward when the pair stood waiting at the entrance. "Children are going to get sacrificed if we don't hurry."
"Fucking heavy," Faith muttered, grabbing a dagger from the floor and heading toward the door with a flip of her hair. "I'll get the car."
"Faith, if you bloody think I'm going to let you drive, you're entirely insane," Wesley said after her, shouldering his own saber.
Cordelia took in a shaky breath, arms crossed, glancing one more time at the remains of the pressroom. "So this is my choice, huh? How do I know I'm going to regret this?"
His arms slipped around her waist, and she smiled, leaning back in her husband's arms, allowing just one moment of warmth in his cool strength. "Cordelia?"
"Hmm?"
"Leave me again, I'll tie you to the damned bed."
"No, Angel, if I recall, it was my turn." And with that, she kissed him, long and hard, and hungry and desperate. And it felt right. It felt good. And still, while his arms slipped around her, and while his kiss grew more passionate, more arousing, the thought pricked the back of her head. Pulling back, she smiled gently, tracing his lips with a soft finger. "Vision," she whispered.
He closed his eyes, rested his forehead against hers, and took in a shaky, unneeded breath.
Only then, Cordelia realized that her poor vampire was shaking. He was shaking so badly.
"I love you, Cordelia," he whispered, eyes suddenly open, millimeters from hers, pure focus, determination, love.
Her heart never felt so full, so ready to explode, so unable to contain the complete emotion she felt buried in his embrace.
"Yeah," she said gruffly. "I know. I love you, too."
One more kiss, lingering and gentle, and she stepped out of his arms. Picking up his favorite broadsword, she presented it to him with a flourish.
"Come on, and remember, we still gotta go and get Douglas out."
"I wonder if he'll let us out of the whole life insurance thing," Angel mused, jogging up the stairs as she followed. "We're a little on the broke side."
Cordelia shot him an incredulous look. "You have no shame."
"What, like shame is something to be proud of?"
--
FIN