AN: Yo, people! Anyway, welcome to Chapter 17 of "Journey". Sorry for the
delay. I've been busy with our spring play.
Anyway, there is a part in this chapter which some might find gross.. but it's not my fault! I put it in there because moanda thought it'd be appropriate! (Ha ha ha, manders!!)
Okay, rock on, people. Or read on.. whatever.
Chapter 17: Sun, Son, and New Experiences
"Wh-what?"
Cordy's grin grew even wider, if that's even possible. "You're human." She laughed, a gloriously happy, melodic laugh. "Human!"
"I.. I am? But.. how do you know?" This was so hard to believe.
"How do I know?" Cordelia laughed again. "Let's see, you're not allergic to the sun anymore, your heart is beating, and you're breathing! Angel, honey, all signs point to human."
He looked at her skeptically, still unable to believe. He looked out at the bright, morning sunlight, from his shady position in the doorway. He then glanced at Cordelia, who nodded and smiled, saying, "Go on."
Angel closed his eyes, his newly beating heart thudding rapidly in his chest, and took a tentative step forward. And then another. And another. He kept walking until he was right in the middle of the alley. The sun beat down on him and warmed his cold body. Angel waited for his body to burst into flames.
But he never did.
Cordelia walked over to him and took his hand. Angel opened his eyes again. He tilted his face towards the shining sun and examined the daytime world around him. The blue sky, the cars passing by, the birds flying overhead.
Cordy squeezed Angel's hand tightly. He turned to look at her beautiful, smiling face. "How do you feel?" She asked.
Angel took in a deep breath. It startled him the way his lungs filled with air like that. It had been so long since he'd been human that everything was frightening to him at this point. "I've never felt so scared in my life." He admitted.
"Don't worry; I'm here to help ya." She laughed. "Oh, Angel, this is going to be so much fun!!" She did a little dance in the alley.
He frowned at her smiling, dancing self. "Fun? How is this going to be fun?"
"'Cause I'm going to humanize you. I'm going to show you all the best foods to eat, take you to the beach, and dress you up like a Ken doll."
"When have you NOT dressed me up like a Ken doll?"
Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Yeah, but this will be different. I can get you shorts and swim trunks." She quickly lifted his shirt to look at his stomach.
"Hey!" Angel protested, pulling his shirt back down.
Cordelia ignored him. "And one of our first visits will be to a tanning bed. You're definitely, definitely white."
"I haven't been in full view of the sun in over 260 years. What do you expect?"
Cordelia shrugged. "Eh, that's no excuse. Now, come on inside. We've got a busy day ahead of us. One that starts out with pancakes." She said, grabbing his hand and pulling him back into the kitchen.
* * *
Angel took yet another enormous bite out of his stack of pancakes. He barely swallowed before exclaiming, "Wow!"
"They're good, right?" Cordelia asked, enjoying her own breakfast across the counter.
"Oh, they're good, all right. They're freakin' awesome!"
Cordelia laughed. "You so just sounded like Journey."
"Well, that's beyond scary."
"I agree. So, how do you propose we tell the others about your newly Shanshu-ed self? They'll all be coming into work soon, you know."
Angel thought for a moment. "I say, we surprise them. It'll be fun, don't you think?"
"Oh, sure. We're going to have a blast!" Cordelia paused, taking a good look at Angel. "You know, I like you better all human-y. You're less broody, more fun."
Angel frowned. "Gee, thanks."
Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Shut up. You knew what I meant."
"That's beside the point. Anyway—"
Cordelia suddenly dropped her fork. "Angel!"
Angel looked up suddenly. "What? What is it? What's wrong? A vision?"
Cordy shook her head. "I just thought of something. Are you less fight-y now, because you're no longer a vampire?"
"I, uh.. I don't know. I mean, I hope not."
"Me too." Cordelia picked up her fork. "I don't want you to get hurt." Realizing what she'd just said—aloud, no less!—Cordelia ducked her head shyly.
Angel pretended not to have heard her---for her sake. Inside though, his heart was beating out of control. He paused from eating to lift up his shirtsleeve. "Well, I still have my muscles," he reported. "So, apparently, I'm pretty strong still."
"Hmm. Oh, well. We can worry about that later. Let's finish eating and later we'll think of ways to trick the others."
The door leading to the alley opened and Journey stepped inside, closing the door behind him. He walked over to Cordelia, bending down to kiss her cheek lightly.
"Morning, Cordelia."
"Morning, J." She patted his hand, which was resting on the back of her chair. "Are you hungry?"
"No, not really, Cordy. But thanks for asking. Did you sleep well?"
"Not as well as I could have. I spent half the night worrying about your whereabouts. Where WERE you?"
"I'm sorry, Cordy. I didn't mean to worry you."
Cordy glared at him sternly for a moment and then smiled. "That's all right, sweetie. Just call to let me know where you are next time, okay?"
Angel stood up abruptly, shaking the table and spilling molasses. "No, it's not okay."
Journey glared at him coolly. "So says the deadbeat."
Cordelia winced. "Journey.." She said warningly.
"No. It's okay, Cordy. Let him say what he wants to. He obviously thinks he's an adult and old enough to take care of himself. So he's also old enough to take care of that mouth of his."
"Was that a threat?"
"What do you think?" Angel paused. "Now, where were you last night?"
"None of your business."
"Uh, yeah, it is my business, seeing as how you're still a minor. And while you're still in my home, you'll abide by my rules, no matter how adult you think you are."
Journey seemed to take in what Angel had just said. He looked at his father defiantly. "Well then, I guess I won't be staying in here much longer." And suddenly, Journey was out the door, running down the alley, into the sunlight.
And for once, Angel ran after him.
Journey ran to the street and kept running for three blocks until he ducked into another alleyway. He sat down on the ground and pulled a cigarette out of his pocket, laughing. He started to light it as Angel rounded the corner and found him.
Journey dropped the cigarette.
"Journey!" Angel exclaimed.
Journey looked at him, bewildered. "Dad! What are you doing out? Out here? In the sunlight?"
"Well, son, a few things have changed since you last saw me."
"Being?"
"For one thing, I have a reflection now."
"Well, thank God. Now, you can finally see how yucky your hair and clothes look. Your appearance reflects badly on all of us, Dad."
A hurt look came across Angel's face. He touched his hair sadly. "Do I really look that bad?"
Journey stared at his poor, forlorn looking father for a moment, before rolling his eyes and cracking a smile. "No, Dad, you look fine."
Angel dropped his hand. "So, I look good?"
"Yes, Dad, you look good. Okay? You look wonderful." He paused. "So, what? You're human now? One of us?"
Angel grinned. "One of you." He confirmed.
"Hmm." Journey nodded. "So, what's it like?"
"Being human, I suppose, only just—" Angel made a face, his hands wrapped around his waist. "I don't feel so good."
Journey took a step towards him. "Are you okay?"
"No." His eyes fluttered and he fell to his knees. Suddenly, he yelled in a high-pitched voice. "I'm melting! I'm melting! Oh, what a world! I'm gone--- -lost forever!"
He completed his fall to the ground with a pitiful thump.
And then, he burst out laughing.
Journey knelt beside him, shaking his head. "Dad, you're so lame."
Angel sat up. "Lame? I thought it was funny."
"Well, Newsflash! It wasn't." Journey told him. "Are you okay now? No more spazzing out like a five year old?"
"Hey, I was not spazzing out like a five year old, okay? I was ---"
He clamped a hand over his mouth. "Ugh. I don't feel so good."
"What's wrong now?"
"My tummy feels all weird."
"Well, good Lord, what all were you eating in there?"
Angel tried to remember. "Uh.. pancakes and syrup, and biscuits and gravy and sausage and toast and ---"
Journey frowned, disgusted. "You're sick!"
"I know! I told you my stomach hurt."
"No, Dad. You eating all that food in one sitting is what's sick. Cordelia didn't happen to make all that food, did she?"
"No. We ordered take-out."
"Good." He began to help Angel to his feet. "It's probably just a little indigestion. You'll be fine."
"Are you sure?" Angel asked as Journey bent to dust some of the dirt off his pants.
"Yes, Dad."
"Really? 'Cause I really don't feel too wonderful –"
And before Journey knew it, there was vomit all over his head and shoulders.
He stood up very slowly to face his laughing father.
"Journey, I'm so sorry—"
Journey took in a deep breath. "That was a very five year old thing to do."
"It was an accident. J, you've gotta believe me. Besides, you said I was going to be 'fine'! That's not what I'd call 'fine'!"
Journey glared at him, clenching and unclenching his fists at his sides. "Get this off of me NOW."
"Okay, I know of a place. It's a bit of a walk, but –"
"As long as it gets this off of me, I don't care where we're going!"
"Okay." Angel turned and began to walk towards to the back of the alley. "Follow me."
Instead of heading back to the Hyperion, Angel led Journey through the sewers to a deserted area of town where they then walked to a small, private cove area along the coast. Angel took a seat on the beach, in the warm sunshine, while Journey removed his dirty shirt and dove into the ocean.
Ten minutes later, Journey emerged, satisfied that his head was finally clean. Next, he washed his shirt off and laid it out on a rock to dry. Then, he sat down beside Angel on the rocky beach.
After a while of silence, Angel inquired, "Don't you just love the sun?"
"Oh, it's just marvelous. I think.. no, I KNOW that someday, I'm going to marry the sun, since I love it oh so very much."
It grew quiet again and the air was filled with tension. Finally, Angel tried again.
"What happened to us?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, what happened to us? We used to be so close, you know? When you were younger, it was always you and me against the world, against everybody. Where did that go?"
"Maybe it went with you to Sunnydale. And then on to Ireland. Did you just expect me to stay a little kid for the two years you were away."
"No.. we were different before I left. You know that as well as I do."
"But we were salvageable then."
Angel looked over at his son. "And we aren't now?"
"No.. I don't know."
"Can't we ever go back? Can't we try even?"
Journey thought about it. "We can try, I guess. But it's not going to be an easy journey by any means. So you might as well get that through your head right now."
'But it's not going to be any easy journey by any means.' Journey's line reverberated through Angel's head. Somehow, that summed up Angel's entire life as a parent. Not an easy journey at all, raising a kid named Journey. "I understand."
"Are you sure? Cause it could take years."
"Years?!" Journey looked at him and Angel murmured, "I'm sure."
There was another long pause, but this time, the air seemed a little clearer.
And this time, Journey was the first to speak.
"So, now that you're human, are you and Cordy going to get married?"
"Excuse me? Where did THAT come from?"
Journey shrugged. "I thought it was a legitimate question. I mean, when I was younger, you always said that the reason you and Cordy weren't together was because you were a demon. Because you weren't alike. But you are alike now, so.. what's holding you back?"
Angel regarded his son silently for a moment. "No, I'm really wondering where that question came from. Has it been inside your head since forever, just waiting for a chance like this to pop out and surprise your dear old Dad?"
Journey rolled his eyes. "I wasn't trying to give you a heart attack on your first day back or anything. I was just wondering. C'mon.. you know that I always thought of Cordelia as my mother. It—" Journey paused, sifting sand listlessly through his hands, "It always bothered me that you two weren't married, or together even."
"Does this go back to the time those kids called you a liar and shoved you into the dirt on your first day to school?"
Journey looked up and nodded. "I didn't even think you'd remember that."
"Of course I'd remember it. You're my son! And that's the first time, I ever wanted to beat up six-year-olds, too." He and Journey laughed together. "Just because Cordy's not your birth mother, doesn't mean that she's not a mother to you. Because she is, in every aspect of the word. And just because Cordelia and I aren't married, doesn't mean that we love you any less. You're our son, no matter what relationship Cordelia and I have. Okay?"
"Okay."
They lapsed into silence again. But this time, it wasn't awkward in any way. It was peaceful and right.
Almost thirty minutes went by, with father and son laying side by side on the beach, when Journey spoke to his father, without even turning to look at him.
"Don't you just love the sun?"
TBC
Author's Note: Just to let you know that there are only 3 chapters left.. and maybe an epilogue(it depends on how I end the last chapter). So, it's not long now! Thanks to all the readers who've kept up with this story from the beginning. You guys so rock! :) Actually, you're "freakin' awesome" !!
Anyway, there is a part in this chapter which some might find gross.. but it's not my fault! I put it in there because moanda thought it'd be appropriate! (Ha ha ha, manders!!)
Okay, rock on, people. Or read on.. whatever.
Chapter 17: Sun, Son, and New Experiences
"Wh-what?"
Cordy's grin grew even wider, if that's even possible. "You're human." She laughed, a gloriously happy, melodic laugh. "Human!"
"I.. I am? But.. how do you know?" This was so hard to believe.
"How do I know?" Cordelia laughed again. "Let's see, you're not allergic to the sun anymore, your heart is beating, and you're breathing! Angel, honey, all signs point to human."
He looked at her skeptically, still unable to believe. He looked out at the bright, morning sunlight, from his shady position in the doorway. He then glanced at Cordelia, who nodded and smiled, saying, "Go on."
Angel closed his eyes, his newly beating heart thudding rapidly in his chest, and took a tentative step forward. And then another. And another. He kept walking until he was right in the middle of the alley. The sun beat down on him and warmed his cold body. Angel waited for his body to burst into flames.
But he never did.
Cordelia walked over to him and took his hand. Angel opened his eyes again. He tilted his face towards the shining sun and examined the daytime world around him. The blue sky, the cars passing by, the birds flying overhead.
Cordy squeezed Angel's hand tightly. He turned to look at her beautiful, smiling face. "How do you feel?" She asked.
Angel took in a deep breath. It startled him the way his lungs filled with air like that. It had been so long since he'd been human that everything was frightening to him at this point. "I've never felt so scared in my life." He admitted.
"Don't worry; I'm here to help ya." She laughed. "Oh, Angel, this is going to be so much fun!!" She did a little dance in the alley.
He frowned at her smiling, dancing self. "Fun? How is this going to be fun?"
"'Cause I'm going to humanize you. I'm going to show you all the best foods to eat, take you to the beach, and dress you up like a Ken doll."
"When have you NOT dressed me up like a Ken doll?"
Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Yeah, but this will be different. I can get you shorts and swim trunks." She quickly lifted his shirt to look at his stomach.
"Hey!" Angel protested, pulling his shirt back down.
Cordelia ignored him. "And one of our first visits will be to a tanning bed. You're definitely, definitely white."
"I haven't been in full view of the sun in over 260 years. What do you expect?"
Cordelia shrugged. "Eh, that's no excuse. Now, come on inside. We've got a busy day ahead of us. One that starts out with pancakes." She said, grabbing his hand and pulling him back into the kitchen.
* * *
Angel took yet another enormous bite out of his stack of pancakes. He barely swallowed before exclaiming, "Wow!"
"They're good, right?" Cordelia asked, enjoying her own breakfast across the counter.
"Oh, they're good, all right. They're freakin' awesome!"
Cordelia laughed. "You so just sounded like Journey."
"Well, that's beyond scary."
"I agree. So, how do you propose we tell the others about your newly Shanshu-ed self? They'll all be coming into work soon, you know."
Angel thought for a moment. "I say, we surprise them. It'll be fun, don't you think?"
"Oh, sure. We're going to have a blast!" Cordelia paused, taking a good look at Angel. "You know, I like you better all human-y. You're less broody, more fun."
Angel frowned. "Gee, thanks."
Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Shut up. You knew what I meant."
"That's beside the point. Anyway—"
Cordelia suddenly dropped her fork. "Angel!"
Angel looked up suddenly. "What? What is it? What's wrong? A vision?"
Cordy shook her head. "I just thought of something. Are you less fight-y now, because you're no longer a vampire?"
"I, uh.. I don't know. I mean, I hope not."
"Me too." Cordelia picked up her fork. "I don't want you to get hurt." Realizing what she'd just said—aloud, no less!—Cordelia ducked her head shyly.
Angel pretended not to have heard her---for her sake. Inside though, his heart was beating out of control. He paused from eating to lift up his shirtsleeve. "Well, I still have my muscles," he reported. "So, apparently, I'm pretty strong still."
"Hmm. Oh, well. We can worry about that later. Let's finish eating and later we'll think of ways to trick the others."
The door leading to the alley opened and Journey stepped inside, closing the door behind him. He walked over to Cordelia, bending down to kiss her cheek lightly.
"Morning, Cordelia."
"Morning, J." She patted his hand, which was resting on the back of her chair. "Are you hungry?"
"No, not really, Cordy. But thanks for asking. Did you sleep well?"
"Not as well as I could have. I spent half the night worrying about your whereabouts. Where WERE you?"
"I'm sorry, Cordy. I didn't mean to worry you."
Cordy glared at him sternly for a moment and then smiled. "That's all right, sweetie. Just call to let me know where you are next time, okay?"
Angel stood up abruptly, shaking the table and spilling molasses. "No, it's not okay."
Journey glared at him coolly. "So says the deadbeat."
Cordelia winced. "Journey.." She said warningly.
"No. It's okay, Cordy. Let him say what he wants to. He obviously thinks he's an adult and old enough to take care of himself. So he's also old enough to take care of that mouth of his."
"Was that a threat?"
"What do you think?" Angel paused. "Now, where were you last night?"
"None of your business."
"Uh, yeah, it is my business, seeing as how you're still a minor. And while you're still in my home, you'll abide by my rules, no matter how adult you think you are."
Journey seemed to take in what Angel had just said. He looked at his father defiantly. "Well then, I guess I won't be staying in here much longer." And suddenly, Journey was out the door, running down the alley, into the sunlight.
And for once, Angel ran after him.
Journey ran to the street and kept running for three blocks until he ducked into another alleyway. He sat down on the ground and pulled a cigarette out of his pocket, laughing. He started to light it as Angel rounded the corner and found him.
Journey dropped the cigarette.
"Journey!" Angel exclaimed.
Journey looked at him, bewildered. "Dad! What are you doing out? Out here? In the sunlight?"
"Well, son, a few things have changed since you last saw me."
"Being?"
"For one thing, I have a reflection now."
"Well, thank God. Now, you can finally see how yucky your hair and clothes look. Your appearance reflects badly on all of us, Dad."
A hurt look came across Angel's face. He touched his hair sadly. "Do I really look that bad?"
Journey stared at his poor, forlorn looking father for a moment, before rolling his eyes and cracking a smile. "No, Dad, you look fine."
Angel dropped his hand. "So, I look good?"
"Yes, Dad, you look good. Okay? You look wonderful." He paused. "So, what? You're human now? One of us?"
Angel grinned. "One of you." He confirmed.
"Hmm." Journey nodded. "So, what's it like?"
"Being human, I suppose, only just—" Angel made a face, his hands wrapped around his waist. "I don't feel so good."
Journey took a step towards him. "Are you okay?"
"No." His eyes fluttered and he fell to his knees. Suddenly, he yelled in a high-pitched voice. "I'm melting! I'm melting! Oh, what a world! I'm gone--- -lost forever!"
He completed his fall to the ground with a pitiful thump.
And then, he burst out laughing.
Journey knelt beside him, shaking his head. "Dad, you're so lame."
Angel sat up. "Lame? I thought it was funny."
"Well, Newsflash! It wasn't." Journey told him. "Are you okay now? No more spazzing out like a five year old?"
"Hey, I was not spazzing out like a five year old, okay? I was ---"
He clamped a hand over his mouth. "Ugh. I don't feel so good."
"What's wrong now?"
"My tummy feels all weird."
"Well, good Lord, what all were you eating in there?"
Angel tried to remember. "Uh.. pancakes and syrup, and biscuits and gravy and sausage and toast and ---"
Journey frowned, disgusted. "You're sick!"
"I know! I told you my stomach hurt."
"No, Dad. You eating all that food in one sitting is what's sick. Cordelia didn't happen to make all that food, did she?"
"No. We ordered take-out."
"Good." He began to help Angel to his feet. "It's probably just a little indigestion. You'll be fine."
"Are you sure?" Angel asked as Journey bent to dust some of the dirt off his pants.
"Yes, Dad."
"Really? 'Cause I really don't feel too wonderful –"
And before Journey knew it, there was vomit all over his head and shoulders.
He stood up very slowly to face his laughing father.
"Journey, I'm so sorry—"
Journey took in a deep breath. "That was a very five year old thing to do."
"It was an accident. J, you've gotta believe me. Besides, you said I was going to be 'fine'! That's not what I'd call 'fine'!"
Journey glared at him, clenching and unclenching his fists at his sides. "Get this off of me NOW."
"Okay, I know of a place. It's a bit of a walk, but –"
"As long as it gets this off of me, I don't care where we're going!"
"Okay." Angel turned and began to walk towards to the back of the alley. "Follow me."
Instead of heading back to the Hyperion, Angel led Journey through the sewers to a deserted area of town where they then walked to a small, private cove area along the coast. Angel took a seat on the beach, in the warm sunshine, while Journey removed his dirty shirt and dove into the ocean.
Ten minutes later, Journey emerged, satisfied that his head was finally clean. Next, he washed his shirt off and laid it out on a rock to dry. Then, he sat down beside Angel on the rocky beach.
After a while of silence, Angel inquired, "Don't you just love the sun?"
"Oh, it's just marvelous. I think.. no, I KNOW that someday, I'm going to marry the sun, since I love it oh so very much."
It grew quiet again and the air was filled with tension. Finally, Angel tried again.
"What happened to us?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, what happened to us? We used to be so close, you know? When you were younger, it was always you and me against the world, against everybody. Where did that go?"
"Maybe it went with you to Sunnydale. And then on to Ireland. Did you just expect me to stay a little kid for the two years you were away."
"No.. we were different before I left. You know that as well as I do."
"But we were salvageable then."
Angel looked over at his son. "And we aren't now?"
"No.. I don't know."
"Can't we ever go back? Can't we try even?"
Journey thought about it. "We can try, I guess. But it's not going to be an easy journey by any means. So you might as well get that through your head right now."
'But it's not going to be any easy journey by any means.' Journey's line reverberated through Angel's head. Somehow, that summed up Angel's entire life as a parent. Not an easy journey at all, raising a kid named Journey. "I understand."
"Are you sure? Cause it could take years."
"Years?!" Journey looked at him and Angel murmured, "I'm sure."
There was another long pause, but this time, the air seemed a little clearer.
And this time, Journey was the first to speak.
"So, now that you're human, are you and Cordy going to get married?"
"Excuse me? Where did THAT come from?"
Journey shrugged. "I thought it was a legitimate question. I mean, when I was younger, you always said that the reason you and Cordy weren't together was because you were a demon. Because you weren't alike. But you are alike now, so.. what's holding you back?"
Angel regarded his son silently for a moment. "No, I'm really wondering where that question came from. Has it been inside your head since forever, just waiting for a chance like this to pop out and surprise your dear old Dad?"
Journey rolled his eyes. "I wasn't trying to give you a heart attack on your first day back or anything. I was just wondering. C'mon.. you know that I always thought of Cordelia as my mother. It—" Journey paused, sifting sand listlessly through his hands, "It always bothered me that you two weren't married, or together even."
"Does this go back to the time those kids called you a liar and shoved you into the dirt on your first day to school?"
Journey looked up and nodded. "I didn't even think you'd remember that."
"Of course I'd remember it. You're my son! And that's the first time, I ever wanted to beat up six-year-olds, too." He and Journey laughed together. "Just because Cordy's not your birth mother, doesn't mean that she's not a mother to you. Because she is, in every aspect of the word. And just because Cordelia and I aren't married, doesn't mean that we love you any less. You're our son, no matter what relationship Cordelia and I have. Okay?"
"Okay."
They lapsed into silence again. But this time, it wasn't awkward in any way. It was peaceful and right.
Almost thirty minutes went by, with father and son laying side by side on the beach, when Journey spoke to his father, without even turning to look at him.
"Don't you just love the sun?"
TBC
Author's Note: Just to let you know that there are only 3 chapters left.. and maybe an epilogue(it depends on how I end the last chapter). So, it's not long now! Thanks to all the readers who've kept up with this story from the beginning. You guys so rock! :) Actually, you're "freakin' awesome" !!