Waking Up From the Past
Prologue: Early Morning

by Hollywood Phoenix


Want to post this story? Please email me at: hollywoodphoenix@yahoo.com for permission. Thanks.
Premise: The morning after Provider, Cordelia has a massive headache. And *serious* memory flashbacks from her Btvs years.
Spoilers: This chapter takes place after "Provider" but pretty much no spoilers.

~~*~~*~~ @ ~~*~~*~~


A faint ray of sun streamed into a room in the early hours of the morning. On the other side, tucked away from sunlight, was a bed. And on the bed were three figures, slumbering peacefully.


Suddenly, one of the figures stirred. Confused at his position on the bed, he looked to his side and realized that he hadn't been sleeping alone. At the far end, a beautiful, short-haired brunette was sprawled on her stomach, one hand resting above her head, as if reaching for the equally tranquil baby beside her. His baby.


Looking at the scene in front of him, it was all he could do to keep breathing normally. Not that he needed to, he wryly reminded himself. But this was an exception; watching his child and the woman who'd become his best friend resting so comfortably on his bed evoked emotions in him he never thought he could feel. He chuckled to himself, a concept that had been so foreign to him just two years ago. It was just that he couldn't help it; being around the two people who meant the most to him at this moment made him feel warm and fuzzy inside, like a pleasant euphoria which started from his toes and traveled all the way up to the top of his head.


Musing at the strangeness of it all, he could hardly believe how his unnatural life had turned out. For an almost 250 year old, he'd seen and felt a lot of things and none had ever remotely come close to making him feel as if he was part of a loving, normal family before. Or feel like holding his hand over his heart and melting into a puddle of goo. Breathing in the scent lingering on the bed covers, of the three of them in such close quarters, a heady giddiness overcame him. He let the memory of the moment flutter over him and settle in almost pure bliss.


A warning flashed in his head and he moved forward to put his son back in his crib. As he lifted the baby off the bed, the woman murmured, as if in soft protest. He paused, hovering over her before swiftly descending and placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. The lady sighed and smiled, as if in acquiescence and nestled closer into the covers she was lying on. With one strong arm firmly holding his son, he retrieved a blanket lying nearby and covered her softly breathing body. With a brief backwards glance at the lone figure still on the bed, he walked out of the room with his son to start the new day.


~~X~~X~~ * ~~X~~X~~


A/N: The start of Fanfic #3. This chapter has been slightly revised. Anyway, please R&R!
Disclaimers: Nope, still not mine.


(c) February 21, 2002, updated March 16, 2002

Liked this story? Check out my other fanfics at http://www.fanfiction.net/profile.php?userid=169482
Thanks for reading!