Title: Death is Only the Beginning
Author: victoriamartynne
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Spoilers: None, I think!
Summary: Cordelia is rocked when angel dies.
Angel stood next to an unusually subdued Doyle. "I need to go back."
"Man, you've been dead what? A week?" Doyle said in his Irish lilt. "You can't want to go back already. All the peace and harmony up here normally keeps us sane for more than a week."
"Doyle, you've been here long enough to know how I can get the hell out of here!" Angel said angrily.
Doyle held up his hands. "Okay man, okay, there might be a way."
"I'll take it." Angel said, never taking his eyes off Cordelia.
"You might like to think about that." Doyle warned.
"Why would I want to think about it?" He asked, looking at him for the first time.
"Because you might not survive it."
"Survive what?"
"The trip back." Doyle said wisely.
"Why not?"
"When your soul leaves here it can either go back to Earth, as you want, or you can end up in the other place, I suggest you don't want to go there."
"I've been there." Angel reminded him. "How do I take the trip?"
"All you have to do is jump." Doyle said. "And think. And if you're lucky your body is resurrected and you go back into it. If you're unlucky you go to the fiery place."
"Did you try it?" Angel asked, suddenly curious.
"Nah, I like the peace and harmony up here, it's better than the hatred on Earth, I can tell you." Doyle said and shuddered. "Besides, I have to pay for my beer down there, it's free up here."
Angel smiled. "You haven't changed have you?"
Doyle shook his head. "Good luck man. You deserve her, more than I did."
Angel shook Doyle's hand and then the two souls embraced each other. "Thanks Doyle, I missed you."
Angel concentrated and then jumped.
It took all of Fred's persuasion to get Cordelia out of the chilly basement and into the lobby upstairs.
When she was sat on the couch Lorne suggested to Wes that it was time to call a doctor.
He nodded. "I thought she would move forward on her own, but I was wrong. I'll give him a call in the morning."
Angel landed in an office. "What the hell?"
"Angel, what a surprise." A voice said from behind a chair. "And what can I do for you?"
"Who are you?" There was no response. "I want to go back."
"I see, and why?"
"My friends need me, and I miss them. I have to go and be with them."
"That's a very important thing you're asking of me." The voice said, somewhat patronisingly. "Why should I do it?"
"Because I'm a champion, a warrior for the Powers That Be. If I don't return to Earth I can't fulfil my destiny. And you'll have the death of my seer your hands!" Angel shouted.
"Maybe this is your destiny."
"I was told I'd got the chance to fulfil my redemption and earn the chance to shanshu. If that was planned for the future then why did I die before it happened?" Angel argued.
"A very good point Angel." The voice said. "Now, why should I grant your wish and not send you to hell like I have every other soul that has walked through my door?"
"You do that?" Angel exclaimed, distracted. "Oh, because I am doing good things on Earth, or rather I was. Give me a chance to help people."
"When you died another champion was elected."
"Then send me back and you have another." Angel almost pleaded. "My seer will die if you don't send me back, please; she needs me back as much as I want to go back."
"You do know of the price?"
"The price? What price?"
"To be sent back you have to pay a price. We send you back and you have only a fifty fifty chance of making it back to Earth."
"Yeah, I know the price, now send me back!" Angel ordered.
"Very well." The voice said. "Let it be done."
Angel cried out as he was sent flying down a vortex of some sort. Colours and images flashed past him in a haze as he was propelled down the tunnel.
"Cordy!" Angel cried out.
"Cordy, you have to eat." Fred argued as Cordelia turned her back on her.
"I don't want to eat."
"You need to eat!"
"Leave me alone."
Fred threw up her hands in defeat and left Angel's room with the soup she'd picked up at the deli.
Cordelia heard the smash of crockery on the wooden floor of the hallway and thought nothing of it. She closed her eyes and pulled the comforter around her shoulders.
Footsteps entering the room made her turn away from the doorway. "Leave me alone, didn't you hear me?"
Someone sat down on the bed next to her and touched her shoulder. Instinct more than familiarity made her open her eyes and turn around. She jumped up off the bed in surprise.
"What the hell did you guys do?" She shouted. "What kind of freaky ass spell did you do?"
Fred poked her head through the door looking clearly shocked.
Cordelia began to cry. "How could you be so cruel? How could you torment me like this?"
"Cordy, I. I." Fred stuttered. "I didn't, we didn't."
Lorne, Gunn and Wes, hearing the crashing of the crockery came running up the stairs and came to a halt outside the bedroom door.
"Oh dear lord." Wes murmured under his breath.
"Cordelia, it's really me." Angel said gently and tried to move towards her but she backed off quickly so he stopped. "Okay, one step at a time."
"You're dead and someone is trying to hurt me by casting a goddamn spell! Go away!" She screamed and slid down the wall to the floor.
He advanced on her again. "It's not some spell, I took a chance to come back to earth and be with you again. I think I'm human too." He added.
She looked up at him, tears running in rivulets down her face. "You can't be, it isn't possible. You're dead, you left me."
"Baby, I didn't leave you, they took me from you and I love you. They gave me a second chance." He soothed.
"You're real?" She asked weakly, looking up at him with huge eyes.
He nodded and was then sent flying backwards as she flung himself into his arms sobbing.
"I thought you were dead." She sobbed. "I had your ashes and you were dead and I thought it would kill me but it didn't and I wanted it to so much so the pain would go away."
Fred had tears running down her face and she clung to Gunn's sweater to keep herself stood.
Wes wiped a tear from his eye discretely and Lorne was grinning madly as was Gunn.
"I'm back honey, and I'm staying, I promise." He reassured her between kissing her forehead and cheeks and lips. "I'll never leave you again."
"God, I missed you." And then her lips met his and everyone left discretely.
He pulled her body to his and held her to him, revelling the feel of her body next to his again.
"You can't ever leave me again." She declared in between kisses. "It nearly killed me."
"I know honey, I was watching you."
She pulled her lips from his. "Really?"
He nodded. "With Doyle."
Her face softened at their old friend's name. "Guardian angels, huh?"
He nodded and captured her lips again, pushing her backwards so he lay on top of her. "I love you."
"I love you too." She whispered. "I can feel your heart beat."
He smiled. "It feels good."
"Definitely." She agreed and her lips met his again, for good.
Two days later they emerged from the room. They looked tired and hungry but they'd showered and put on fresh clothes.
Fred came to hug Angel, still not believing that he was back.
Gunn, Wes and Lorne came to pat Angel on the back or shake his hand all the while grinning at Cordelia.
"We called Sunnydale." Fred suddenly blurted.
Cordelia nodded. "What did she say?"
Knowing instantly who 'she' was Wes answered. "She's coming up this weekend."
Cordelia cursed under her breath and kept a tight hold on Angel's hand.
"Hey, don't worry." Angel reassured her. "She died and came back and I stayed with you. Me dying and coming back isn't going to make any difference."
She nodded and looked relieved. "I wasn't worried."
Lorne rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I've seen less worried cocker spaniels."
Cordelia gave him the finger playfully and then laughed out loud. "God, this is like nothing has happened."
True to her words half an hour later Wes had them all working on a case.
Buffy entered the hotel like a guided missile. Seeing Angel she ran up to him and threw her arms around him sobbing. "I can't believe you're back."
Cordelia, who was sat at her desk a few feet away kept quiet.
He hugged her back cautiously. "Yeah, I'm back and I'm human."
"I know, that's so great." She gushed and brushed away tears that were on her cheeks. "I've cleared out half of my closet and my drawers."
"Having a spring clean?" Cordelia inquired.
She turned to Cordelia and looked at her like she was stupid. "No, for Angel's things."
"My things?" Angel asked, shooting Cordelia a look that clearly said 'behave'.
"For when you come home."
"This is my home Buffy." He said gently.
"I don't understand. We can finally be together." She pointed out. "Aren't you happy? There's no curse and turning evil thing. We can be happy together at last."
"I'm in love with Cordelia." Angel said more bluntly than he'd intended.
Buffy frowned. "But we can be together."
"He wants to be with me." Cordelia pointed out.
Buffy turned to glare at her. "This is between me and Angel."
Cordelia pulled a face but shut up.
"Buffy, I'm staying here, I love Cordelia. Me and you are over. We were headed in different directions and I've moved on. You need to do the same."
"I don't understand." Buffy said as tears welled up in her eyes again. "You're meant to be with me."
He shook his head. "Not anymore."
Buffy looked like she was about to faint but instead she turned on her heel and ran out of the hotel.
"Buffy!" He tried calling after her but she ignored him.
Cordelia came to wrap her arms around his neck from behind. "She'll be okay baby, just give her a little time."
He kissed her forearm. "I know, I still feel a little bad though."
"Hmm, I don't." She decided and nibbled on his ear. "This is the beginning for us now."
"Death was the beginning." He clarified with a smile. "Now we're on to the fun part."
The End
Author: victoriamartynne
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Spoilers: None, I think!
Summary: Cordelia is rocked when angel dies.
Angel stood next to an unusually subdued Doyle. "I need to go back."
"Man, you've been dead what? A week?" Doyle said in his Irish lilt. "You can't want to go back already. All the peace and harmony up here normally keeps us sane for more than a week."
"Doyle, you've been here long enough to know how I can get the hell out of here!" Angel said angrily.
Doyle held up his hands. "Okay man, okay, there might be a way."
"I'll take it." Angel said, never taking his eyes off Cordelia.
"You might like to think about that." Doyle warned.
"Why would I want to think about it?" He asked, looking at him for the first time.
"Because you might not survive it."
"Survive what?"
"The trip back." Doyle said wisely.
"Why not?"
"When your soul leaves here it can either go back to Earth, as you want, or you can end up in the other place, I suggest you don't want to go there."
"I've been there." Angel reminded him. "How do I take the trip?"
"All you have to do is jump." Doyle said. "And think. And if you're lucky your body is resurrected and you go back into it. If you're unlucky you go to the fiery place."
"Did you try it?" Angel asked, suddenly curious.
"Nah, I like the peace and harmony up here, it's better than the hatred on Earth, I can tell you." Doyle said and shuddered. "Besides, I have to pay for my beer down there, it's free up here."
Angel smiled. "You haven't changed have you?"
Doyle shook his head. "Good luck man. You deserve her, more than I did."
Angel shook Doyle's hand and then the two souls embraced each other. "Thanks Doyle, I missed you."
Angel concentrated and then jumped.
It took all of Fred's persuasion to get Cordelia out of the chilly basement and into the lobby upstairs.
When she was sat on the couch Lorne suggested to Wes that it was time to call a doctor.
He nodded. "I thought she would move forward on her own, but I was wrong. I'll give him a call in the morning."
Angel landed in an office. "What the hell?"
"Angel, what a surprise." A voice said from behind a chair. "And what can I do for you?"
"Who are you?" There was no response. "I want to go back."
"I see, and why?"
"My friends need me, and I miss them. I have to go and be with them."
"That's a very important thing you're asking of me." The voice said, somewhat patronisingly. "Why should I do it?"
"Because I'm a champion, a warrior for the Powers That Be. If I don't return to Earth I can't fulfil my destiny. And you'll have the death of my seer your hands!" Angel shouted.
"Maybe this is your destiny."
"I was told I'd got the chance to fulfil my redemption and earn the chance to shanshu. If that was planned for the future then why did I die before it happened?" Angel argued.
"A very good point Angel." The voice said. "Now, why should I grant your wish and not send you to hell like I have every other soul that has walked through my door?"
"You do that?" Angel exclaimed, distracted. "Oh, because I am doing good things on Earth, or rather I was. Give me a chance to help people."
"When you died another champion was elected."
"Then send me back and you have another." Angel almost pleaded. "My seer will die if you don't send me back, please; she needs me back as much as I want to go back."
"You do know of the price?"
"The price? What price?"
"To be sent back you have to pay a price. We send you back and you have only a fifty fifty chance of making it back to Earth."
"Yeah, I know the price, now send me back!" Angel ordered.
"Very well." The voice said. "Let it be done."
Angel cried out as he was sent flying down a vortex of some sort. Colours and images flashed past him in a haze as he was propelled down the tunnel.
"Cordy!" Angel cried out.
"Cordy, you have to eat." Fred argued as Cordelia turned her back on her.
"I don't want to eat."
"You need to eat!"
"Leave me alone."
Fred threw up her hands in defeat and left Angel's room with the soup she'd picked up at the deli.
Cordelia heard the smash of crockery on the wooden floor of the hallway and thought nothing of it. She closed her eyes and pulled the comforter around her shoulders.
Footsteps entering the room made her turn away from the doorway. "Leave me alone, didn't you hear me?"
Someone sat down on the bed next to her and touched her shoulder. Instinct more than familiarity made her open her eyes and turn around. She jumped up off the bed in surprise.
"What the hell did you guys do?" She shouted. "What kind of freaky ass spell did you do?"
Fred poked her head through the door looking clearly shocked.
Cordelia began to cry. "How could you be so cruel? How could you torment me like this?"
"Cordy, I. I." Fred stuttered. "I didn't, we didn't."
Lorne, Gunn and Wes, hearing the crashing of the crockery came running up the stairs and came to a halt outside the bedroom door.
"Oh dear lord." Wes murmured under his breath.
"Cordelia, it's really me." Angel said gently and tried to move towards her but she backed off quickly so he stopped. "Okay, one step at a time."
"You're dead and someone is trying to hurt me by casting a goddamn spell! Go away!" She screamed and slid down the wall to the floor.
He advanced on her again. "It's not some spell, I took a chance to come back to earth and be with you again. I think I'm human too." He added.
She looked up at him, tears running in rivulets down her face. "You can't be, it isn't possible. You're dead, you left me."
"Baby, I didn't leave you, they took me from you and I love you. They gave me a second chance." He soothed.
"You're real?" She asked weakly, looking up at him with huge eyes.
He nodded and was then sent flying backwards as she flung himself into his arms sobbing.
"I thought you were dead." She sobbed. "I had your ashes and you were dead and I thought it would kill me but it didn't and I wanted it to so much so the pain would go away."
Fred had tears running down her face and she clung to Gunn's sweater to keep herself stood.
Wes wiped a tear from his eye discretely and Lorne was grinning madly as was Gunn.
"I'm back honey, and I'm staying, I promise." He reassured her between kissing her forehead and cheeks and lips. "I'll never leave you again."
"God, I missed you." And then her lips met his and everyone left discretely.
He pulled her body to his and held her to him, revelling the feel of her body next to his again.
"You can't ever leave me again." She declared in between kisses. "It nearly killed me."
"I know honey, I was watching you."
She pulled her lips from his. "Really?"
He nodded. "With Doyle."
Her face softened at their old friend's name. "Guardian angels, huh?"
He nodded and captured her lips again, pushing her backwards so he lay on top of her. "I love you."
"I love you too." She whispered. "I can feel your heart beat."
He smiled. "It feels good."
"Definitely." She agreed and her lips met his again, for good.
Two days later they emerged from the room. They looked tired and hungry but they'd showered and put on fresh clothes.
Fred came to hug Angel, still not believing that he was back.
Gunn, Wes and Lorne came to pat Angel on the back or shake his hand all the while grinning at Cordelia.
"We called Sunnydale." Fred suddenly blurted.
Cordelia nodded. "What did she say?"
Knowing instantly who 'she' was Wes answered. "She's coming up this weekend."
Cordelia cursed under her breath and kept a tight hold on Angel's hand.
"Hey, don't worry." Angel reassured her. "She died and came back and I stayed with you. Me dying and coming back isn't going to make any difference."
She nodded and looked relieved. "I wasn't worried."
Lorne rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I've seen less worried cocker spaniels."
Cordelia gave him the finger playfully and then laughed out loud. "God, this is like nothing has happened."
True to her words half an hour later Wes had them all working on a case.
Buffy entered the hotel like a guided missile. Seeing Angel she ran up to him and threw her arms around him sobbing. "I can't believe you're back."
Cordelia, who was sat at her desk a few feet away kept quiet.
He hugged her back cautiously. "Yeah, I'm back and I'm human."
"I know, that's so great." She gushed and brushed away tears that were on her cheeks. "I've cleared out half of my closet and my drawers."
"Having a spring clean?" Cordelia inquired.
She turned to Cordelia and looked at her like she was stupid. "No, for Angel's things."
"My things?" Angel asked, shooting Cordelia a look that clearly said 'behave'.
"For when you come home."
"This is my home Buffy." He said gently.
"I don't understand. We can finally be together." She pointed out. "Aren't you happy? There's no curse and turning evil thing. We can be happy together at last."
"I'm in love with Cordelia." Angel said more bluntly than he'd intended.
Buffy frowned. "But we can be together."
"He wants to be with me." Cordelia pointed out.
Buffy turned to glare at her. "This is between me and Angel."
Cordelia pulled a face but shut up.
"Buffy, I'm staying here, I love Cordelia. Me and you are over. We were headed in different directions and I've moved on. You need to do the same."
"I don't understand." Buffy said as tears welled up in her eyes again. "You're meant to be with me."
He shook his head. "Not anymore."
Buffy looked like she was about to faint but instead she turned on her heel and ran out of the hotel.
"Buffy!" He tried calling after her but she ignored him.
Cordelia came to wrap her arms around his neck from behind. "She'll be okay baby, just give her a little time."
He kissed her forearm. "I know, I still feel a little bad though."
"Hmm, I don't." She decided and nibbled on his ear. "This is the beginning for us now."
"Death was the beginning." He clarified with a smile. "Now we're on to the fun part."
The End
