Pairings:- G/F, Gru/C and eventually Gru/?, C/A
Spoilers:- basically season 3 Angel, no biggies apart from Connor being gone and Wes not being around.
Rating:- Same as the show so far, but some scenes between some of the couples might get a little steamy.
Disclaimer:- Not mine.
Chapter Three
Maria stretched out in her bed, unwilling to leave its warmth. Her feet poked out from under the duvet, she scrunched her eyes up, seeking shelter from the bright sun. she yanked her feet back under the duvet quickly, "Sam!" she squealed "Don't, I'm up already!"
"Really," Sam said a twinkle in his eyes, they did this most mornings when she had to be up but the lure of a lie in was too much for her. He didn't blame her for not wanting to get up, working where she did wasn't exactly a dream come true. She was better than there, a lousy Boutique in the mall, the snobs sticking their noses up as they walked past her. He knew her background, she had come, like every other small town girl, to L.A. seeking fame. He five minutes in the sun, but all she had gotten were knock backs. But today he wasn't getting her up for work. "Come you little, skin flint, give it up!"
"Never!" she said challenging him, suddenly wide awake.
"I know its here somewhere!" He dived at her pulling the duvet away, she squealed. "Aha found it!" he pulled at a bit of sparkling ribbon from under her pillow, he pulled and pulled but it just kept coming. "What the!" Maria laughed it was the same last year, he had pestered her and pestered her for his present and he had found it, but this year she was prepared.
"Not far yet" she said as he kept pulling, she got up and grabbed her robe.
"A card you got me a card!" he looked disappointed.
"Open it silly!" she grinned, he was just like a little baby sometimes.
Sam opened the card, "A riddle?" he frowned.
"Yup to get your pressie you gotta work out where it is from the riddles."
"Riddles, so there is more than one?" Damn she hadn't meant to give that away, it was his 21st and the hunt was to keep him busy while she checked up on the arrangements for his surprise party. He had done so much for her, she had to pay him back somehow. She reached into her coat pocket and found the napkin with the scrawled name and number on it, David, they hadn't even talked about names last night but she knew who it was. Sam grabbed the paper from her hand, "David, ehh" he smiled at her calming down from the birthday hype "How bout I take you to breakfast and you can tell me all about David"
"Hey it's Mr. David to you" Maria said she wasn't hungry but it was his birthday, how could she decline, plus he let her have ice-cream for breakfast. "Gimmie, 20" she headed towards the bathroom.
"I'm turning the tap on in the kitchen in 10" He said smirking, the one and only way she was gonna be outta there in 20minutes was if the shower was cold.
Across Town.
The Sun shone brightly into the window of the sparse office, furniture was limited to a huge red couch set before the window which took up the whole wall, and a couple of desks on the other side, all kitted out with all the mod. cons. On the couch a woman and a man sat watching the ocean, her face was red from the crying and a stray tear rolled down her cheek, she didn't bother to wipe it away. She felt numb inside why bother with the outside. The man sat next to her arm resting on the small of her back comforting, he hadn't been crying as much but his eyes were bloodshot, as if the effort to not cry, to be strong for her, was too much. She played with the simple gold band on her finger. How could he be gone. She had only spoken to him a hour before..before he was killed. How could he have been killed he was so strong, he knew how to protect himself and others, it was his job, his life, and when it came down to it. It hadn't mattered he was gone. She started crying again.
He hated to see her like this, distraught. They had been friends since they were born. Everyone had said one day they would be married with a family of their own, but it hadn't been. David had found someone else, they were still close but he had been with someone else. Matt had been there for her they had grown closer and he had been the one to marry her, but the love for David was still there, but more brother sister love than anything, but it still hurt. It hurt him like hell as well, but he had to be the wall she leant on to stop her falling, falling so far no one would reach her. The grief would over take her and that would be it.
"Michelle" he whispered her name, she leant into him burying her face into his chest, any sound that brought her into the real world, the world where he was dead it crippled her inside, sobs wracked through her body.
The Hyperion
The smell of burning crept into the musty room, the curtains let a small ray of light in, it crept like a miniature searchlight across the room as the day went by. Jerked from his sleep burn the smell, Angel leapt up. He looked down, if he wasn't on fire what was! He had had to crash in one of the many bedrooms of the Hyperion as Cordelia had barricaded herself in his room and rather stir up a fight he had decided to sleep elsewhere. He pulled on his trousers and shirt which were neatly folded on a chair by the bed, slipped his shoes on and headed towards the smell it was coming from the hotels huge kitchen. "See told y'all, he'd come down if he smelt breakfast" Fred said smiling coyly at Gunn and Lorne. "Want some"
Angel cringed inwardly, so it was breakfast that was burning. "Ummm, I think I'll pass" Gunn held out his plate, Angel didn't know how he could stomach half the stuff he ate.
"None for me sweetie" Lorne said looking at Angel, "I think Angel-cakes and I are gonna go check some stuff out in the office" He said hinting
"What stuff?" Angel said not getting the hint.
"The stuff we were talking about before the ballet, you know what I mean you big corn muffin" Lorne said
God he was calling him pastries, that could only mean...Cordelia. "Oh, right can't we do that later, there was only a few files to file."
"Sorry strudel, but these things have got to be done, right guys"
"Umm, yea." Gunn said puzzled
Lorne headed to the lobby and turned at the door to make sure Angel was following. "Damn" how did they always manage to get him to do what they wanted, him the Scourge of Europe.
50's Style Diner
"20 minutes, humph Now we'll have to make it Lunch" Sam said elbowing her gently in the ribs. Maria giggled, playing with her pendant again, she didn't know why she was so nervous. The ordered their meal, and sat in their booth. Maria had her back to the TV screen which had been turned down low, Sam took a glance at it. The news was announcing the name of the man who had been murdered, a picture of him appeared on the screen with his name and '1972 - 2002' under it. Sam paid no attention to it, and began his inquisition. "So tell all"
Maria sighed and began to tell him all about David.
Half an hour later, with her meal done and her story finished she sipped her milkshake, "So you think I should call him" Sam stared into space, she had described the guy on the TV perfectly, but it couldn't have been him could it. "Sam!" she shook his shoulder.
"Huh?" He snapped back into reality
"I said, do you think I should call him?" Maria said peeved he had been ignoring her.
"Yea." it couldn't have been him so it would be ok if she called her guy, he hoped.
"Ok I'm gonna go call from the phone over there" she smiled brightly. She picked up the phone and dialled the number, it rang once before it was picked up "Granges, how can I help you?" it was a woman who answered, her voice sounded cold and she sniffed.
"Umm, Hi I was looking for David. Does he work there?" Maria said faltering, she had expected it to be his home number.
"What is this some kind of sick joke!" The woman sounded disgusted, and she started to cry, the phone was taken from her and a man replaced her on the other end.
"Sorry about that, what did you want?"
"I... was looking for David" she stammered
The Hyperion
"Yuk!" Fred picked up a napkin and daintily deposited the piece of food she had so readily shovelled into her mouth, "How can you eat that!" she said looking at Gunn
"Coz I love you" He said mouth half full
"You should have said it was bad" Fred said getting of her stool and moving to hug him, it was so sweet he hadn't wanted to hurt her feelings.
"Want to go get pancakes?" He said into her hair, loosening her embrace she stepped back and beamed at him
"Sure!" they grabbed their coats and headed out of the door.
50's Diner
"Two Stacks of pancakes with extra syrup and a chocolate milkshake with two straws" Gunn looked at the menu, "umm, anything else"
"Nope" Fred said smiling.
They sat chatting about nothing much at all, like a normal couple, anyone looking on would assume that's what they were, a normal couple. Not part of an investigation team who dealt with the paranormal.
Maria held the phone tight to her ear, "Hello? Are you there? What's wrong?"
"Sorry, how did you know him?" the man sounded sad, there was a tone in his voice that told her something was wrong, plus he said did how did she know him, not how do or I'll just go get him 'how did you know him' the words echoed in her ear.
"We met last night, he gave me this number and said to call."
"I'm sorry to have to tell you this" oh god what was wrong why wouldn't he just spit it out. "but David's dead." Maria gasped
"Dead" she stuttered, how could he be dead, she had just seen him a matter of hours ago, not days hours and he was dead.
"I'm sorry" The man said, "I have to go." He put the phone down on her and she clung to her end she felt like if she put the phone down it would make it real, he had been the best thing (Sam aside) to happen to her since the break up. How could he be gone.
"You done!?" A blonde behind her, obviously in a rush, took the phone from her hands and pushed her out of the way, Maria walked slowly towards their booth, she noticed a couple tucking into pancakes and sipping from a milkshake through a straw each,
"Why can't I find that?" she said out loud, the couple looked up at her and grinned not expecting her to burst into tears and collapse on the floor in a heap.
"Are you ok?" Gunn rushed to help the woman up, Fred by his side, the woman had just burst into tears.
"Why?" Maria sobbed "Why did he have to go?" this was the thing that was to push her over the edge, she couldn't cope any more, Sam had been telling her to go back home, that there was no reason she shouldn't. But she was to stubborn to go.
"It's Ok" Gunn said
"Maria!" Sam rushed to where his friend was laid on the floor, coloured man who had helped her moved away and let him take over, "Maria what's wrong?"
"He's..He's dead" new tears came on top of the ones she had already been crying
"So it was him," Sam said under his breath. "Come on Baby" He gathered her up and helped her to her feet, "You sit there and I'll get you a coffee" he went to where the couple had sat, "Thank you." He said "She just got some bad news that's all, nothing to worry about" he gave a small smile.
"No problem, really" Fred said softly
"Happy to help" Gunn chipped in "If there's anything we can do to help"
"No, it'll be ok"
"Its what we do," Fred said, "here take our card, we help." She reached into her pocket and fished out a card.
"Ok," Sam didn't see what they could do to help, unless they were psychiatrists but he didn't want to be rude, they could have just stared at her and done nothing. Cordelia's Apartment
Steam billowed from underneath the bathroom door, inside lit by candles Cordelia was laid in the bath which was piled high with bubbles, 'Are you O.K.' appeared written in the steam that covered the mirror above the sink. She smiled "I'm fine Dennis, I guess with demon über powers comes über emotions." But why had she gone flying off the handle like that, she should have known it wasn't him. The PTB wouldn't have let that happen without warning her, would they? 'U want to talk about it?" Cordy knew what he meant to say was do you want to tell me about it, a lengthy conversation with a ghost via a steamy mirror was something that would both take a long time and a lot of steam, and though she planned to spend a long time in the bath she didn't plan to spend that long. "sure, would you scrub my back while I tell you?" in response a sponge floated towards her.
"Princess?" eugh Cordy thought she had forgotten about Gru, who had been out when she got in, "Are you there?"
"I'm in the bath Gru, not feeling to well." She lied, she hated herself for it but still she did it
"I am going to prepare some Mock-Nah, for you princess, I will not be gone long" he left silently
"What's Mock-Nah?" no one answered, so she started to talk to Dennis.
The Hyperion
Angel headed up to his room after his talk to Lorne about Cordelia and what was going on with them or rather the lack on goings on. He had resolved to tell her his feelings not matter what, tonight. He had to find her first, he rang her apartment.
"Hello, you've reached Cordelia Chase" Damn answer machine "Leave a message after the tone"
"Cordy are you there, its Angel" no one picked up, "Ok ..umm.. when you get this ring me please, I need to talk to you in person."
Cordelia's Apartment
The phone rang and Dennis moved to put the sponge down and answer it, "No" Cordy said "Leave it, please" he resumed scrubbing.
Beeeepppp
"Cordy are you there, its Angel" Dennis moved to the phone thinking she would want to talk to Angel.
"Dennis, leave it please just leave it."
"Ok. umm.. when you get this ring me please, I need to talk to you in person."
Spoilers:- basically season 3 Angel, no biggies apart from Connor being gone and Wes not being around.
Rating:- Same as the show so far, but some scenes between some of the couples might get a little steamy.
Disclaimer:- Not mine.
Chapter Three
Maria stretched out in her bed, unwilling to leave its warmth. Her feet poked out from under the duvet, she scrunched her eyes up, seeking shelter from the bright sun. she yanked her feet back under the duvet quickly, "Sam!" she squealed "Don't, I'm up already!"
"Really," Sam said a twinkle in his eyes, they did this most mornings when she had to be up but the lure of a lie in was too much for her. He didn't blame her for not wanting to get up, working where she did wasn't exactly a dream come true. She was better than there, a lousy Boutique in the mall, the snobs sticking their noses up as they walked past her. He knew her background, she had come, like every other small town girl, to L.A. seeking fame. He five minutes in the sun, but all she had gotten were knock backs. But today he wasn't getting her up for work. "Come you little, skin flint, give it up!"
"Never!" she said challenging him, suddenly wide awake.
"I know its here somewhere!" He dived at her pulling the duvet away, she squealed. "Aha found it!" he pulled at a bit of sparkling ribbon from under her pillow, he pulled and pulled but it just kept coming. "What the!" Maria laughed it was the same last year, he had pestered her and pestered her for his present and he had found it, but this year she was prepared.
"Not far yet" she said as he kept pulling, she got up and grabbed her robe.
"A card you got me a card!" he looked disappointed.
"Open it silly!" she grinned, he was just like a little baby sometimes.
Sam opened the card, "A riddle?" he frowned.
"Yup to get your pressie you gotta work out where it is from the riddles."
"Riddles, so there is more than one?" Damn she hadn't meant to give that away, it was his 21st and the hunt was to keep him busy while she checked up on the arrangements for his surprise party. He had done so much for her, she had to pay him back somehow. She reached into her coat pocket and found the napkin with the scrawled name and number on it, David, they hadn't even talked about names last night but she knew who it was. Sam grabbed the paper from her hand, "David, ehh" he smiled at her calming down from the birthday hype "How bout I take you to breakfast and you can tell me all about David"
"Hey it's Mr. David to you" Maria said she wasn't hungry but it was his birthday, how could she decline, plus he let her have ice-cream for breakfast. "Gimmie, 20" she headed towards the bathroom.
"I'm turning the tap on in the kitchen in 10" He said smirking, the one and only way she was gonna be outta there in 20minutes was if the shower was cold.
Across Town.
The Sun shone brightly into the window of the sparse office, furniture was limited to a huge red couch set before the window which took up the whole wall, and a couple of desks on the other side, all kitted out with all the mod. cons. On the couch a woman and a man sat watching the ocean, her face was red from the crying and a stray tear rolled down her cheek, she didn't bother to wipe it away. She felt numb inside why bother with the outside. The man sat next to her arm resting on the small of her back comforting, he hadn't been crying as much but his eyes were bloodshot, as if the effort to not cry, to be strong for her, was too much. She played with the simple gold band on her finger. How could he be gone. She had only spoken to him a hour before..before he was killed. How could he have been killed he was so strong, he knew how to protect himself and others, it was his job, his life, and when it came down to it. It hadn't mattered he was gone. She started crying again.
He hated to see her like this, distraught. They had been friends since they were born. Everyone had said one day they would be married with a family of their own, but it hadn't been. David had found someone else, they were still close but he had been with someone else. Matt had been there for her they had grown closer and he had been the one to marry her, but the love for David was still there, but more brother sister love than anything, but it still hurt. It hurt him like hell as well, but he had to be the wall she leant on to stop her falling, falling so far no one would reach her. The grief would over take her and that would be it.
"Michelle" he whispered her name, she leant into him burying her face into his chest, any sound that brought her into the real world, the world where he was dead it crippled her inside, sobs wracked through her body.
The Hyperion
The smell of burning crept into the musty room, the curtains let a small ray of light in, it crept like a miniature searchlight across the room as the day went by. Jerked from his sleep burn the smell, Angel leapt up. He looked down, if he wasn't on fire what was! He had had to crash in one of the many bedrooms of the Hyperion as Cordelia had barricaded herself in his room and rather stir up a fight he had decided to sleep elsewhere. He pulled on his trousers and shirt which were neatly folded on a chair by the bed, slipped his shoes on and headed towards the smell it was coming from the hotels huge kitchen. "See told y'all, he'd come down if he smelt breakfast" Fred said smiling coyly at Gunn and Lorne. "Want some"
Angel cringed inwardly, so it was breakfast that was burning. "Ummm, I think I'll pass" Gunn held out his plate, Angel didn't know how he could stomach half the stuff he ate.
"None for me sweetie" Lorne said looking at Angel, "I think Angel-cakes and I are gonna go check some stuff out in the office" He said hinting
"What stuff?" Angel said not getting the hint.
"The stuff we were talking about before the ballet, you know what I mean you big corn muffin" Lorne said
God he was calling him pastries, that could only mean...Cordelia. "Oh, right can't we do that later, there was only a few files to file."
"Sorry strudel, but these things have got to be done, right guys"
"Umm, yea." Gunn said puzzled
Lorne headed to the lobby and turned at the door to make sure Angel was following. "Damn" how did they always manage to get him to do what they wanted, him the Scourge of Europe.
50's Style Diner
"20 minutes, humph Now we'll have to make it Lunch" Sam said elbowing her gently in the ribs. Maria giggled, playing with her pendant again, she didn't know why she was so nervous. The ordered their meal, and sat in their booth. Maria had her back to the TV screen which had been turned down low, Sam took a glance at it. The news was announcing the name of the man who had been murdered, a picture of him appeared on the screen with his name and '1972 - 2002' under it. Sam paid no attention to it, and began his inquisition. "So tell all"
Maria sighed and began to tell him all about David.
Half an hour later, with her meal done and her story finished she sipped her milkshake, "So you think I should call him" Sam stared into space, she had described the guy on the TV perfectly, but it couldn't have been him could it. "Sam!" she shook his shoulder.
"Huh?" He snapped back into reality
"I said, do you think I should call him?" Maria said peeved he had been ignoring her.
"Yea." it couldn't have been him so it would be ok if she called her guy, he hoped.
"Ok I'm gonna go call from the phone over there" she smiled brightly. She picked up the phone and dialled the number, it rang once before it was picked up "Granges, how can I help you?" it was a woman who answered, her voice sounded cold and she sniffed.
"Umm, Hi I was looking for David. Does he work there?" Maria said faltering, she had expected it to be his home number.
"What is this some kind of sick joke!" The woman sounded disgusted, and she started to cry, the phone was taken from her and a man replaced her on the other end.
"Sorry about that, what did you want?"
"I... was looking for David" she stammered
The Hyperion
"Yuk!" Fred picked up a napkin and daintily deposited the piece of food she had so readily shovelled into her mouth, "How can you eat that!" she said looking at Gunn
"Coz I love you" He said mouth half full
"You should have said it was bad" Fred said getting of her stool and moving to hug him, it was so sweet he hadn't wanted to hurt her feelings.
"Want to go get pancakes?" He said into her hair, loosening her embrace she stepped back and beamed at him
"Sure!" they grabbed their coats and headed out of the door.
50's Diner
"Two Stacks of pancakes with extra syrup and a chocolate milkshake with two straws" Gunn looked at the menu, "umm, anything else"
"Nope" Fred said smiling.
They sat chatting about nothing much at all, like a normal couple, anyone looking on would assume that's what they were, a normal couple. Not part of an investigation team who dealt with the paranormal.
Maria held the phone tight to her ear, "Hello? Are you there? What's wrong?"
"Sorry, how did you know him?" the man sounded sad, there was a tone in his voice that told her something was wrong, plus he said did how did she know him, not how do or I'll just go get him 'how did you know him' the words echoed in her ear.
"We met last night, he gave me this number and said to call."
"I'm sorry to have to tell you this" oh god what was wrong why wouldn't he just spit it out. "but David's dead." Maria gasped
"Dead" she stuttered, how could he be dead, she had just seen him a matter of hours ago, not days hours and he was dead.
"I'm sorry" The man said, "I have to go." He put the phone down on her and she clung to her end she felt like if she put the phone down it would make it real, he had been the best thing (Sam aside) to happen to her since the break up. How could he be gone.
"You done!?" A blonde behind her, obviously in a rush, took the phone from her hands and pushed her out of the way, Maria walked slowly towards their booth, she noticed a couple tucking into pancakes and sipping from a milkshake through a straw each,
"Why can't I find that?" she said out loud, the couple looked up at her and grinned not expecting her to burst into tears and collapse on the floor in a heap.
"Are you ok?" Gunn rushed to help the woman up, Fred by his side, the woman had just burst into tears.
"Why?" Maria sobbed "Why did he have to go?" this was the thing that was to push her over the edge, she couldn't cope any more, Sam had been telling her to go back home, that there was no reason she shouldn't. But she was to stubborn to go.
"It's Ok" Gunn said
"Maria!" Sam rushed to where his friend was laid on the floor, coloured man who had helped her moved away and let him take over, "Maria what's wrong?"
"He's..He's dead" new tears came on top of the ones she had already been crying
"So it was him," Sam said under his breath. "Come on Baby" He gathered her up and helped her to her feet, "You sit there and I'll get you a coffee" he went to where the couple had sat, "Thank you." He said "She just got some bad news that's all, nothing to worry about" he gave a small smile.
"No problem, really" Fred said softly
"Happy to help" Gunn chipped in "If there's anything we can do to help"
"No, it'll be ok"
"Its what we do," Fred said, "here take our card, we help." She reached into her pocket and fished out a card.
"Ok," Sam didn't see what they could do to help, unless they were psychiatrists but he didn't want to be rude, they could have just stared at her and done nothing. Cordelia's Apartment
Steam billowed from underneath the bathroom door, inside lit by candles Cordelia was laid in the bath which was piled high with bubbles, 'Are you O.K.' appeared written in the steam that covered the mirror above the sink. She smiled "I'm fine Dennis, I guess with demon über powers comes über emotions." But why had she gone flying off the handle like that, she should have known it wasn't him. The PTB wouldn't have let that happen without warning her, would they? 'U want to talk about it?" Cordy knew what he meant to say was do you want to tell me about it, a lengthy conversation with a ghost via a steamy mirror was something that would both take a long time and a lot of steam, and though she planned to spend a long time in the bath she didn't plan to spend that long. "sure, would you scrub my back while I tell you?" in response a sponge floated towards her.
"Princess?" eugh Cordy thought she had forgotten about Gru, who had been out when she got in, "Are you there?"
"I'm in the bath Gru, not feeling to well." She lied, she hated herself for it but still she did it
"I am going to prepare some Mock-Nah, for you princess, I will not be gone long" he left silently
"What's Mock-Nah?" no one answered, so she started to talk to Dennis.
The Hyperion
Angel headed up to his room after his talk to Lorne about Cordelia and what was going on with them or rather the lack on goings on. He had resolved to tell her his feelings not matter what, tonight. He had to find her first, he rang her apartment.
"Hello, you've reached Cordelia Chase" Damn answer machine "Leave a message after the tone"
"Cordy are you there, its Angel" no one picked up, "Ok ..umm.. when you get this ring me please, I need to talk to you in person."
Cordelia's Apartment
The phone rang and Dennis moved to put the sponge down and answer it, "No" Cordy said "Leave it, please" he resumed scrubbing.
Beeeepppp
"Cordy are you there, its Angel" Dennis moved to the phone thinking she would want to talk to Angel.
"Dennis, leave it please just leave it."
"Ok. umm.. when you get this ring me please, I need to talk to you in person."
