Title: Family: On to LA

Author: victoriamartynne

Rating: R

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

Spoilers: None, I think!

Summary: Sequel to Family: Back to Sunnydale, Family: Forward to LA and Family: Return to Sunnydale. The Scoobies visit LA and a haunted house.

Cordelia knocked on Angel's door.

"Housekeeping Mr Angel!" She called out softly through the door in a Spanish-type accent.

He opened the door groggily only to have her fling herself in his arms.

"What are you doing here?" He asked once he'd closed the door.

"Buffy and I got lonely." She said seductively.

"Where is she then? I was just in the mood for a." He couldn't finish as she planted her mouth on his.

She broke off for air. "Will I do?"

His answer was to slip the shirt off her shoulders and press her against the wall, his desire for her already evident.

"I hate to rush you but we might only have a few minutes." She murmured into his neck as his fingers found their way to her shorts.

His fingers pushed the shorts aside and he plunged inside her in one thrust.

Her back arched in pleasure as he filled her. He silenced he scream he knew was coming by covering her mouth with his as he thrust in and out of her desperately. His fingers wandered to her warmth where he massaged her to an impressive orgasm. A couple of moments later he came with her and let his head drop to her shoulder.

She was gasping and she knew her face was flushed.

"That was good." She whispered.

He nodded. "I agree."

There was a knock at the door.

Cordelia cursed. "I'm telling you, Claire is stalking me."

He shushed her and put her down.

She put her shirt and thongs back on and straightened her hair.

He opened the door, doing his best to look sleepy.

"Angel, I thought I heard voices." Claire said. "Everything okay?"

Cordelia poked her head around the door. "Hi Claire."

"Cordelia." Claire stated sternly.

"I saw a ghost." Cordelia said quickly.

Claire's eyes widened. "You did?"

She nodded. "Angel is the boss of Angel Investigations as well as my fiancé so I thought it would be better if I told him straight away instead of waiting while the morning. He might be able to come up with something."

Claire nodded, looking worried. "Of course, I was just going to the bathroom and I heard voices, I'm sorry I'm afraid I jumped to conclusions. I'm sorry about all the strict rules but Al and I are terribly religious. If sin occurs even by someone else, in our home then we believe it will reflect on us. When the spiritual problems are sorted out the hotel will be for the older generation. A sort of relaxation centre for married couples or single people." Claire seemed to forget it was one in the morning. "So, the ghost?"

"It's okay." Angel reassured her. "Cordelia described it and I've recorded it in our log book. We'll confer in the morning and sort out a plan of action."

Claire broke out in a smile. "Thank you so much." She leaned forward, glancing around. "If it were up to me you could have your own room, what with you being engaged and everything, but Al insists that you're not married yet. I understand the needs you feel and I am sorry. I trust you'll make it back to your room tonight on your own."

She smiled again and said goodnight.

Angel shut the door and Cordelia raised an eyebrow. "What the hell was that?"

Angel grinned. "I thought she was sweet."

"Sweet? She's trying to keep me celibate for a week and that's sweet?"

"She's trying, it's not working."

She opened the door and peered out. "Do you want me to walk you back?"

She shook her head. "No, I have to get Buffy. We'll be fine."

He kissed her gently and she slipped out of the room.

She rapped on Spike's door. "Open up!"

Inside Buffy heard Cordelia's voice and came out to her.

"Did I interrupt anything?"

Buffy shook her head and smiled coyly. "No, we'd already finished."

Cordelia laughed. "We got busted."

Buffy gasped. "You didn't! By who?"

"The mad house woman." Cordelia said dryly.

Buffy spluttered. "Claire? Again? What did you say this time?"

"I told her I saw a ghost."

Buffy burst out laughing. "She didn't believe you?"

"She did." Cordelia insisted, also laughing. "You know, we should have woken Fred, Gunn will be so pissed off that we didn't bring her."

Buffy shrugged. "Too bad."

Cordelia poked her. "Just because you got yours!"

Buffy smirked and opened her door. "Too right!"

"Night Buff'." Cordelia smile and went into her own room.

Cordelia woke late the next day. She opened her eyes and didn't know what time it was. It was still as dark as it was the night before, perhaps due to the brick wall on the other side of her window.

She got out of bed, about to go to the bathroom when she realised that she'd have to go down the hall. "Great." She murmured. "Absolutely perfect."

She grabbed her make up bag, hair brush and soap and headed off down the hall sleepily. She bumped into a more awake looking Fred on her way.

"Please tell me there's no-one in the bathroom."

"It's all yours." She promised. "We're meeting in the lounge when you're ready."

Cordelia nodded and went into the bathroom.

She ran the bath while she was brushing her teeth. The water was tepid and there was hardly any pressure.

She ran the brush through her tangled hair and then climbed into the cool water. "You have got to be kidding me."

She shivered and washed quickly before climbing out of the tin bath. She grabbed a towel and slipped slightly on the tiled floor. She wrapped it around herself and looked in the mirror.

Her blood ran cold as she saw what was in the mirror. Behind her, in the corner of the room was a man, dead. He was hanging from the ceiling by a length of rope, his head hanging at an odd angle. She took a couple of deep breaths and then turned around. He wasn't there.

She turned towards the mirror again and a shiver ran through her body. He was there again. She noticed his smart dinner suit and the expensive watch. His head snapped up and his eyes opened.

She gasped and a scream clogged in her throat, fear overcoming her. His mouth spread into a grin and he raised his arm so he was pointing at her. She turned again to look at the corner, still not there.

She turned towards the mirror again, lowering her eyes almost to hide what she knew she would see. The man was now standing behind her holding his hands around her throat about to strangle her, an evil smile on his face. She screamed and reached for the door handle. She slipped on the wet floor and cracked her head on the tub. With a groan, she shoved herself up off the floor and opened the door successfully. She ran out into the hall and collided with Lorne.

"Princess, what's wrong?"

She threw herself into his arms, crying. "Oh God Lorne, there really are ghosts in this place."

"You saw a ghost?"

She nodded and straightened out of his arms. He noticed the bruise about to appear on her forehead. "Did the ghost do that?"

She shook her head. "I got scared and I slipped on the floor and banged my head on the bath tub. Can you get Angel for me, please?"

He nodded and left her in her room while he went to get Angel. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself, the tears that had come so quickly drying on her cheeks.

She paced the room, avoiding looking into the mirror, just in case.

Angel barged straight into the room, Wes hot on his heels.

"What happened?" He asked, taking her into his arms.

"Ghosts. There was one, in the bathroom. I saw him in the mirror but when I looked round he was gone. At first he looked dead; he'd hung himself in the corner. But then he started to move."

"What did he do?" Wes asked.

"He smiled at me, kind of evilly. And then he pointed at me." She explained, shaking. "I turned round again and I didn't see anything and then he was behind me, about to strangle me. It freaked me; I slipped on the tiles and banged my head on the tub."

Angel brushed his fingers over the bump that had formed.

"I'll go check out the bathroom." Wes told them and left.

Angel grabbed hold of Cordelia's hand. "Are you sure you're okay?"

She nodded slowly. "A bit scared but that's all."

"Do you need to go to the hospital for your head?"

She shook her head and then realised she was only wearing the towel.

She got up and got dressed. "I wish I wasn't here on my own."

"You're not stopping on your own." He promised firmly.

"Claire and Al won't let you stop here."

"Then I'll get Buffy or Fred to come and stop in here." He promised and kissed her fingers.

She put her arms around his neck and hugged him.

Wes came back in the room. "There's nothing there. But I've got a book in my room that can perhaps make the ghost reappear or tell us what happened to him. I'm not sure, I'll have to look."

Cordelia nodded. "I don't have to be there do I?"

Wes shook his head. "Of course not."

Angel squeezed Cordelia's hand and they went downstairs. "I'm going to ring Willow, see how Connor and Ashleigh are; I'll meet you in the lounge."

He nodded and left her in the lobby.

When she went into the lounge everyone was already sat there. Willow had assured her that the children were fine and enjoying their lunch as they spoke. She'd hung up feeling reassured.

She sat down next to Angel and felt all eyes on her. "Yes I saw a ghost."

"Are you okay?" Buffy asked.

She nodded and felt her head. "Just a war wound."

"Want a nip?" Spike asked and held out a bottle of whiskey he'd got hidden in his coat.

"Ask me later." She said with a quick smile. "So, who's sleeping with me tonight?"