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.
"Come on, anyone would think it was you lot that are hung over!" Cordelia shouted. "Move!"
"Why don't you join in then?" Brittany snipped. "Show us what you've got? Then we have an idea of what we're supposed to be doing!"
Cordelia glared at her. "Fine! Give me a minute."
She marched back to where Angel was sat.
"I just shot myself in the foot." She muttered and took off her jacket to reveal a very skimpy top. She slipped off Angel's sweatpants so she was just wearing a pair of shorts.
He raised an eyebrow at her outfit. "Wow." He said simply.
She gave him a quick kiss and went back to the girls. "Okay, this is how you should be doing it."
She pressed play on the CD player and began the routine.
She'd choreographed it so that when it was done properly it was very sexy and very fast and incredibly perfect when performed properly. And Cordelia did perform it properly.
Angel was so engrossed in watching her cheer that he didn't notice Lorne had sat down next to him until she had finished.
"Well, the princess certainly knows what she's doing doesn't she?"
Angel nodded, never taking his eyes off Cordelia. "She looked, uh, amazing."
Lorne sighed. "Angel cakes, your son is trying to get your attention."
Angel instinctively picked Connor up and watched as Cordelia flung a few orders at the squad and then came back for some water.
"Angel, baby, you can close your mouth." She instructed with a smile.
He did.
"I take it the routine looked better when I did it." She commented and sat down next to him, letting her arm brush his. She took a swig of the water. "It might have been better if my head wasn't thumping as much as it is."
"It was perfect." He assured her.
She smiled at Connor and played with his hair. "Your daddy was just looking at my body, he wasn't interested in whether or not I did the routine right."
Connor blew a bubble and looked at Angel. Almost guiltily, Angel thought. "I'll be back in a minute." She suddenly said and ran out of the gym with a hand over her mouth.
Lorne chuckled. "I guess last night just caught up with her."
A couple of the cheerleaders came to sit next to them. "Why are you dressed like that?" One of them asked Lorne.
He began to explain how he was auditioning for the part of school mascot but he wasn't sure whether the horns looked realistic.
"So, you're Angel." Brittany said and sidled up to Angel.
He nodded and kept focused on Connor.
"Are both of those babies yours?" She asked.
He nodded again.
"You know, you don't have to stick with her if you don't want to. There's always someone younger and better looking if you want them." Brittany told him. "All you have to do is ask."
"Hey Brittany, why don't you just leave it?" Dawn interrupted angrily.
"What's it to you?" Brittany sneered.
"Cordy's my friend and she and Angel are in love, you'll never get through them."
Brittany stood up as did Angel, who thrust Connor into Lorne's arms. "Look, why don't we leave it."
"I realise you feel the need to protect me but it's okay Angel." Brittany said sweetly and then turned to Dawn. "I'm the captain; I can pull rank on you and get you kicked off the team if you don't get your nose out of my business."
"What's going on here?" Cordelia asked, coming back into the gym and seeing the commotion. "Nobody is getting kicked off the team. Listen to the word, you're a team. That means you stick together and you get along."
Brittany continued to glare at Dawn so Cordelia waved a hand in front of her face. "That includes you, Miss Captain."
Brittany stalked back towards the rest of the team with one last glance at Angel.
"Dawn, what just happened here?" She asked when Brittany had gone.
"She was trying it on with Angel. I stepped in."
"It's okay Dawn." Cordelia said and put an arm around her shoulders. "I know girls are going to try it on with Angel and I accept that. But I know that he's not going anywhere. If he did I'd break his legs." Dawn laughed. "Brittany doesn't stand a chance."
Dawn looked a bit better as she went back to the others.
Cordelia pulled on the sweatpants again. "So, Brittany has a crush on you."
"She doesn't even come close baby." Angel promised and kissed her.
"I know that." Cordelia looked at him like he was dumb. "It's just another way for her to piss me off."
She went back to the team and told them to go home and practice.
She came back to Angel. "Are you okay?" He asked, concerned by how pale she was.
"I'm fine, apart from the giant hangover." She though for a moment. "Maybe I shouldn't have done that dance."
He put his arm around her after she'd picked up Connor. "I'll pamper you this afternoon."
"I'd take him up on that muffin." Lorne advised.
She grinned and they left the gym together.
"Cordelia, for God's sake, keep still." Angel ordered.
She giggled. "Sorry."
He flicked water at her. They were both sat in the bathtub.
"This is nice." He commented and wrapped his arms around her wet body.
"Yeah." She murmured and traced a pattern on his arm with her fingertips. "Do you think we could have an early night tonight?"
"We could do." He supposed. "That is, if Lorne could look after the children. Again."
"Do you think he minds?"
"No." He shook his head. "He likes to look after them. Besides, he'd say if he didn't."
She nodded and accepted his answer. "Why don't we look after them tonight? Spend some time with them?"
He kissed the top of her head. "That sound like a good idea."
She smiled and turned slightly so that he could kiss her lips.
There was a knock at the door and she groaned. "Guys, when you've done canoodling in the bathtub, we're ordering pizza if you want some." Lorne said through the door.
"I don't eat!" Angel shouted back.
"I do!" Cordelia exclaimed. "Yeah, we'll have pizza Lorne, thanks!"
"Sure things sweet cheeks." Lorne shouted back. "Oh, and Cordelia? Make sure Angel Cakes gets enough loving, he gets grouchy when he doesn't get any!"
"Okay guys, you have pizza?" Cordelia asked as she and Angel came into the living area.
Gunn pointed to the boxes on the table. "Help yourself."
She selected a ham and pineapple and went to sit next to Fred. "Feeling any better sweetie?"
Fred still looked a little green and rather delicate. "I think I'm doing better."
"Not having any pizza?"
"Not that better." Fred decided. "I might have risked a taco but they don't seem to have them here."
"No, ye old town only has the pizza place, a coffee shop and burger joint." Cordelia said dryly. "Not like home sweet home where there's fast food on every corner."
"Homesick Cordelia?" Wes asked with a smile, tucking into his own piece of pepperoni pizza.
She smiled. "A little."
"What's everyone doing tonight?" Lorne asked, a Sea Breeze held in his hand.
"Cordelia and I are going to spend some time with the children." Angel told him.
"You'll have to wait while they wake up." Fred told him. "I put them down while you were in the bath. They're fast asleep in the kitchen in their bassinets."
Cordelia smiled at her. "You're an angel. What's everyone else doing?"
"Willow called and asked us to go to the Bronze." Wes told her. "I think I might go."
The others all nodded their agreement.
"But no alcohol for me." Fred declared.
"That sounds like a good idea." Cordelia agreed with a smile.
"When's your next practice?" Fred asked her.
"Tomorrow. They're running through all the routines tomorrow complete with uniforms."
"Are you going to wear one?" Gunn asked.
Angel looked up in interest but Cordelia shook her head. "They keep insisting that I've got to wear one but I don't think I will."
"Why not?" Fred asked, finally reaching for a slice of pizza. "I'm sure you'll look really cute."
"Thanks Fred, but somehow I don't think it'll look right seen as though I've just had a baby."
"Come on Cor, you know you're perfect." Angel complimented, eager to reassure her, but also eager to see her in the uniform.
Everyone went out around six o clock to meet the Scoobies at the Bronze leaving Cordelia and Angel with Connor and Ashleigh. Wearing a shirt of Angel's Cordelia bathed Connor upstairs in the bathroom while Angel sat in the doorway with Ashleigh. Connor squealed and splashed around in the bath with a large smile on his face.
"He's just like you in the bath." Angel smiled.
"I do not splash around!" She exclaimed.
He snorted with a look on his face that said he didn't believe her.
Cordelia stuck her tongue out at him and turned around to Connor and found herself with a mouthful of soapy water.
Angel burst out laughing as did Connor. "That's my boy!" He said proudly.
Cordelia stood up shaking water from her. "In that case." She said sweetly. "You can bath your boy while I sit and watch!"
He pulled a face but gave her a quick kiss and handed her Ashleigh.
"It's weird." She commented after watching Angel get wet for a while.
"What is?"
"That here we are, a vampire and a seer. One of whom, not me, is clinically dead which means, infertile. And we have two children. We must be mad."
"Why?"
"Because we fight demons and vampires, we know how much evil there is in the world and we chose to bring two lives into the world. Granted, both of them weren't actually planned but hey, here we are!"
He smiled. "Who would have guessed?"
"Not me!" She said, crossing her legs and cradling Ashleigh to her chest. "God, I don't think I'll ever get over this feeling."
"Feeling of what?"
"The feeling of having two little people who need me and love me and depend on me. The feeling of being complete."
He smiled. "I get that."
She smiled back. "Even though sometimes, like back in LA, I'm sure I'm stuffing up and I feel completely bad about it, there are always the good moments, aren't there?"
"Always." He agreed.
After putting the children to bed Cordelia and Angel curled up together in a large squishy chair downstairs to wait for the others to come in.
"You know one day I'll shanshu." Angel stated absently, stroking her bare leg.
"One day soon probably."
"I was thinking that maybe when I shanshu I could get David Nabbit to get me some official papers, birth certificate, driving license, stuff like that."
She nodded. "He'd do that."
"I know but that's not where I'm heading."
"It's not?"
"No."
"Then where are you heading?"
"If you let me finish then you'll find out." He said, exasperated.
She made an elaborate gesture of pretending to zip her lips together.
He smiled. "I meant that now, as a vampire, and being dead, I can't offer you anything normal."
She was about to protest but he held a hand over her mouth and rolled his eyes.
"Jeez Cor, give a guy a chance!"
She nodded mutely.
"As I was saying, until then I can't offer you normal but until then." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small jewellery box. "I want you to have this."
He placed it in her lap and left it there for her to open. "What is it?"
"Open it." He urged.
Carefully she plucked the box off her lap and held it in trembling fingers. She opened it slowly and breathed in deeply.
Nestled in the box was a white gold engagement ring complete with flawless diamond.
"I just want you to know that when it happens I want to marry you." He told her, looking into her eyes.
She felt them tear up and her voice disappeared. "I'd like that." She finally managed to croak.
Gently he took the ring out of the box and slipped it onto the third finger of her left hand.
She laughed through her tears. "God, I'm engaged!"
He laughed with her and then kissed her.
"Your friend Aura would hate to see this." He said, holding her close.
"I might go see if she's still in town and rub her face in it." She exclaimed happily, gazing at the ring. "The ring is gorgeous."
"I thought you'd like it." He smiled.
"I'll enjoy shoving it in Brittany's face too. Then she might stop pawing all over you." She grinned. "Could be fun."
She kissed him then and he held her tight, savouring the moment.
"I've got some champagne in the kitchen if you want some." He said when they parted, his eyes sparkling.
"If I want some?" She teased. "If?"
He grinned and stood up, taking her with him and then putting her down in the chair.
"I'm engaged!" She squealed again laughing.
From the kitchen Angel heard her and smiled.
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.
"Come on, anyone would think it was you lot that are hung over!" Cordelia shouted. "Move!"
"Why don't you join in then?" Brittany snipped. "Show us what you've got? Then we have an idea of what we're supposed to be doing!"
Cordelia glared at her. "Fine! Give me a minute."
She marched back to where Angel was sat.
"I just shot myself in the foot." She muttered and took off her jacket to reveal a very skimpy top. She slipped off Angel's sweatpants so she was just wearing a pair of shorts.
He raised an eyebrow at her outfit. "Wow." He said simply.
She gave him a quick kiss and went back to the girls. "Okay, this is how you should be doing it."
She pressed play on the CD player and began the routine.
She'd choreographed it so that when it was done properly it was very sexy and very fast and incredibly perfect when performed properly. And Cordelia did perform it properly.
Angel was so engrossed in watching her cheer that he didn't notice Lorne had sat down next to him until she had finished.
"Well, the princess certainly knows what she's doing doesn't she?"
Angel nodded, never taking his eyes off Cordelia. "She looked, uh, amazing."
Lorne sighed. "Angel cakes, your son is trying to get your attention."
Angel instinctively picked Connor up and watched as Cordelia flung a few orders at the squad and then came back for some water.
"Angel, baby, you can close your mouth." She instructed with a smile.
He did.
"I take it the routine looked better when I did it." She commented and sat down next to him, letting her arm brush his. She took a swig of the water. "It might have been better if my head wasn't thumping as much as it is."
"It was perfect." He assured her.
She smiled at Connor and played with his hair. "Your daddy was just looking at my body, he wasn't interested in whether or not I did the routine right."
Connor blew a bubble and looked at Angel. Almost guiltily, Angel thought. "I'll be back in a minute." She suddenly said and ran out of the gym with a hand over her mouth.
Lorne chuckled. "I guess last night just caught up with her."
A couple of the cheerleaders came to sit next to them. "Why are you dressed like that?" One of them asked Lorne.
He began to explain how he was auditioning for the part of school mascot but he wasn't sure whether the horns looked realistic.
"So, you're Angel." Brittany said and sidled up to Angel.
He nodded and kept focused on Connor.
"Are both of those babies yours?" She asked.
He nodded again.
"You know, you don't have to stick with her if you don't want to. There's always someone younger and better looking if you want them." Brittany told him. "All you have to do is ask."
"Hey Brittany, why don't you just leave it?" Dawn interrupted angrily.
"What's it to you?" Brittany sneered.
"Cordy's my friend and she and Angel are in love, you'll never get through them."
Brittany stood up as did Angel, who thrust Connor into Lorne's arms. "Look, why don't we leave it."
"I realise you feel the need to protect me but it's okay Angel." Brittany said sweetly and then turned to Dawn. "I'm the captain; I can pull rank on you and get you kicked off the team if you don't get your nose out of my business."
"What's going on here?" Cordelia asked, coming back into the gym and seeing the commotion. "Nobody is getting kicked off the team. Listen to the word, you're a team. That means you stick together and you get along."
Brittany continued to glare at Dawn so Cordelia waved a hand in front of her face. "That includes you, Miss Captain."
Brittany stalked back towards the rest of the team with one last glance at Angel.
"Dawn, what just happened here?" She asked when Brittany had gone.
"She was trying it on with Angel. I stepped in."
"It's okay Dawn." Cordelia said and put an arm around her shoulders. "I know girls are going to try it on with Angel and I accept that. But I know that he's not going anywhere. If he did I'd break his legs." Dawn laughed. "Brittany doesn't stand a chance."
Dawn looked a bit better as she went back to the others.
Cordelia pulled on the sweatpants again. "So, Brittany has a crush on you."
"She doesn't even come close baby." Angel promised and kissed her.
"I know that." Cordelia looked at him like he was dumb. "It's just another way for her to piss me off."
She went back to the team and told them to go home and practice.
She came back to Angel. "Are you okay?" He asked, concerned by how pale she was.
"I'm fine, apart from the giant hangover." She though for a moment. "Maybe I shouldn't have done that dance."
He put his arm around her after she'd picked up Connor. "I'll pamper you this afternoon."
"I'd take him up on that muffin." Lorne advised.
She grinned and they left the gym together.
"Cordelia, for God's sake, keep still." Angel ordered.
She giggled. "Sorry."
He flicked water at her. They were both sat in the bathtub.
"This is nice." He commented and wrapped his arms around her wet body.
"Yeah." She murmured and traced a pattern on his arm with her fingertips. "Do you think we could have an early night tonight?"
"We could do." He supposed. "That is, if Lorne could look after the children. Again."
"Do you think he minds?"
"No." He shook his head. "He likes to look after them. Besides, he'd say if he didn't."
She nodded and accepted his answer. "Why don't we look after them tonight? Spend some time with them?"
He kissed the top of her head. "That sound like a good idea."
She smiled and turned slightly so that he could kiss her lips.
There was a knock at the door and she groaned. "Guys, when you've done canoodling in the bathtub, we're ordering pizza if you want some." Lorne said through the door.
"I don't eat!" Angel shouted back.
"I do!" Cordelia exclaimed. "Yeah, we'll have pizza Lorne, thanks!"
"Sure things sweet cheeks." Lorne shouted back. "Oh, and Cordelia? Make sure Angel Cakes gets enough loving, he gets grouchy when he doesn't get any!"
"Okay guys, you have pizza?" Cordelia asked as she and Angel came into the living area.
Gunn pointed to the boxes on the table. "Help yourself."
She selected a ham and pineapple and went to sit next to Fred. "Feeling any better sweetie?"
Fred still looked a little green and rather delicate. "I think I'm doing better."
"Not having any pizza?"
"Not that better." Fred decided. "I might have risked a taco but they don't seem to have them here."
"No, ye old town only has the pizza place, a coffee shop and burger joint." Cordelia said dryly. "Not like home sweet home where there's fast food on every corner."
"Homesick Cordelia?" Wes asked with a smile, tucking into his own piece of pepperoni pizza.
She smiled. "A little."
"What's everyone doing tonight?" Lorne asked, a Sea Breeze held in his hand.
"Cordelia and I are going to spend some time with the children." Angel told him.
"You'll have to wait while they wake up." Fred told him. "I put them down while you were in the bath. They're fast asleep in the kitchen in their bassinets."
Cordelia smiled at her. "You're an angel. What's everyone else doing?"
"Willow called and asked us to go to the Bronze." Wes told her. "I think I might go."
The others all nodded their agreement.
"But no alcohol for me." Fred declared.
"That sounds like a good idea." Cordelia agreed with a smile.
"When's your next practice?" Fred asked her.
"Tomorrow. They're running through all the routines tomorrow complete with uniforms."
"Are you going to wear one?" Gunn asked.
Angel looked up in interest but Cordelia shook her head. "They keep insisting that I've got to wear one but I don't think I will."
"Why not?" Fred asked, finally reaching for a slice of pizza. "I'm sure you'll look really cute."
"Thanks Fred, but somehow I don't think it'll look right seen as though I've just had a baby."
"Come on Cor, you know you're perfect." Angel complimented, eager to reassure her, but also eager to see her in the uniform.
Everyone went out around six o clock to meet the Scoobies at the Bronze leaving Cordelia and Angel with Connor and Ashleigh. Wearing a shirt of Angel's Cordelia bathed Connor upstairs in the bathroom while Angel sat in the doorway with Ashleigh. Connor squealed and splashed around in the bath with a large smile on his face.
"He's just like you in the bath." Angel smiled.
"I do not splash around!" She exclaimed.
He snorted with a look on his face that said he didn't believe her.
Cordelia stuck her tongue out at him and turned around to Connor and found herself with a mouthful of soapy water.
Angel burst out laughing as did Connor. "That's my boy!" He said proudly.
Cordelia stood up shaking water from her. "In that case." She said sweetly. "You can bath your boy while I sit and watch!"
He pulled a face but gave her a quick kiss and handed her Ashleigh.
"It's weird." She commented after watching Angel get wet for a while.
"What is?"
"That here we are, a vampire and a seer. One of whom, not me, is clinically dead which means, infertile. And we have two children. We must be mad."
"Why?"
"Because we fight demons and vampires, we know how much evil there is in the world and we chose to bring two lives into the world. Granted, both of them weren't actually planned but hey, here we are!"
He smiled. "Who would have guessed?"
"Not me!" She said, crossing her legs and cradling Ashleigh to her chest. "God, I don't think I'll ever get over this feeling."
"Feeling of what?"
"The feeling of having two little people who need me and love me and depend on me. The feeling of being complete."
He smiled. "I get that."
She smiled back. "Even though sometimes, like back in LA, I'm sure I'm stuffing up and I feel completely bad about it, there are always the good moments, aren't there?"
"Always." He agreed.
After putting the children to bed Cordelia and Angel curled up together in a large squishy chair downstairs to wait for the others to come in.
"You know one day I'll shanshu." Angel stated absently, stroking her bare leg.
"One day soon probably."
"I was thinking that maybe when I shanshu I could get David Nabbit to get me some official papers, birth certificate, driving license, stuff like that."
She nodded. "He'd do that."
"I know but that's not where I'm heading."
"It's not?"
"No."
"Then where are you heading?"
"If you let me finish then you'll find out." He said, exasperated.
She made an elaborate gesture of pretending to zip her lips together.
He smiled. "I meant that now, as a vampire, and being dead, I can't offer you anything normal."
She was about to protest but he held a hand over her mouth and rolled his eyes.
"Jeez Cor, give a guy a chance!"
She nodded mutely.
"As I was saying, until then I can't offer you normal but until then." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small jewellery box. "I want you to have this."
He placed it in her lap and left it there for her to open. "What is it?"
"Open it." He urged.
Carefully she plucked the box off her lap and held it in trembling fingers. She opened it slowly and breathed in deeply.
Nestled in the box was a white gold engagement ring complete with flawless diamond.
"I just want you to know that when it happens I want to marry you." He told her, looking into her eyes.
She felt them tear up and her voice disappeared. "I'd like that." She finally managed to croak.
Gently he took the ring out of the box and slipped it onto the third finger of her left hand.
She laughed through her tears. "God, I'm engaged!"
He laughed with her and then kissed her.
"Your friend Aura would hate to see this." He said, holding her close.
"I might go see if she's still in town and rub her face in it." She exclaimed happily, gazing at the ring. "The ring is gorgeous."
"I thought you'd like it." He smiled.
"I'll enjoy shoving it in Brittany's face too. Then she might stop pawing all over you." She grinned. "Could be fun."
She kissed him then and he held her tight, savouring the moment.
"I've got some champagne in the kitchen if you want some." He said when they parted, his eyes sparkling.
"If I want some?" She teased. "If?"
He grinned and stood up, taking her with him and then putting her down in the chair.
"I'm engaged!" She squealed again laughing.
From the kitchen Angel heard her and smiled.