A/N- Okay, I've got more reviews…yay! Thanks to those of you that have put
your 2 cents worth in. And to those of you that haven't…PLEASE! It doesn't
take long, and I like knowing what you guys r thinking… :) So, we've got a
50/50 thing going on with Kate… we'll see… at the moment I'm leaning
towards leaving it with who I've got…. Oh, yeah, before I forget…when I
said Cordy was 'nursing' Connor, all I meant was she was cradling him in
her arms… just clearing that up. :) And that's about it…just enjoy reading
and I'll bug you at the end to review… :)
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"There's one less demon in the world tonight." I mutter, walking back up the big stone steps, to the Hyperion. I wonder if Gunn, Wes, Fred and Lorne are back yet. I love spending time with Cordy, don't get me wrong, but Lindsey's there with her. I'm ashamed to admit that he makes me feel so out of place. Funny thing is, I don't even feel the hatred towards him anymore. Not even a tiny shred of it…okay, maybe I do have a *tiny* bit of hatred towards him, but its my jealousy…
I guess I can still despise him for what he was…but that would be too hypocritical of me. Here I am, the vampire that *was* Angelus, and nobody seems to hold that against me…so I guess it would be unfair to hold Lindsey's past against him, right? Or should I? Because when I was controlled by Angelus, I didn't have a soul. Whereas Lindsey had a soul *and* he was evil. But then, I *did* try turning again…*while* I still had a soul…
God, this is confusing. Would it be incredibly selfish of me to go back to the Oracles and request them to turn time back to the night that I gave Cordy off? You know, so she could spend it with me instead? (But not like that…I still have one 'happiness clause' to think of…but I've got this theory…oh, never mind…) It would be very selfish. But that doesn't mean I don't want to do it. In fact, that one selfish thought has flooded my brain for the best part of the day. Ever since Wesley mentioned the Oracles to begin with…
By now I've walked into the lobby. On the couch, Cordy is curled up, her head on Lindsey's chest. They're both asleep. The baby monitor is positioned on the coffee table in front of them, telling me that Connor is asleep in his crib again. You know how I said that I only feel a little jealous for Lindsey…I lied. I feel *a lot* jealous at the moment. I've lost her and I know it. It hurts more than leaving Buffy ever did.
That surprises me more than you can ever imagine. I mean, I thought Buffy was my soul mate and she thought that I was hers…but this; what I have going with Cordelia…I have no idea. It's perhaps the most shocking thing that I've ever had to deal with, and I'm *including* Connor. And remember, shocking isn't always bad…in these cases it's far from it. Except for the fact that there are people trying to *kill* my son and Cordy is happily involved, and planning her own family, with someone else…everything is just peachy. (And, oh god, I just used a Spike saying. Stake me now…)
I sigh and turn to walk into my office. Cordy's voice stops me. "Angel…" She says sleepily.
"Yeah?" I whisper back. I don't want to wake Lindsey if I can help it. This is *me* and Cordy time, and I want to savour every bit of it. (I thought that I was supposed to be getting over her…I don't sound like it, do I? But I *am* trying…)
"What time is it?" She asks, rubbing her eyes.
I glance down at my watch. "10 pm."
"Oh…is that all? Wow…I can't believe how tired I was…musta' drifted right off after I tucked Connor in." She gently pulls out of Lindsey's arms, also avoiding waking him. She stands up and yawns, stretching her arms. "That's better. How did Mrs Johansson go?"
"Good. It *was* the demon this time…so my plumbing skills were not called into action." I give her another one of my rare smiles. Although, between Connor and Cordy…I don't think they're quite as rare anymore…
She chuckles and looks around. "Have you seen the rest of the gang yet? Or *any* of them…?" She asks.
I shake my head. "I just got back. I was going to ask you the same thing. But I take it you haven't either."
"Nope. They haven't come back yet. None of them." She looks around again, then back at me, slightly worried. "Do you think something's happened? Should we worry?"
I hope not. "I don't think-"
My sentence is cut short when Gunn bursts through the front doors. He looks all messed up. His clothes are torn and his face his covered in dirt and a few cuts. "Sorry I'm late guys," He says, panting. "Had a run in with a few vamps." He grins wickedly. "Then they ran into my stakes."
Lindsey, who'd been jolted awake by Gunn's sudden entrance, is now standing by Cordy's left side. "How many were there?" He enquires.
"3 or so…no big deal. I got the impression that they were new to the vamp underworld. Didn't even flinch when I said I had ties with the slayer…didn't even know what a slayer was…" He rambles on like that for a while. I think Lindsey's the only one paying attention, and I think he's only doing so to be polite.
Cordy disappears into the office area and comes back with some first aid equipment. Gunn visibly tenses when he sees it. "Nah, girl…I'm cool. Don't need that stingy stuff…I didn't get messed up and…" But it's too late. She guides him towards the couch and pushes him down onto it.
"Gunn, you've got all these little cuts and I'm not gonna stand to see them get infected. Eewww…" She gets out some cotton wool balls and the iodine. Once she's soaked a piece of cotton in the 'stingy stuff' (as Gunn calls it) she dabs at his wounds. He flinches and squirms. Cordelia laughs at him. "Don't be such a big baby."
"I ain't no baby." He protests. "I'm just sensitive to that…that stuff." I stifle a chuckle and he glares at me. "C'mon. I've seen you around this stuff too. You're just as bad. Admit it!"
Cordy laughs again. "He's got a point. You get all babyish too. What is it with men? You can go out there and get all these cuts and stuff, but you can't stand a tiny bit of stinging? Oh, brother…"
"That's men for you." Another voice responds. A very familiar voice. I spin to face the doorway again.
Only one word can escape my lips. "Buffy."
"Angel." She replies coolly. The air tenses up around us, but not in the same way as it used to. It used to be because of our past, our desire and longing for each other. But this time it's all her. She's uncomfortable around me, upset and even a bit pissed off. The feelings surround us. I don't blame her, though. I kinda' had it coming.
"Uh…thanks for coming." I manage, after what seems like hours.
"No problem. Giles couldn't make it. He had to mind Dawn." She replies. I open my mouth to say that I don't mind having Dawn around, but I bite my tongue. She's probably got school and then there's the fact that her life would be in danger if Buffy brought her along…
"That's a pity. How are they? Dawn and Giles, I mean."
"Fine. They send their congratulations…to all of you." She looks over at Cordy for the first time, as if only just noticing her presence. Then she eyes Lindsey, giving him the once over.
"Thanks." I reply, bringing her attention back towards me. "So…where are the others?"
"Oh, they're all outside. Getting their bags and stuff." She says.
I move towards the door. "I'll help them." Then, as I'm walking out, I add: "Cordy, can you introduce Lindsey and Gunn to Buffy, please?" It's more a statement than a question.
Down on the footpath, the other Scoobies are unpacking bags from two cars. Spike and Tara (who I've only heard of and not really met) are getting things out of Buffy's jeep. While Xander, Anya and Wil…SPIKE?
Buffy brought Spike? In her car? This is a joke. Its gotta be. What have I missed? I knew about the chip, but…Buffy brought Spike? This I gotta hear.
"Hey guys," I say, hopping down the steps, "How was your trip?"
Xander glares at me in contempt. He's a faithful Buffy sidekick through and through. "Hey dead boy."
Anya nudges him. "I thought you were supposed to not call him that because he doesn't like it…oh. I see. You're trying to pick on him."
He grimaces. And sighs. "Way to go with the subtlety, Ann."
I turn my direction towards Willow. She walks over and awkwardly hugs me. "Hey."
"Hi. How have you been?"
"Good, I guess. Feeling a little guilty over the taking Buffy outta heaven thing…but-"
I squeeze her tenderly. I know the pain she feels. "Its okay."
Surprisingly, she squeezes me back, whispering, "I know. Thanks, Angel." She pulls away and smiles. "Oh, by the way…congratulations…you know…on your baby…wow…a baby…is he cute? Oh, stupid question…of course he's cute…I mean, all babies are…I mean, not that he won't be cute when he grows up…but I don't think you're cute…I mean, you are but I don't…oh, screw it. You know what I mean."
I laugh. She hasn't changed that much since she was in high school. The others have, though. But Willow's…well, Willow's Willow. She's a jittery, cheerful, bubbly, academically gifted witch. And that's why everyone loves her. "Thanks. I know what you're trying to say. And, yes, Connor is adorable. But, maybe I'm just being bias…"
Spike calls over, still pulling bags out from Buffy's jeep. "Oi…Peaches! Ditto on the congratulations thing. Still can't believe it me-self…"
I make my way towards him. "Thanks." How many times can I say that word tonight? "Need help?"
"Nah, I got it." He responds, grabbing the last of the bags. "I may be chipped, but I still got me Vampire strength."
I nod and turn back to Xander. "What about you? Want some help with those bags?"
"That'd be good actually." He answers, his tone still icy. Oh, boy…this is gonna be the longest few days of my existence.
Willow chirps up again. "Oh, Angel…Have you met Tara?"
"No, I haven't had the pleasure." The other witch blushes. I extend my hand. "You know who I am, I'm sure."
She takes it and we shake hands. "Its n-nice t-to finally m-meet you." She stutters, tucking a loose strand of hair away, nervously.
"I can say the same thing." I can hear Xander cough something nasty under his breath. I didn't quite catch it, though…or I chose not to. Either way, I don't know, nor do I care what he said.
Taking the bags from his car, I follow everyone else inside. This should get interesting.
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A/N (2)- well, you know the drill…you gotta review now. It doesn't take long. I know I said I'd wait before I posted another fic, but don't worry, this is still my first priority…sooo yeah. Plus, nobody seems to be reading the other 1 :(
If you've got time, I ask that you check it out. Please. Review that one too. Its *really* AU, but oh well…I just needed to get it out of my head.
Remember though, if I don't get reviews (and I don't mean just one or two) I'm gonna start thinking that nobody wants to read my fics and I'll just stop altogether…yes I like to blackmail when it comes to reviews…I'm plain evil and I know it. :) Thanks. Review time now. :)
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"There's one less demon in the world tonight." I mutter, walking back up the big stone steps, to the Hyperion. I wonder if Gunn, Wes, Fred and Lorne are back yet. I love spending time with Cordy, don't get me wrong, but Lindsey's there with her. I'm ashamed to admit that he makes me feel so out of place. Funny thing is, I don't even feel the hatred towards him anymore. Not even a tiny shred of it…okay, maybe I do have a *tiny* bit of hatred towards him, but its my jealousy…
I guess I can still despise him for what he was…but that would be too hypocritical of me. Here I am, the vampire that *was* Angelus, and nobody seems to hold that against me…so I guess it would be unfair to hold Lindsey's past against him, right? Or should I? Because when I was controlled by Angelus, I didn't have a soul. Whereas Lindsey had a soul *and* he was evil. But then, I *did* try turning again…*while* I still had a soul…
God, this is confusing. Would it be incredibly selfish of me to go back to the Oracles and request them to turn time back to the night that I gave Cordy off? You know, so she could spend it with me instead? (But not like that…I still have one 'happiness clause' to think of…but I've got this theory…oh, never mind…) It would be very selfish. But that doesn't mean I don't want to do it. In fact, that one selfish thought has flooded my brain for the best part of the day. Ever since Wesley mentioned the Oracles to begin with…
By now I've walked into the lobby. On the couch, Cordy is curled up, her head on Lindsey's chest. They're both asleep. The baby monitor is positioned on the coffee table in front of them, telling me that Connor is asleep in his crib again. You know how I said that I only feel a little jealous for Lindsey…I lied. I feel *a lot* jealous at the moment. I've lost her and I know it. It hurts more than leaving Buffy ever did.
That surprises me more than you can ever imagine. I mean, I thought Buffy was my soul mate and she thought that I was hers…but this; what I have going with Cordelia…I have no idea. It's perhaps the most shocking thing that I've ever had to deal with, and I'm *including* Connor. And remember, shocking isn't always bad…in these cases it's far from it. Except for the fact that there are people trying to *kill* my son and Cordy is happily involved, and planning her own family, with someone else…everything is just peachy. (And, oh god, I just used a Spike saying. Stake me now…)
I sigh and turn to walk into my office. Cordy's voice stops me. "Angel…" She says sleepily.
"Yeah?" I whisper back. I don't want to wake Lindsey if I can help it. This is *me* and Cordy time, and I want to savour every bit of it. (I thought that I was supposed to be getting over her…I don't sound like it, do I? But I *am* trying…)
"What time is it?" She asks, rubbing her eyes.
I glance down at my watch. "10 pm."
"Oh…is that all? Wow…I can't believe how tired I was…musta' drifted right off after I tucked Connor in." She gently pulls out of Lindsey's arms, also avoiding waking him. She stands up and yawns, stretching her arms. "That's better. How did Mrs Johansson go?"
"Good. It *was* the demon this time…so my plumbing skills were not called into action." I give her another one of my rare smiles. Although, between Connor and Cordy…I don't think they're quite as rare anymore…
She chuckles and looks around. "Have you seen the rest of the gang yet? Or *any* of them…?" She asks.
I shake my head. "I just got back. I was going to ask you the same thing. But I take it you haven't either."
"Nope. They haven't come back yet. None of them." She looks around again, then back at me, slightly worried. "Do you think something's happened? Should we worry?"
I hope not. "I don't think-"
My sentence is cut short when Gunn bursts through the front doors. He looks all messed up. His clothes are torn and his face his covered in dirt and a few cuts. "Sorry I'm late guys," He says, panting. "Had a run in with a few vamps." He grins wickedly. "Then they ran into my stakes."
Lindsey, who'd been jolted awake by Gunn's sudden entrance, is now standing by Cordy's left side. "How many were there?" He enquires.
"3 or so…no big deal. I got the impression that they were new to the vamp underworld. Didn't even flinch when I said I had ties with the slayer…didn't even know what a slayer was…" He rambles on like that for a while. I think Lindsey's the only one paying attention, and I think he's only doing so to be polite.
Cordy disappears into the office area and comes back with some first aid equipment. Gunn visibly tenses when he sees it. "Nah, girl…I'm cool. Don't need that stingy stuff…I didn't get messed up and…" But it's too late. She guides him towards the couch and pushes him down onto it.
"Gunn, you've got all these little cuts and I'm not gonna stand to see them get infected. Eewww…" She gets out some cotton wool balls and the iodine. Once she's soaked a piece of cotton in the 'stingy stuff' (as Gunn calls it) she dabs at his wounds. He flinches and squirms. Cordelia laughs at him. "Don't be such a big baby."
"I ain't no baby." He protests. "I'm just sensitive to that…that stuff." I stifle a chuckle and he glares at me. "C'mon. I've seen you around this stuff too. You're just as bad. Admit it!"
Cordy laughs again. "He's got a point. You get all babyish too. What is it with men? You can go out there and get all these cuts and stuff, but you can't stand a tiny bit of stinging? Oh, brother…"
"That's men for you." Another voice responds. A very familiar voice. I spin to face the doorway again.
Only one word can escape my lips. "Buffy."
"Angel." She replies coolly. The air tenses up around us, but not in the same way as it used to. It used to be because of our past, our desire and longing for each other. But this time it's all her. She's uncomfortable around me, upset and even a bit pissed off. The feelings surround us. I don't blame her, though. I kinda' had it coming.
"Uh…thanks for coming." I manage, after what seems like hours.
"No problem. Giles couldn't make it. He had to mind Dawn." She replies. I open my mouth to say that I don't mind having Dawn around, but I bite my tongue. She's probably got school and then there's the fact that her life would be in danger if Buffy brought her along…
"That's a pity. How are they? Dawn and Giles, I mean."
"Fine. They send their congratulations…to all of you." She looks over at Cordy for the first time, as if only just noticing her presence. Then she eyes Lindsey, giving him the once over.
"Thanks." I reply, bringing her attention back towards me. "So…where are the others?"
"Oh, they're all outside. Getting their bags and stuff." She says.
I move towards the door. "I'll help them." Then, as I'm walking out, I add: "Cordy, can you introduce Lindsey and Gunn to Buffy, please?" It's more a statement than a question.
Down on the footpath, the other Scoobies are unpacking bags from two cars. Spike and Tara (who I've only heard of and not really met) are getting things out of Buffy's jeep. While Xander, Anya and Wil…SPIKE?
Buffy brought Spike? In her car? This is a joke. Its gotta be. What have I missed? I knew about the chip, but…Buffy brought Spike? This I gotta hear.
"Hey guys," I say, hopping down the steps, "How was your trip?"
Xander glares at me in contempt. He's a faithful Buffy sidekick through and through. "Hey dead boy."
Anya nudges him. "I thought you were supposed to not call him that because he doesn't like it…oh. I see. You're trying to pick on him."
He grimaces. And sighs. "Way to go with the subtlety, Ann."
I turn my direction towards Willow. She walks over and awkwardly hugs me. "Hey."
"Hi. How have you been?"
"Good, I guess. Feeling a little guilty over the taking Buffy outta heaven thing…but-"
I squeeze her tenderly. I know the pain she feels. "Its okay."
Surprisingly, she squeezes me back, whispering, "I know. Thanks, Angel." She pulls away and smiles. "Oh, by the way…congratulations…you know…on your baby…wow…a baby…is he cute? Oh, stupid question…of course he's cute…I mean, all babies are…I mean, not that he won't be cute when he grows up…but I don't think you're cute…I mean, you are but I don't…oh, screw it. You know what I mean."
I laugh. She hasn't changed that much since she was in high school. The others have, though. But Willow's…well, Willow's Willow. She's a jittery, cheerful, bubbly, academically gifted witch. And that's why everyone loves her. "Thanks. I know what you're trying to say. And, yes, Connor is adorable. But, maybe I'm just being bias…"
Spike calls over, still pulling bags out from Buffy's jeep. "Oi…Peaches! Ditto on the congratulations thing. Still can't believe it me-self…"
I make my way towards him. "Thanks." How many times can I say that word tonight? "Need help?"
"Nah, I got it." He responds, grabbing the last of the bags. "I may be chipped, but I still got me Vampire strength."
I nod and turn back to Xander. "What about you? Want some help with those bags?"
"That'd be good actually." He answers, his tone still icy. Oh, boy…this is gonna be the longest few days of my existence.
Willow chirps up again. "Oh, Angel…Have you met Tara?"
"No, I haven't had the pleasure." The other witch blushes. I extend my hand. "You know who I am, I'm sure."
She takes it and we shake hands. "Its n-nice t-to finally m-meet you." She stutters, tucking a loose strand of hair away, nervously.
"I can say the same thing." I can hear Xander cough something nasty under his breath. I didn't quite catch it, though…or I chose not to. Either way, I don't know, nor do I care what he said.
Taking the bags from his car, I follow everyone else inside. This should get interesting.
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A/N (2)- well, you know the drill…you gotta review now. It doesn't take long. I know I said I'd wait before I posted another fic, but don't worry, this is still my first priority…sooo yeah. Plus, nobody seems to be reading the other 1 :(
If you've got time, I ask that you check it out. Please. Review that one too. Its *really* AU, but oh well…I just needed to get it out of my head.
Remember though, if I don't get reviews (and I don't mean just one or two) I'm gonna start thinking that nobody wants to read my fics and I'll just stop altogether…yes I like to blackmail when it comes to reviews…I'm plain evil and I know it. :) Thanks. Review time now. :)