Chapter Three

"Cordelia, do you think that you could actually read that book instead of staring at Angel's office door? We really do need you to help out," sighed Wesley, slamming a large volume down onto the front desk. Cordelia looked up at him and shook her head, she hadn't realised she had been so obvious in her concern for Angel. He hadn't left the office since that morning and it was swiftly heading into the hours of darkness, time for the things that go bump in the night to go out and wreak havoc.

"Sorry Wes, I'm a bit out of it today. So, do we have anything on this Beast thing? Any leads?" she asked, getting up from her lounging position on the circular sofa and joining Wesley, Fred and Gunn at reception.

"Nothing, I don't know why we're looking. We all know that this thing is way too powerful to have anything written about it just lying around in here," groaned Fred, Gunn reached across to rub her tense shoulders but she shrugged him away and continued to flick through the massive tome in front of her.

"I'm heading out," said Angel. Everyone turned to face him; they hadn't even heard the door open.

"Want company?" asked Gunn, aching to get away from the stuffy books and into some action. Angel shook his head and swept out of the room in silence, his black coat billowing out behind him as if he were the villain in a pantomime. "Fine, someone's testy tonight,"

"Just leave it, Gunn," snapped Cordelia and ran up to her room. She couldn't stand it down there, she felt like everyone was looking at her and judging her even though there was no way they could know what had been going on. She just wanted to know that Angel didn't hate her but she knew that she'd have to wait a little longer to be sure of that.

Jay and Tim had returned from gathering supplies with a plethora of equally scruffy and unwashed teenagers. Connor had been introduced to everyone with a smile and a handshake but he still felt uncomfortable, something was sticking with him. It wasn't that he wanted to be back in L.A. with Cordelia but there was something not quite right about the situation he had stumbled into. Throughout the 'party', he stayed at the back of the room with a beer in hand, watching everyone dance and talk and laugh as they moved about, mingling with everyone they knew. He wasn't alone with his thoughts for long as both Allie and Frankie joined him and soon, they were plying him with more alcohol and he was joining in the laughter with everyone else.

After a few bottles, he realised that he had never considered the effect alcohol would have on him before. It was a strange feeling, he could sense it coursing through his body and changing him. He felt a lot more comfortable and more at ease with the people around him, he marvelled at how easy he found it to fit in with these people. They all talked about music and movies as if it was their life and he stood by and listened, joining in when he remembered something Fred or Cordelia had mentioned of a band or an actor.

As the night passed by, Connor knew that he must be quite drunk as his eyes seemed to have glazed over and he found himself laughing at things that were not particularly funny. He collapsed onto the battered old sofa with Allie, Frankie, Tim and Jay as everyone poured out of the warehouse, thanking the guys for a "kick ass party" and saying goodbye to their new best friend, Connor. He sat back and smiled, he didn't think he had ever felt this good before, not even with Cordelia. He felt completely unbound, he was enjoying his first night out with people his own age, people who had no clue that the world was made up of vampires and demons and good and evil and it felt amazing.

"Hey Connor, you have a good time tonight?" asked Allie, her hand resting casually on his leg.

"Yeah, it was great," he grinned. Allie shot a quick glance at the rest of the gang and they all stood up and walked away without a word. The three of them seemed to disappear into the shadows at the back of the room but Connor heard the creak of a door and reasoned that they had run out to catch up with the people who had already left. "Where'd they run off to?"

"Probably wanted to catch up with the others, Frankie likes to party big style. Even if she's got work in the morning,"

"Why do you live here if you're all working? Wouldn't it be easier to live in a real house or something?" asked Connor, looking at the state the warehouse had been left in by the now absent partiers.

"This place is free and we like it here, feels special or something. Why don't we talk about you, Mr Mysterious?" smiled Allie.

"Nothing to talk about,"

"I don't think that's true. I'm a little psychic y'know," she smiled; Connor looked at her in disbelief. "Mock all you want; I know you're in pain about some lady,"

"I don't wanna talk about it," muttered Connor, his hackles were raised at the mere thought of Cordelia. He didn't want thoughts of her overshadowing the amazing night he was having.

"Fair enough but I know something that can take your mind off her," laughed Allie handing Connor another bottle of beer. Connor smiled and accepted it, twisting the cap off and draining half the bottle, Allie took it back from him and drank some herself before placing it on the floor and twisting to face Connor. He couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was, maybe not as pretty as Frankie but there was definitely something alluring about her. Connor thought it could have been her long, soft blonde hair but he knew it was more to do with her eyes, those sparkling bright green eyes.

"Are you and Frankie sisters?" he asked, swallowing hard.

"Yeah, we are. Is it that obvious?"

"You look really alike, you've both got the same beautiful eyes," he slurred, smiling as he stroked her cheek just below her eye.

"You've got the amazing eyes; I don't think I've ever seen eyes so blue. It's unbelievable," smiled Allie. She closed her eyes and leaned forward, a million thoughts of Cordelia streamed through Connor's mind but he knew that he had to start getting over her. They never had anything to begin with so he should just get on with his won life. He pushed his hand up through Allie's hair and gently brushed her lips with his own. It was all the invitation she needed, Allie kissed him back hard and pushed him down onto the sofa. Connor was somewhere between shocked and excited when Allie climbed on top of him and began pulling at his clothes.

"You're so beautiful," he whispered, Allie let out a quiet laugh.

"Shut up and kiss me, Connor,"

Angel stormed in through the double doors, it was way past midnight and everyone had already gone to bed. He didn't blame them; they had all been up all day and night researching the seemingly impossible Beast. He walked into the kitchen and grabbed a bag of blood from the fridge, he didn't even bother to heat it in the microwave, he ripped it open and gulped it down. He was exhausted and needed refreshment, throwing the bag to one side he spun around as he heard a noise. Standing in the doorway was Cordelia, she had changed into her pyjamas but she had clearly not been asleep. Angel grabbed another bag from the fridge and sat down at the table, Cordelia sat opposite him. They sat in silence for what seemed like an eternity as Cordelia watched Angel unashamedly drink his blood and toss the bag aside again.

"You've got a little… on your lip," she smiled; Angel wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and raised his chin as if to show her. She nodded her approval and the room was once more plunged into silence.

"I don't hate you, Cordy," whispered Angel. Cordelia thought her heart would explode at those words but she managed to remain calm and let Angel finish what he had obviously been wanting to say all day. "I know that you must have been scared when it started to rain fire so I don't blame you. I don't really understand why it carried on after that night but it doesn't matter. Connor is my son and I love him, you are my best friend and I love you too. It doesn't matter what's happened in the past, we need to start looking towards the future before the Beast takes that away from us too,"

"Angel," smiled Cordelia, reaching out across the table and taking his hand. "I just want you to know that I never meant to hurt you or Connor. There's so much between you and me, I just never wanted anything like this to happen. I'm so sorry,"

"There's nothing to apologise for. Let's just forget it and move on, and I'll be telling Connor the same thing when he gets back here,"

"I think he's really upset. Not just about me but about you too,"

"I'm fine, I just need him to know that now," said Angel before standing up and walking out of the room leaving Cordelia alone with the knowledge that everything was going to be all right. All they needed now was for Connor to come back; she hoped that he was planning on it. She knew how pig-headed he could be when it came down to Angel; she wanted him to know that everything was okay. It was all back to the way it should be.