Title: A Twist of Fate

Author: cookie_dough

Email: angeliccordy@yahoo.co.uk

Spoilers: None, AU

Rating: PG-13

Distribution: Just ask, I'll probably say yes.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters, or the show, they belong to Joss, David and anyone else I've forgotten to mention, I'm just borrowing them.

Summary: I suck at summaries, so here goes, completely AU, what if Angel and Cordy were to meet under different circumstances than how they met in Sunnydale?

AN: Okay totally AU, 100%, so any characters that I've used in this chapter or any chapter, that are on the show, have a completely different history in my story, just so there's no confusion. As ever, feedback is loved.

AN2: Once again, a big THANK YOU to everyone who has sent feedback, you guys are the best! Sorry it took so long to update, but I will try to have the next chapter up, sooner rather than later. Read and Enjoy!

Chapter 15

When they arrived home, Cordelia took Lily straight upstairs, trying to get away from Angel and Isabelle as quickly as possible. That left Angel to carry all the shopping in by himself, meanwhile Isabelle made herself at home in the lounge. After a couple of trips to and from the car he was unpacked and made a start at lighting the barbeque.

The doorbell rang as Cordelia came down the stairs; she was about to answer it when Isabelle beat her to it. Like a lot of other things that have been happening today, she thought to herself.

She flung the door open and starred at the family before her.

'Can I help you?' she asked, as if she owned the place and someone had trespassed on private property. Cordelia pushed her way through.

'Hey guys come on in.'

'Thanks, hey I didn't know you guys had a maid.' Lindsey said looking at Isabelle then to Cordelia, she had to suppress the laugh that was making its way through her body.

The look on Isabelle's face was priceless. However she soon got over it and was back to her old self.

She laughed, thinking it was a joke and turned to Lindsey and Anne.

'You must be friends of Angel; he told me you were joining us. He's outside, why don't you join us, I'm sure Carroll here can take care of things in the kitchen, follow me.'

Anne and Lindsey turned to Cordelia, whom in turn looked set to do some damage.

'Why don't you go join Angel outside honey, I'll help Cordelia.' Anne said as they put the kids down.

'Sure, we'll go do the manly bonding thing, cook food with fire like the cavemen.' He said planting a kiss on her cheek.

'Have fun.' She called after him.

Isabelle stood there for a moment and decided that she would go out and see Angel. More like hang off him like a monkey on a climbing frame, Cordelia thought.

She and Anne made their way into the kitchen and started unpacking the bags.

'So, who's that?' Anne asked, pointing over her shoulder, at the departing Isabelle.

'Isabelle, that's about all I know. Oh yeah apart from the fact that her and Angel dated, but dated in the sense of the present tense, at least that's what I picked up on the ride back here, that and did you know that if you stare hard enough at the lines on the road, along with the motion of the car, your very likely to throw up?'

'Tried to drown her out huh?'

'Tried, wasn't completely successful however.' She said giving a deep sigh as she started chopping the vegetables for the salad.

'So what did Angel have to say about all this?'

'Angel, say something? You are kidding right? He's hardly said anything since we left the store, although that could be partly Isabelle's fault, does she not need air to breathe?'

'I take it, she likes her presence to be known.'

'Did you see her answering the door, she thinks she owns the place.'

'Well Lindsey kinda put her in her place didn't he.'

'Did you see the look on her face, I wish I had a camera.' She said as the pair giggled between themselves.
Meanwhile outside in the garden, Angel had fired up the barbeque and he and Lindsey sat at the large wooden table, designed for such occasions, chatting about how things were going.

Lindsey turned to Angel.

'So man, what's the deal with this other woman?'

'Isabelle?'

'Yeah, I thought things were going well for you and Cordelia.'

'There is no me and Cordelia, also I didn't invite Isabelle, she kinda invited herself.'

'Well how did that happen?'

'Well, we just dropped by the store on the way home from the zoo. We needed to get some things for the barbeque, when I ran into Isabelle. She started talking as usual and some how she managed to get an invitation don't ask me how. I was thinking of Cordelia.'

'So you were thinking of Cordelia when you invited Isabelle?'

'Yes, no, yes I... Cordelia saw Isabelle and me together, then she made up some excuse and left. And Isabelle just carried on talking and I couldn't get away to tell Cordelia that it was all a big mistake.'

'So let me get this straight. You and Cordelia went to the Zoo, had a great time, went to the store where you saw Isabelle, who in turn invited herself to the barbeque, who Cordelia thinks your seeing, when in fact you aren't, both Isabelle and Cordelia get the wrong end of the stick and you and Cordelia don't talk?' he said taking a deep breath at the end.

'That pretty much sums up my day, that and of course the reunion from hell.'

'Anyone I know?'

'Just an old friend of Cordelia's, I believe you've met him, Derrick.'

'How'd that go?'

'Not so good.'

'But Cordelia's fine now?'

'Yeah, we talked. I think she'll get over it, she stood up to him.'

'Good to hear.' Pausing Lindsey looked over at his friend. 'So the next question becomes, who do you wanna be with?'

Angel looked off into the distance.

'Isabelle.' He replied.

'What, are you kidding that...' he stopped mid sentence, as Angel gave him a not so subtle whack on the arm. He turned to see Isabelle approaching; she stopped in front of them.

'What is he kidding about?' she asked, worming her way into the conversation.

'That, ah the hotel won't pay for itself.' Lindsey said, covering his ass.

'I'm sure it will do fine.' She answered.

Phew that was a close one he thought.

'Well, I'd better go see how Anne and Cordelia are doing.' Lindsey said making his excuses. He stood up to leave, 'Hey don't forget what we talked about.' Angel nodded in understanding.

'That was odd.' Isabelle said when Lindsey had left.

'Just work stuff.' He replied. She took a seat.

'So let's talk about you and me.' Isabelle started. Boy did Angel know how to pick them.

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AN: Okay what did everyone think? Feedback, please. There will be another chapter to this part of the story; I just thought it easier to break it up into two chapters.

Also, where it changes from Cordy and Anne in the kitchen, to Angel and Lindsey outside in the garden, it should be a new paragraph, but I've tried everything, and it just won't let me put one there, sorry - cookie_dough.