I am so sorry this has taken forever to be updated, but I've got 2 stories on the go and a lot of course work to get through. I'm only writing this up now as the reviews encouraged me, screamed out to me they did. So thank you to everybody who did take time out to review. You rule. * Worships you*

Disclaimer: Better put one of these in huh? Yeah, they're not mine obviously. I'm not getting any money for this so don't sue me. Or else I'll get my killer ninja kitty on you. She's a ninja. Rawr.

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Fallen

Chapter 6

"What the hell is up with you tonight?" Cordelia snapped impatiently. He had managed to drag his gaze away from the entrance to the bar. She turned and looked too. There was nothing there of course. "Wesley! You've been acting weird all day." She chided in a gentler tone.

Wesley cleared his throat and licked his lips nervously. He didn't answer her though and after minutes of tight silence she sighed heavily. He swung the car down the right fork in the road and they travelled down the country lane.

"I'm not stupid." She growled. "And I don't appreciate you keeping secrets from me." She continued. She glared at him, daring him to speak. There was the same awkward stillness in the car and Wesley seemed to ignore her statement.

It was the most uncomfortable five minutes they'd spent together. Unless you counted that whole kissing saga. Finally, Wesley pulled into the driveway. Cordelia glowered at him for a few seconds after the vehicle had pulled to a halt and then flung the door open, slammed it shut behind her and stomped towards the front door, swearing angrily when she dropped her door keys.

Wesley fell back onto the seat, running his fingers through his dark curly hair. He felt like banging his head against the steering wheel and tearing his hair out. Why was this happening now? Hadn't they been through enough for one lifetime?

It would be Angel again wouldn't it, it was always Angel. Everything they had ever done was for Angel, with Angel, and now here he was again, he was the reason Cordelia was angry with him, Angel was the reason they were even living here. It always boiled down to that guy, and it always would.

Motherfucker.

Cordelia pulled the door behind her but caught it just before it slammed. She counted to ten in her head and went to the kitchen to get a drink of water that would calm her down.

She shouldn't be angry. It looked selfish, it Wesley didn't want to tell her something then that was his choice, she shouldn't care, and he didn't have to tell her everything. She hated being left out though.

When Wesley appeared in the doorway she pretended not to notice and threw a handful of pasta shells into a pan.

She forced herself to speak to him. "Want some pasta?"

He shook his head slowly. She shrugged and poured the boiled water over the pasta and switched on the heat. He opened his mouth to spill everything. He couldn't lie to her, he couldn't keep this from her, it wasn't right.

"Wesley, you don't have to tell me anything." Cordelia sighed, beating him to it. "It's not my business. Let's just forget my actions tonight and have dinner. Or supper. Ok?"

"Ok," Wesley agreed and smiled feebly.

*

[I]

"Did it work?" Wesley asked anxiously, hurrying over to Willow. She thought a little before answering.

"Yeah, it did." She said and looked at Cordelia. She was stared at the orb in wonder.

"Hard to believe that that little thing stops it all." She said.

"Well actually, it takes quite a lot of skill." Willow muttered to herself. "How're you holding up?" She asked Cordelia with concern. Cordelia sighed and looked skyward.

"I wish people would stop asking. I think it's Gunn we should be asking, but if you really want to know, I'm fine."

"You all went through something terrible. I can't even begin to imagine how any of you are feeling right now. I hope you all pull through this," Willow said sincerely.

"Thanks Will. For everything, you've been great." Cordelia said with a smile, a real, genuine smile.

"Anytime."

*

Angel stood up and faltered. The girl in front of him gave him a strange look and offered her arm. He shrank away, staring into her eyes. He was horrified; he had looked into those eyes before and plotted her death.

It was going to have been short by Angelus' standards. She would only have suffered a little, and then he would have drained her. He shuddered and stepped back.

"What's the matter?" She asked in a snotty voice, she was ready to give up on this loser now.

"Get away from me," Angel warned, his voice raising a few octaves. He was becoming hysterical now.

As he walked down the streets, memories came flooding back to him in frightening bursts. By the time he reached the Hyperion he was in tears. He wanted to go into to warmth and cry for Cordelia to hold him and tell him he'd be ok, they'd be ok.

The hotel was empty. Of course it was, why would they stick around? Bitter trepidation took over, surely he couldn't really have done those things? He screamed there names over and over running up the stairs dreading what he would find.

He stopped short when he reached the third floor. Taking in unnecessary oxygen he gradually made his way down the corridor. When he reached room 308 he stopped and stretched out his hand till it was resting against the dark wood. He remembered hearing people screaming in there.

The door swung open, a little wider, and a little wider and then he was greeted with the scene of blood, weapons and torn pieces of clothing. Angel swallowed. It was all true. He had raped her. He had murdered Fred.

He stumbled backwards and backed against the wall and slid down the green- papered walls, a lump rising in his throat.

*

"He still hasn't called." Cordelia said quietly.

"Maybe he's ashamed." Wesley said.

"Maybe he's to chicken shit scared about what I'll do to him." Gunn said gruffly. No one spoke. Two weeks had passed since Willow had left LA, and Angel hadn't got in touch.

Cordelia didn't know what she'd say anyway. She'd probably hang up...She didn't even want to see him, not really. She wanted closure. Maybe say goodbye? Who knew? But it felt so unresolved.

"I got to tell you both something." Gunn said, shattering the silence. Cordelia looked up to show she was listening. "I'm leaving LA tonight. My friend Jazz got me a job up in New York, he said I could stay with him till I find my feet. I've had it with this life, I've lost too many people in this game, there are no rewards, just punishments."

His voice was filled with bitterness.

"I'm going too, back to England. I phoned an old friend on Wednesday. She's found me a house. I'll be going next week." Wesley announced.

Cordelia sat in a stunned silence. They were all she had left now, and they were leaving her? What would she do? She couldn't stay and face Angel, but she had nowhere to go.

She felt so isolated, she had depended on her small family for a long time now, and they were all she had and all she had ever needed.
There were a lot of things unsaid at the airport. Wesley would have liked to say goodbye properly but something held him back.

"We'll keep in touch, yeah?"

"Yeah."

Wesley knew they wouldn't. They did the manly hug, slapping each other on the back and smiling at each other. Cordelia flung herself at him, burying her face into his shoulder.

"You call us when you land." She ordered and let him go. "We'll miss you,"

"Same here."

And that was it. They never saw him again.
They drove back to Cordelia's home talking about Gunn, about past, happier times, the things they had done together, things that he had said. It brought smiles to both of their faces. They disappeared again when they remembered he had gone.

"Wesley, take me with you." Cordelia said unexpectedly.

"What?" Wesley said, he had heard her correctly though.

"Let me come to England with you." She said and dared a look at him. "I've been thinking about it all day, I can't stay here, I can't go and stay with my parents, let me come to England with you."

Wesley groaned. "Cordelia, you can't run away from this-"

"You are!"

"Let me finish, you can't run away from Angel, he loved you Cordelia and still does, what he did to you was unforgivable, but there are things that have to said."

"Please don't make me talk to him," She whispered, tears welling in her eyes and threatening to spill.

"I don't want you to make the wrong choice here,"

"It's my choice to make, please say you'll let me come with you, it won't be forever, just for a while, just until I feel better, please Wesley, I can't stay here alone!"

He melted instantly; of course he couldn't leave her here. She was one of his best friends, the only friend he had left now. How could he even think about leaving her unaccompanied in this city?

"Oh Cordelia, forgive me, of course I'll take you with me." Wesley said and stopped the car. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tight, muttering thank you's in his ear. It was going to be ok now. She was going to be all right.

[/I]

****

Angel stared at her in wonder. She was even more beautiful than he remembered. He could see her through the kitchen window pouring drinks for her and him. He was hidden from her, but she was on full display to him.

God she was incredible, how could he have let her go? He licked his lips hungrily and imagined seeing her properly again, taking her in his arms and kissing her.

He could see her face lighting up in pleasure and embracing him.

"Soon," He promised and gave her slender form one last lingering look before leaving.
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