Title: Family: Return to Sunnydale
Author: victoriamartynne
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Spoilers: None, I think!
Summary: Sequel to Family: Back to Sunnydale and Family: Forward to LA. Cordelia receives another phone call that leads her once again to Sunnydale.
Cordelia and Angel sat on the couch together with Ashleigh and Connor.
"You're going to Sunnydale honey." Cordelia crooned to Ashleigh. "But I have to warn you, it's not a nice place. It's on the mouth of hell and it has lots of scary demons."
"Geez Cor, give her nightmares why don't you?" Angel commented.
She ignored him. "But we won't let anything happen to you will we? No we won't. because your daddy and I love you too much. And all your various aunts and uncles. It's a scary place but some of the people aren't that bad. Aunt Buffy even saved your life!"
"If it's such a bad place why do you want to go back?" Angel smiled, holding onto Connor's shirt as he attempted to waddle off.
"Only the Gods know that." Cordelia said wryly. "I sure as hell don't. It might be okay though. I get to cheer, which I love, or I used to. I get to show those bullying brats just who is the biggest bitch I Sunnydale history and help Dawn out plus, it could be kind of cool to be in charge!"
"Oh yeah, because that never happens around here." He teased and then leant over to kiss her.
She sighed happily as his lips met hers, flashes of their lovemaking that night entering her mind. Almost instinctively her hands reached for his thigh but then she seemed to realise where they were. She pulled back blushing. "Wow, that could have ended up being embarrassing."
Angel fidgeted in his seat, pulling Connor into his lap. "Already is." He muttered.
She didn't meet his eyes she just let a small smiled grace her lips.
"Angel Cakes, please for the love of God let Precious put something else on the radio!" Lorne complained from the back or Angel's car as they drove. "There's only so much classical music I can listen to!"
"It's supposed to be calming!" Angel insisted and glanced over at Cordelia. "It calmed Cordy, she's fast asleep."
Lorne threw up his hands in defeat. "Okay, but can we at least turn it down so we can not damage my eardrums."
Angel complied and turned it down slightly. "Thank you."
They travelled along in silence for about ten minutes. "So, Cordy is asleep?"
"Yeah." Angel replied warily, glancing in the rear view mirror at Lorne and the children. "So?"
"What did you do to her last night?" Lorne asked grinning at him.
Angel just sighed and tuned his attention back to the road.
"Gunn, for goodness' sake!" Wes shouted to the driver of the truck. "This noise is not music! It's noise!"
"Yo English, quit yammering in my ride!" Gunn told him.
"Gunn, I demand that you turn this racket off right now!" Wes ordered, crossing his arms.
"D'you want to be out on your ear English? Cos that's the way you're headed!" Gunn warned and cranked up the volume a bit more, which aggravated Wes even more.
"Does this. this. so called music annoy you too?" A perplexed Wes asked Fred, who was sat in between the two men.
She nodded. "I complain but it does no good."
"I can see why!" Wes shouted to the girl. "I'm surprised he can even hear your complaints! I've been to quieter parties!"
Gunn snorted and flashed Wes a grin. "Now I know you're lying, you've never partied man!"
Instead of going straight to the mansion, Cordelia insisted that Angel drive straight to Buffy's house.
The slayer had been watching for them and came running outside to meet them.
Cordelia jumped out of the car and ran to hug Buffy.
"Oh my God, you changed your hair again!" Cordelia exclaimed as Buffy's arms went around her.
Buffy laughed. "Yeah, I thought I'd wait until you got here to tell you that."
"Well, it looks adorable!"
"And look at you!" Buffy said and stood back to look at Cordelia. "You're so slim!"
Cordelia laughed. "Yeah, the beach ball has gone!"
"How is the beach ball?"
"Sleeping, thank God for Lorne, I think she likes the colour green." Cordelia pointed to where Ashleigh was nestled into Lorne's arms sleeping peacefully.
"Wow, she's grown! Look at the size of her, what are you feeding her? Plant food?" Buffy laughed and waved hello to Angel and Lorne.
Cordelia looked down the road as she heard wild rock music playing. "What on Earth." She began as she saw Gunn's truck tear down the street.
"They belong to you?" Spike asked, leaning against the door.
"Hey!" Cordelia called towards him. "It's good to see you!"
"You too Cheerleader!" Spike smiled as he saw Angel frown. "Are you coming in or going to get settled at your mansion? Dawn got some blood in for you."
Gunn pulled up and turned the music down.
"Oh, thank the Lord!" Wesley said quietly, hearing bells in is ears now that the music was low.
"What's up Wes? Can't you hack it?" Buffy taunted playfully.
He smiled in response, no longer feeling any awkward or hard feelings towards his former slayer.
"Cor, back in the car." Angel ordered. "We'll come to the Bronze when we're unpacked." He said to Buffy.
Cordelia glanced at Buffy. "I have been summoned. I'll see you later!"
Cordelia threw a pillow at Angel's head. "I always sleep in the left hand side!"
He batted it aside. "Not always." He said slyly. "Sometimes we share the right."
She stuck a hand on her hip and pouted at him. "That doesn't count." She said finally and turned around to finish unpacking.
"Lorne, would you please desist?" Wesley asked annoyed as Lorne spun around the room singing Madonna's Like a Virgin.
"Touched for the very first time." He sang out, ignoring the uptight Englishman.
"Lorne!" Wes whined. "If we are to share a room then there have to be some ground rules."
Lorne rolled his eyes and sang louder while he unpacked.
"Yo girl." Gunn said to Fred. "D'you hear singing?"
Fred giggled. "I think Lorne is annoying Wesley."
"Maybe we should go help English out." Gunn suggested half-heartedly and practiced swinging his axe round in the corner of their room while Fred did the unpacking for both of them.
Simultaneously they shook their heads at each other and smiled.
Cordelia stood at the top of the stairs, where her and Angel's room was, in a pair of jeans, a floaty top, and killer stiletto boots.
"Is everyone ready?" She shouted down the stairs where the other bedrooms were.
"I am!" Wes shouted and hurried out of his room.
Cordy smirked. "What's up Wes?"
He straightened the collar of his shirt. "Nothing, I am quite all right."
She raised an eyebrow. "Okay, let's go people!"
"Why are you so excited to be back here?" Wes asked.
"I don't know. When we were here before I didn't have friends."
"When we came back for the wedding or when you used to live here?" Wes asked and leaned on the banister.
"Both, I never had friends here." She told him and sat down on the top step. "I was the bitch. I said what I thought and they didn't like me for it. Now we're friends and it's different. It's like I can belong here again and fit in."
"There'd better not be any plans about staying here." Angel said, having come out of their room and hearing the last part of her sentence.
She snorted. "Hell no, I hate this place."
Wes just smiled.
Gunn and Fred came out of their room followed by Lorne from his.
"Hey pumpkin." Lorne said to Cordelia. "Where are the bubs?"
"In our room, but if you want to come we can take them with us." Cordelia offered.
He shook his head. "I don't think the green will go down well, this being the hell mouth and all."
She accepted his reasoning. "Okay, but only if you're sure."
He nodded again. "I'm going to get myself a sea breeze and sit down to watch some TV."
"Sorry, no TV." Angel said and received a surprised look from Lorne. "I'm a vampire."
Lorne shrugged and went down the hall to the kitchen.
"Okay, can we go now?" Cordelia asked, bored with waiting.
Angel helped her up and they all went downstairs.
"Xander!" Cordelia exclaimed. "Looking handsome!"
He blushed and hugged her.
Angel bristled at her behaviour to her ex, even though he knew she wasn't interested.
"Willow, I love the pants."
Willow looked down self consciously. "Really?"
"Sure!" Cordelia reassured.
"I like the boots." Willow said shyly and received a hug and a hundred watt smile in response.
"Tara, hi, it's good to see you again. Next time these guys drop into LA you should come." Cordelia turned to Willow's girlfriend and she smiled shyly at her.
Cordelia moved back to Angel's side and felt his arm go around her. "See, friends."
She murmured into his ear.
"Okay, I get the point." He whispered back.
"Cordy!" A voice screamed.
She turned around to be nearly knocked down by Dawn.
"Hey Dawnie." Cordelia hugged her back. "How are you?"
"When can we start training?" She asked excitedly.
Cordelia and Angel laughed. "You want to start tomorrow right? What time?"
"Around three? In the gym?" Dawn asked hopefully.
"Sure." Cordelia agreed, causing the girl to jump and hug her again.
She ran off to tell Spike who was sat close to Buffy in a dark corner. Anya was sat opposite with Giles discussing business.
Cordelia waved to Buffy and raised an eyebrow at how close she was sat to Spike.
Buffy grinned and gave her the finger playfully.
Cordelia turned to Angel. "Want to dance?"
"I don't dance."
"Don't, not can't." She clarified and grabbed his hand, leading him by the hand to the dance floor.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and they began to dance slowly to the not that slow song.
"We don't have to do anything tonight do we?" She asked, leaning into his body.
"We don't have to." He said into her neck. "But I can think of one thing I'd like to do."
She laughed softly. "I like that plan."
"It's weird being back here. Again." He told her, letting his hand run over the small of her back, making her shiver.
"I know." She agreed. "But this time I kinda like it. Last time I didn't get a chance to do anything while I was here. With the wedding and killing my demon dad and everything. This time I get to cheer, which I used to love, and I get to be with the people that I love and have a bit of fun."
"Or a lot of fun." He clarified and let his hand drift to her ass.
She laughed and swatted his hand away.
"Cordelia Chase?" A voice asked.
She turned and gasped. "Aura? What are you doing here?"
"Jeez, Cordy, could you sound any less happy to see me?" Aura said, putting one hand on her hip.
"I'm sorry, it's just I didn't think you were living here anymore." Cordelia said, she didn't really want to see Aura at the moment.
"I'm not. I live in Boston, I'm at college there. I'm home for the weekend. What are you doing here?" She asked and raised an eyebrow sceptically.
Angel sensed Cordelia's discomfort and put an arm around her waist. "I'm here for a break. I'm going to be the new cheerleading coach at the school."
"Oh." Aura said, looking less than interested. "So, are you at school?"
"No." Cordelia replied quietly.
"Then what's happening with you?" She asked and smiled slightly, not altogether pleasantly.
"I had a baby." She came out with the first thing she could think of and then instantly regretted it.
Aura snorted. "You had a baby? How did that happen? Didn't you want a termination?"
Cordelia suddenly looked angry. "Of course I didn't want a termination! I wanted to have a baby. And it happened because I found a man that I love and I want to spend my life with."
Aura suddenly looked more interested. "So, you're getting married."
"No." Cordelia shook her head.
"Aura, is it?" Buffy asked as she came up to them, Spike following.
"Oh, it's you." Aura looked less interested with Buffy and turned back to Cordelia.
"So, you had a baby, you're not getting married and you're not going to college? What are you doing with your life?"
"Cordelia is living her life instead of striving to be something that she doesn't know whether she'll like." Angel added, a hard edge to his voice.
Aura looked angry. "Hey!"
"Look Aura, you and me, completely different." Cordelia concluded. "We were only the same in high school because you were a sheep and copied everything that I did. I am happy with my life. I wouldn't change a thing. Can you say that about your life?"
Aura pulled a face. "You're twenty one years old and you have a child, no qualifications and if I remember right you live in a hotel. Let's take a reality check."
She sauntered off, leaving Cordelia, Angel, Buffy and Spike stood together in the middle of the dance floor.
"Reality check?" Cordelia looked at her friends. "The next time the world ends I'll give her a reality check!"
Buffy smiled. "Want to take a reality check and patrol with me?"
Cordelia smiled back. "Sure, I'll see you later okay?" She said to Angel and kissed his cheek.
"So, I guess Aura hasn't changed." Buffy said as they walked through one of Sunnydale's graveyards. "Unlike some people."
Cordelia grinned. "I guess I have changed slightly."
"Pft, slightly? That's an understatement. You used to strike fear into people and bitch about them until they were ready to lop off their own heads." Buffy remembered their high school days.
"And now what am I?"
"A pussycat?" Buffy offered and took Cordelia's arm.
"Great." Cordelia said. "A furry little animal with nine lives and sharp claws." She thought for a moment. "That's pretty accurate."
Buffy laughed and then stopped. "Almost as accurate as three vampires coming towards us?"
Cordelia looked where Buffy was looking at nodded. "Almost, I'll take one you take two."
They split up to separate the vampires. Luckily two took after Buffy leaving one for Cordelia to dust.
After being thrown around a bit they dusted the vamps and joined back up. They were both breathing heavily. "Okay, I know why I'm out of breath but how about you?" Cordelia joked.
Buffy pulled a face and linked her arm with Cordelia's. "Okay, one more sweep and let's head back to the Bronze."
"How was the patrol?" Angel asked as Cordelia came back in and planted herself on his lap.
"Made me realise how out of shape I am." She answered and kissed him gently. "Then again, if someone would let me go out on cases in LA then maybe I would have managed better."
"Did you get hurt?" He looked worried but she shook her head. "Then you're doing okay."
She was about to protest but his lips cut her off.
"Yo dawg, stop macking on Barbie and let's go." Gunn interrupted them with Fred and Wes at his side.
Cordelia sighed. "Come on big guy, let's go."
They waved goodbye to the Scoobies and left.
"Harder Angel." Cordelia murmured. "Please!"
He smiled as he ran his hands over her back. She'd insisted that if she wasn't allowed to go out on cases then he had to give her frequent back massages, starting now.
He was sat across her back with one knee on either side of her hips, making sure his weight wasn't on her.
Cordelia dangled her hand over the edge of the bed and stroked Ashleigh's downy head. "She's really beautiful isn't she?"
He smiled. "Just like her mom."
She smiled. "She's got your eyes."
"But she's got your hair and lips. And she's got your nature."
She snorted. "That says nothing. Even Connor has my nature. And he's not mine."
He stopped his rubbing. "Don't say that."
She turned slightly so she could see him. "But he's not Angel. He's Darla's. And yours."
He turned her completely so that she was lying on her back under him. "He is yours. Not biologically but emotionally and physically he is. You're the one he calls mom."
She smiled slightly. "He only said it once."
"So?"
"Angel, I didn't doubt that he was my son, I was just saying that it's good that he's like me. I like it that he's like me."
He looked pleased. "Okay then."
"What happened to my massage?" She pouted.
He leaned down. "I thought of something better to do."
She laughed as his lips came down on hers.
Cordelia was up at eight feeding Connor and Ashleigh. Lorne joined her in the living area.
"They didn't wake you did they?" She asked as he sat down next to her.
"No, I can sleep through anything." He assured her.
"What are you doing up this early then?" She asked, yawning.
"Routine precious. I get up at eight everyday in LA."
"God, you're mad." She muttered.
Connor finished his food and squirmed off her knee to totter over to Lorne who was pulling a face at the coffee he had in his hand.
"Oh, you shouldn't drink that." She advised and gave Ashleigh her bottle. "It's been here since Angel left Sunnydale."
She laughed as he spat out the coffee he had in his mouth.
Author: victoriamartynne
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Spoilers: None, I think!
Summary: Sequel to Family: Back to Sunnydale and Family: Forward to LA. Cordelia receives another phone call that leads her once again to Sunnydale.
Cordelia and Angel sat on the couch together with Ashleigh and Connor.
"You're going to Sunnydale honey." Cordelia crooned to Ashleigh. "But I have to warn you, it's not a nice place. It's on the mouth of hell and it has lots of scary demons."
"Geez Cor, give her nightmares why don't you?" Angel commented.
She ignored him. "But we won't let anything happen to you will we? No we won't. because your daddy and I love you too much. And all your various aunts and uncles. It's a scary place but some of the people aren't that bad. Aunt Buffy even saved your life!"
"If it's such a bad place why do you want to go back?" Angel smiled, holding onto Connor's shirt as he attempted to waddle off.
"Only the Gods know that." Cordelia said wryly. "I sure as hell don't. It might be okay though. I get to cheer, which I love, or I used to. I get to show those bullying brats just who is the biggest bitch I Sunnydale history and help Dawn out plus, it could be kind of cool to be in charge!"
"Oh yeah, because that never happens around here." He teased and then leant over to kiss her.
She sighed happily as his lips met hers, flashes of their lovemaking that night entering her mind. Almost instinctively her hands reached for his thigh but then she seemed to realise where they were. She pulled back blushing. "Wow, that could have ended up being embarrassing."
Angel fidgeted in his seat, pulling Connor into his lap. "Already is." He muttered.
She didn't meet his eyes she just let a small smiled grace her lips.
"Angel Cakes, please for the love of God let Precious put something else on the radio!" Lorne complained from the back or Angel's car as they drove. "There's only so much classical music I can listen to!"
"It's supposed to be calming!" Angel insisted and glanced over at Cordelia. "It calmed Cordy, she's fast asleep."
Lorne threw up his hands in defeat. "Okay, but can we at least turn it down so we can not damage my eardrums."
Angel complied and turned it down slightly. "Thank you."
They travelled along in silence for about ten minutes. "So, Cordy is asleep?"
"Yeah." Angel replied warily, glancing in the rear view mirror at Lorne and the children. "So?"
"What did you do to her last night?" Lorne asked grinning at him.
Angel just sighed and tuned his attention back to the road.
"Gunn, for goodness' sake!" Wes shouted to the driver of the truck. "This noise is not music! It's noise!"
"Yo English, quit yammering in my ride!" Gunn told him.
"Gunn, I demand that you turn this racket off right now!" Wes ordered, crossing his arms.
"D'you want to be out on your ear English? Cos that's the way you're headed!" Gunn warned and cranked up the volume a bit more, which aggravated Wes even more.
"Does this. this. so called music annoy you too?" A perplexed Wes asked Fred, who was sat in between the two men.
She nodded. "I complain but it does no good."
"I can see why!" Wes shouted to the girl. "I'm surprised he can even hear your complaints! I've been to quieter parties!"
Gunn snorted and flashed Wes a grin. "Now I know you're lying, you've never partied man!"
Instead of going straight to the mansion, Cordelia insisted that Angel drive straight to Buffy's house.
The slayer had been watching for them and came running outside to meet them.
Cordelia jumped out of the car and ran to hug Buffy.
"Oh my God, you changed your hair again!" Cordelia exclaimed as Buffy's arms went around her.
Buffy laughed. "Yeah, I thought I'd wait until you got here to tell you that."
"Well, it looks adorable!"
"And look at you!" Buffy said and stood back to look at Cordelia. "You're so slim!"
Cordelia laughed. "Yeah, the beach ball has gone!"
"How is the beach ball?"
"Sleeping, thank God for Lorne, I think she likes the colour green." Cordelia pointed to where Ashleigh was nestled into Lorne's arms sleeping peacefully.
"Wow, she's grown! Look at the size of her, what are you feeding her? Plant food?" Buffy laughed and waved hello to Angel and Lorne.
Cordelia looked down the road as she heard wild rock music playing. "What on Earth." She began as she saw Gunn's truck tear down the street.
"They belong to you?" Spike asked, leaning against the door.
"Hey!" Cordelia called towards him. "It's good to see you!"
"You too Cheerleader!" Spike smiled as he saw Angel frown. "Are you coming in or going to get settled at your mansion? Dawn got some blood in for you."
Gunn pulled up and turned the music down.
"Oh, thank the Lord!" Wesley said quietly, hearing bells in is ears now that the music was low.
"What's up Wes? Can't you hack it?" Buffy taunted playfully.
He smiled in response, no longer feeling any awkward or hard feelings towards his former slayer.
"Cor, back in the car." Angel ordered. "We'll come to the Bronze when we're unpacked." He said to Buffy.
Cordelia glanced at Buffy. "I have been summoned. I'll see you later!"
Cordelia threw a pillow at Angel's head. "I always sleep in the left hand side!"
He batted it aside. "Not always." He said slyly. "Sometimes we share the right."
She stuck a hand on her hip and pouted at him. "That doesn't count." She said finally and turned around to finish unpacking.
"Lorne, would you please desist?" Wesley asked annoyed as Lorne spun around the room singing Madonna's Like a Virgin.
"Touched for the very first time." He sang out, ignoring the uptight Englishman.
"Lorne!" Wes whined. "If we are to share a room then there have to be some ground rules."
Lorne rolled his eyes and sang louder while he unpacked.
"Yo girl." Gunn said to Fred. "D'you hear singing?"
Fred giggled. "I think Lorne is annoying Wesley."
"Maybe we should go help English out." Gunn suggested half-heartedly and practiced swinging his axe round in the corner of their room while Fred did the unpacking for both of them.
Simultaneously they shook their heads at each other and smiled.
Cordelia stood at the top of the stairs, where her and Angel's room was, in a pair of jeans, a floaty top, and killer stiletto boots.
"Is everyone ready?" She shouted down the stairs where the other bedrooms were.
"I am!" Wes shouted and hurried out of his room.
Cordy smirked. "What's up Wes?"
He straightened the collar of his shirt. "Nothing, I am quite all right."
She raised an eyebrow. "Okay, let's go people!"
"Why are you so excited to be back here?" Wes asked.
"I don't know. When we were here before I didn't have friends."
"When we came back for the wedding or when you used to live here?" Wes asked and leaned on the banister.
"Both, I never had friends here." She told him and sat down on the top step. "I was the bitch. I said what I thought and they didn't like me for it. Now we're friends and it's different. It's like I can belong here again and fit in."
"There'd better not be any plans about staying here." Angel said, having come out of their room and hearing the last part of her sentence.
She snorted. "Hell no, I hate this place."
Wes just smiled.
Gunn and Fred came out of their room followed by Lorne from his.
"Hey pumpkin." Lorne said to Cordelia. "Where are the bubs?"
"In our room, but if you want to come we can take them with us." Cordelia offered.
He shook his head. "I don't think the green will go down well, this being the hell mouth and all."
She accepted his reasoning. "Okay, but only if you're sure."
He nodded again. "I'm going to get myself a sea breeze and sit down to watch some TV."
"Sorry, no TV." Angel said and received a surprised look from Lorne. "I'm a vampire."
Lorne shrugged and went down the hall to the kitchen.
"Okay, can we go now?" Cordelia asked, bored with waiting.
Angel helped her up and they all went downstairs.
"Xander!" Cordelia exclaimed. "Looking handsome!"
He blushed and hugged her.
Angel bristled at her behaviour to her ex, even though he knew she wasn't interested.
"Willow, I love the pants."
Willow looked down self consciously. "Really?"
"Sure!" Cordelia reassured.
"I like the boots." Willow said shyly and received a hug and a hundred watt smile in response.
"Tara, hi, it's good to see you again. Next time these guys drop into LA you should come." Cordelia turned to Willow's girlfriend and she smiled shyly at her.
Cordelia moved back to Angel's side and felt his arm go around her. "See, friends."
She murmured into his ear.
"Okay, I get the point." He whispered back.
"Cordy!" A voice screamed.
She turned around to be nearly knocked down by Dawn.
"Hey Dawnie." Cordelia hugged her back. "How are you?"
"When can we start training?" She asked excitedly.
Cordelia and Angel laughed. "You want to start tomorrow right? What time?"
"Around three? In the gym?" Dawn asked hopefully.
"Sure." Cordelia agreed, causing the girl to jump and hug her again.
She ran off to tell Spike who was sat close to Buffy in a dark corner. Anya was sat opposite with Giles discussing business.
Cordelia waved to Buffy and raised an eyebrow at how close she was sat to Spike.
Buffy grinned and gave her the finger playfully.
Cordelia turned to Angel. "Want to dance?"
"I don't dance."
"Don't, not can't." She clarified and grabbed his hand, leading him by the hand to the dance floor.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and they began to dance slowly to the not that slow song.
"We don't have to do anything tonight do we?" She asked, leaning into his body.
"We don't have to." He said into her neck. "But I can think of one thing I'd like to do."
She laughed softly. "I like that plan."
"It's weird being back here. Again." He told her, letting his hand run over the small of her back, making her shiver.
"I know." She agreed. "But this time I kinda like it. Last time I didn't get a chance to do anything while I was here. With the wedding and killing my demon dad and everything. This time I get to cheer, which I used to love, and I get to be with the people that I love and have a bit of fun."
"Or a lot of fun." He clarified and let his hand drift to her ass.
She laughed and swatted his hand away.
"Cordelia Chase?" A voice asked.
She turned and gasped. "Aura? What are you doing here?"
"Jeez, Cordy, could you sound any less happy to see me?" Aura said, putting one hand on her hip.
"I'm sorry, it's just I didn't think you were living here anymore." Cordelia said, she didn't really want to see Aura at the moment.
"I'm not. I live in Boston, I'm at college there. I'm home for the weekend. What are you doing here?" She asked and raised an eyebrow sceptically.
Angel sensed Cordelia's discomfort and put an arm around her waist. "I'm here for a break. I'm going to be the new cheerleading coach at the school."
"Oh." Aura said, looking less than interested. "So, are you at school?"
"No." Cordelia replied quietly.
"Then what's happening with you?" She asked and smiled slightly, not altogether pleasantly.
"I had a baby." She came out with the first thing she could think of and then instantly regretted it.
Aura snorted. "You had a baby? How did that happen? Didn't you want a termination?"
Cordelia suddenly looked angry. "Of course I didn't want a termination! I wanted to have a baby. And it happened because I found a man that I love and I want to spend my life with."
Aura suddenly looked more interested. "So, you're getting married."
"No." Cordelia shook her head.
"Aura, is it?" Buffy asked as she came up to them, Spike following.
"Oh, it's you." Aura looked less interested with Buffy and turned back to Cordelia.
"So, you had a baby, you're not getting married and you're not going to college? What are you doing with your life?"
"Cordelia is living her life instead of striving to be something that she doesn't know whether she'll like." Angel added, a hard edge to his voice.
Aura looked angry. "Hey!"
"Look Aura, you and me, completely different." Cordelia concluded. "We were only the same in high school because you were a sheep and copied everything that I did. I am happy with my life. I wouldn't change a thing. Can you say that about your life?"
Aura pulled a face. "You're twenty one years old and you have a child, no qualifications and if I remember right you live in a hotel. Let's take a reality check."
She sauntered off, leaving Cordelia, Angel, Buffy and Spike stood together in the middle of the dance floor.
"Reality check?" Cordelia looked at her friends. "The next time the world ends I'll give her a reality check!"
Buffy smiled. "Want to take a reality check and patrol with me?"
Cordelia smiled back. "Sure, I'll see you later okay?" She said to Angel and kissed his cheek.
"So, I guess Aura hasn't changed." Buffy said as they walked through one of Sunnydale's graveyards. "Unlike some people."
Cordelia grinned. "I guess I have changed slightly."
"Pft, slightly? That's an understatement. You used to strike fear into people and bitch about them until they were ready to lop off their own heads." Buffy remembered their high school days.
"And now what am I?"
"A pussycat?" Buffy offered and took Cordelia's arm.
"Great." Cordelia said. "A furry little animal with nine lives and sharp claws." She thought for a moment. "That's pretty accurate."
Buffy laughed and then stopped. "Almost as accurate as three vampires coming towards us?"
Cordelia looked where Buffy was looking at nodded. "Almost, I'll take one you take two."
They split up to separate the vampires. Luckily two took after Buffy leaving one for Cordelia to dust.
After being thrown around a bit they dusted the vamps and joined back up. They were both breathing heavily. "Okay, I know why I'm out of breath but how about you?" Cordelia joked.
Buffy pulled a face and linked her arm with Cordelia's. "Okay, one more sweep and let's head back to the Bronze."
"How was the patrol?" Angel asked as Cordelia came back in and planted herself on his lap.
"Made me realise how out of shape I am." She answered and kissed him gently. "Then again, if someone would let me go out on cases in LA then maybe I would have managed better."
"Did you get hurt?" He looked worried but she shook her head. "Then you're doing okay."
She was about to protest but his lips cut her off.
"Yo dawg, stop macking on Barbie and let's go." Gunn interrupted them with Fred and Wes at his side.
Cordelia sighed. "Come on big guy, let's go."
They waved goodbye to the Scoobies and left.
"Harder Angel." Cordelia murmured. "Please!"
He smiled as he ran his hands over her back. She'd insisted that if she wasn't allowed to go out on cases then he had to give her frequent back massages, starting now.
He was sat across her back with one knee on either side of her hips, making sure his weight wasn't on her.
Cordelia dangled her hand over the edge of the bed and stroked Ashleigh's downy head. "She's really beautiful isn't she?"
He smiled. "Just like her mom."
She smiled. "She's got your eyes."
"But she's got your hair and lips. And she's got your nature."
She snorted. "That says nothing. Even Connor has my nature. And he's not mine."
He stopped his rubbing. "Don't say that."
She turned slightly so she could see him. "But he's not Angel. He's Darla's. And yours."
He turned her completely so that she was lying on her back under him. "He is yours. Not biologically but emotionally and physically he is. You're the one he calls mom."
She smiled slightly. "He only said it once."
"So?"
"Angel, I didn't doubt that he was my son, I was just saying that it's good that he's like me. I like it that he's like me."
He looked pleased. "Okay then."
"What happened to my massage?" She pouted.
He leaned down. "I thought of something better to do."
She laughed as his lips came down on hers.
Cordelia was up at eight feeding Connor and Ashleigh. Lorne joined her in the living area.
"They didn't wake you did they?" She asked as he sat down next to her.
"No, I can sleep through anything." He assured her.
"What are you doing up this early then?" She asked, yawning.
"Routine precious. I get up at eight everyday in LA."
"God, you're mad." She muttered.
Connor finished his food and squirmed off her knee to totter over to Lorne who was pulling a face at the coffee he had in his hand.
"Oh, you shouldn't drink that." She advised and gave Ashleigh her bottle. "It's been here since Angel left Sunnydale."
She laughed as he spat out the coffee he had in his mouth.