Author: Domino
Email: zahfat@yahoo.com
Summary: The Scoobies visit LA, and discoveries are made.
A/N: This is set before Cordy becomes a demon. Connor is still a baby. F/G are dating, and Groo hasn't returned. I've messed with the timelines a bit.
Epilogue
They came in dripping, slime falling to the ground as the walked. Angel led the way, his stride so fast, only Spike could keep up. He ignored his injuries, intent on only one thing. Getting home. To her.
***********
"Cordelia, don't you think you should rest some more?" Willow asked, her voice though quiet as not to aggravate her friend's headache, was determined.
Cordelia ignored her suggestions and swung her legs over the bed. "I'm fine," she said.
They weren't as eager to believe her. Fred gave a disbelieving snort to emphasize her skeptism.
"I'm sure you are," Tara said, in a calming tone, reaching one hand to hold the Seer to the bed. She was surprisingly strong.
"No, really, I am," Cordelia insisted. She smiled, her blinding smile. Despite themselves, they all allowed themselves to be convinced.
"They're back," she said, jumping of the bed and moving decisively to the door, Willow, Tara and Fred following.
"What are you doing out of bed, Cordy?" Xander asked, making them all jump, as he appeared in the hallway suddenly, Anya peeking over her shoulder.
"I'm fine," Cordelia insisted again and then threw her hands up in the air in disgust. "Why won't you people believe me?"
Fred opened her mouth to reply when Cordelia continued, "Never mind, don't answer that."
"Really, I'm fine," Cordelia told Xander softly. "No headaches." He still didn't looked convinced, but Cordy had given up on him, and was now on her way down the stairs.
"What's Cordy doing out of bed?" Dawn asked, sticking her head out her bedroom door.
"I'm fine," Cordelia yelled, from the bottom.
"Okay!" Dawn said, and led the way down.
They reached the bottom as the door flung open and Angel came rushing in.
"Damn it, Angel – that floor was cleaned two days ago. Stop dripping slime all over it," Cordelia glared at the offending vampire.
Angel stopped dead, and stared at her in shock.
"What are you doing out of bed?" he asked, and Xander, Dawn, and Willow all mouthed the words with him.
"I'm fine," Cordelia said. Again.
Angel began moving towards her, his movements fast and efficient, a hunter moving towards it's prey. Willow, Tara, Xander and Anya took a step back, almost unconsciously, Dawn moving behind Willow.
Cordelia didn't move and stared him down. "Don't even think about it," she warned, and he quelled under her gaze.
The door opened again.
"Damn, peaches. A little slower ain't gonna kill you," Spike said, as he limped in, "What are you doing out of bed, princess?"
Cordelia growled audibly, and glared at him, before stamping off.
"What did I do?" Spike asked no one in particular.
"Wait, princess," he called, "Aren't you going to fix me up? It hurts," he exclaimed piteously.
Angel growled this time, as Cordy stopped and headed back to Spike. Spike smirked at his sire, but the smirk faded, as Angel's hand shot out and caught his Seer around the waist, dragging her to him.
"Angel," Cordelia exclaimed, but she didn't seem that upset at her vampire.
The door swung open again, and the arguing voices of Gunn, and Wesley was heard. Buffy led the way in.
"What are you doing out of bed?" Buffy, Gunn, and Wesley said together.
Cordelia dived for them, only Angel's hand around her waist kept from getting to them.
"Let me at them," Cordelia shouted at Angel, struggling to jump out of his arms.
Buffy jumped back, "What? What did we do?" she asked, frantically.
But the others were no help. Xander was holding Anya in an effort to hold himself up, his laughter bubbling over. And Willow had her hand over her mouth hiding her smile.
Spike had his arm over his stomach, his fingers over the wound, while his expression lay somewhat between a grin and a grimace.
"Cordy, honey," Angel said placatingly, not releasing her. Cordelia turned her rather formidable glare on him, but resolutely Angel held his ground.
"Don't you Cordy honey me," she said, bitingly. "I said I was fine. Didn't I say I was fine?" she turned to the rest of the room. Everyone immediately nodded.
"Traitors," Angel muttered, loud enough for them to all hear.
Lorne came walking down the stairs, just then, holding Connor in his arms, "Hey poppets, guess who just got up?" he said.
Cordelia immediately relaxed, and reached for the baby boy, all her anger forgotten.
Angel gave an audible sigh of relief, "Perfect timing," he said under his breath.
"I swear he uses the kid to control her," Spike said, being the only who heard Angel. Angel glared at him, "Then, again – it is the only way," he added, looking at the now content Seer, smiling happily at the baby she was just beginning to carry again.
Angel stopped looking at Spike somewhere in the middle of his tirade, and had only eyes for his family in front of him. Buffy, standing on the side, couldn't help feel her throat block as she watched the man she had once thought to spend the rest of her life with, look like he had been given a gift he wasn't sure he deserved. She smiled, happy that she and Dawn had contributed to making sure he got to keep it.
She noticed out the corner of eye, Wesley gesture to Lorne. And Lorne, move closer, and subtlely run his green hand over Cordelia short locks, scanning her. Buffy noticed the others had stopped laughing and were watching the proceedings with anxiety, and some dread.
This was the first time after the transfers that Cordy had had a vision – they were all worried that her brain might begin deteriorating again. She had only been up a day or so since the transfer, and though she seemed fine, none of them were going to forget the scare that she had given them, sleeping for 3 straight days, as her body healed itself, waking up intermittently.
It wasn't too much a surprise that she was beginning to chafe under the constant supervision, and coddling. Angel, of course, was the worst. The only reason he even went on the vision, was because she told him, the quicker the vision was sorted the faster the headache goes. It was definite motivation. Before she had even finished explaining where to go, he was out the door, on the way. The faster he killed the bad guy, the quicker he could get back to her.
Lorne smiled. A big wide grin, answering all their questions.
******
That night they celebrated. One last time before the Scoobies had to leave back for Sunnydale. They danced and sung. They laughed and joked. It may have not been much, but for that night, for those hours, they were together. They were happy. They were all healthy. And it was something that they all treasured.
It may not be forever, may not be even a moment in their lives – but, while it had taken them years, through teenage angst, love and hate, conflict and war, they had come out on the other side, whole, friends – who stuck together, and who were there when it counted. And that was all that mattered.
That and the happy ever after, they were determined to get, and willing to fight for. They were family – two vampires, two watchers, two witches, a slayer, an ex-demon, an ex-gang member, a scientist, a seer, a baby, a key, and a man. A dysfunctional family. But a family, nonetheless.
And nothing was going to change that.
The end.
Author's Note
I just wanted to thank everyone who feedbacked me over such a long time. I know I took ages to complete this fiction, and I do want to let you know that I appreciate your patience. I hope you enjoyed it. Thank you.
Domino
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