Disclaimer: Joss and I were chatting over a cup on hot cocoa in Bermuda. I asked him to get me another cup, with marshmallows this time, "you stupid git". He said he'd only do it if I said that I'd never try to make money off my fanfic, and that all the rights to Angel belong to him.
Let's just say... I got my marshmallows. The cocoa was cold though, and I could've sworn I saw a red hair float by in there. Stupid git.

A/N: I've decided to write in short spurts of chapters, so that it's updated a bit more frequently. Hope that's okay.

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"Now before we get started, I'd like to remind everybody that this isn't all talk.. I assure you that it'll get interesting."

Cordelia would have her mind work overtime on what that meant, had it not been for the nerves she already had from Angel arm around her shoulder. Little did she know that Angel's nerves were way beyond hers, merely due to her hand casually rested on his knee as she leaned into him. They struggled to keep focus on the speaker's words, intoxicated by the close proximity.

"Everyone here's got love, we're going to assume that. What you're all here for is help on keeping that love in tact, and well fueled."

The livid brunette, with long legs peeking through the slit of her red dress, never failed to puncuate every word with some kind of faint sexual innuendo.

"She definitely a.. lively.. speaker," whispered Cordelia.

"First thing's first though, my name's Alida.. the creator of this little program. I'll be the host for this whole process."

Admist the clapping, Angel sneaked a whisper to Cordelia, "Alida.. that's a traditionally Latin name for.. for small winged one."

"You don't think--"

"Thank you! Now, let's begin. I'll need one couple to volunteer. Any offers? Promise it won't hurt."

Cordelia and Angel exchanged meaningful eyebrow movements, and then decided to volunteer themselves. Perhaps the volunteers would end up being the sacrifices. They stood up, Cordelia announced themselves and dragged Angel to the front before any of the other raised hands knew what was going on.

"Aren't we anxious?"

"I guess we are," Cordelia smiled with Angel following lead.

The pair introduced themselves, and Alida greeted them.

"Okay, now.. before I make my point, I'd like to see how you two function as a couple."

"Function as a couple?" Angel hated to speak up, but the phrase startled his nervous curiosity.

"Yes. You two clearly are comfortable with each other, as noted by your side-by-side embrace. This is good. Public display of affection is a healthy side dish for love."

"Yeah well, I just can't keep my hands off this.. big hunk of man," Cordelia put on her sultry voice again as she rubbed Angel chest.

"I see. Verbal display of affection is also something noteworthy. Good. Now for my little experiment. I'd like to see how comfortable you two exactly are in public. A perfect thing to test this is to see what you think is appropriate for kissing in front of a crowd."

"So we-- kiss? Now?"

"Yes, go right ahead. I told you this wouldn't hurt," she smiled.

Before she finished her answer, though, and before Cordelia knew it... Angel's lips were on hers, as he leaned in from the side. Her eyes closed as he sucked on her upper lip. His tongue begged entry, and his eyebrows creased in desperate passion. At that, Cordelia pulled away, leaving Angel (and the other couples) in a daze. A brief moment of silence ensued, with a few uncomfortable coughs from the audience. Angel and Cordelia stayed close to keep their cover, but kept there eyes on the host and avoided each other's glances.

"Right," Alida giggled.

"I'd say that was a good show of affection. So lets move on to a little quiz. Now remember, you need to be very honest and open if your willing to help this seminar along. Okay?"

"Yeah." "Sure."

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"Did you find anything from the records, Fred?"

Wesley stood behind her in the chair, observing.

"I did find that the creator of the program, Alida de Bello Monte, has nothing on her records.. completely clean."

"That's odd.. with an old Latin name like that, she should have a long and well-recorded lineage," Wesley observed as he squinted off the computer screen.

"But she doesn't," Fred added, "not a thing here about her genology."

Gunn found himself interested in the implications, "What does that mean?"

"She could very well be a demon. Alida... that stands for small winged one. Her surname merely indicates location in Europe, so no hint there."

"Small winged one.. like what, a pixie? Says here she's 5'10"," Fred pointed on the screen.

"Not to mention the lack of wings," Gunn quipped as he rolled his eyes and continued to sharpen his axe.

"Might be, Fred. We should look into it, perhaps find some clues from the information we do have on her," Wesley concluded as he walked over to the bookcase.

"Yay, research party!"

Gunn mounted his axe.

"Woo. Hoo."

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"First question: How long have you loved Angel?"

"Erm.. maybe since before we went to Pylea? But for a long time, as my best friend, before that."

Angel wondered why she was talking about Pylea. Maybe she just couldn't think of anything soon enough?

"Angel, how long how you loved Cordelia?"

"Um.. since Pylea too. But I've loved her for a long time. It's hard to remember what it was like not knowing her."

A few girls from the audience swooned, while some nudged their own boyfriends to take the hint.

"How would you compare your love together with the loves you've had before, Cordelia?"

Angel dropped his hand from over Cordelia's shoulder and gripped her hand firmly.

"I-- I don't think I've ever really been in love before Angel. Not really."

She attempted a smile, to balance the sincerity with fluff. Alida continued the survey.

"Angel, how about you?"

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