Chapter 9: Meeting old and new… friends?

Title: Reunion time.

Author: Nikka

Author notes: Hi everyone, If you need to know about summary, rate and all the rest it's all in chapter 1 I'll just remind you that English is not my native tongue so you may find some spelling & grammar mistakes, you're more then welcome to let me know about them but remember you may find them while you read the story. Have fun.

Disclaimer: Angel & Buffy's characters are not my creation (wish they were) they belong to Joss Whedon and David Greenwalt. Other characters that are not familiar from the show do belong to me.

A special thank you to Sigma for reproof reading my story. I hope you'll see the difference. As of that the upload of the chapters may take longer.

They walked into the nightclub. Nothing much have changed; it still looked the same old Bronze. Cordy smiled as they walked around, holding hands.

"This place hasn't change at all." she observed.

"Yeah, it looks pretty much the same as always." Angel agreed.

"So, what now? Do you want to dance?" Angel just gave her a look. She thought about her question for a moment, "Maybe we should just go get ourselves some drinks instead."

"Cordelia Chase! I'll be damned!"

Surprised, she turned and saw an old friend from High School. "Cindy". Cordy called back, giving her a hug.

"Oh, God, Cor it's been ages! How are you? What's new? Still in L.A.? Met any famous people?" A flood of questions burst from Cindy.

"I'm good. Still in L.A.". Cordy answered quietly.

"So, how's your acting career? I remember, you told me about your dream and how you're going to conquer the world. You know, come to think of it I haven't seen you in any commercials or TV Shows."

"Yeah." Cordy was embarrassed. What was she suppose to tell her old friend? That she actually could have been a huge star, but she'd given it all up and kept mind-numbing visions so she could save her vampire friend? She didn't see it going over well. "I did a few commercials, but I didn't like that world. It was so fake and, well, me at all. I decided to put my career on hold for now and take some time to figure out what I really want in life".

The other woman smiled. Cordy could tell it was just a polite smile; she knew that Cindy was thinking to herself *what a waste*.

"That's nice. So, what have you been up to? Collage?"

"No...I've been working in a detective agency with an old friend of mine, Angel. He's right over there." Cordy pointed out Angel, then waved him over.

As he got up, Cindy whispered, "Wow, Cor! He's cute"

"Angel! This is an old friend of mine from high school".

"Nice to meet you". Angel extended his hand politely.

"Hi, I'm Cindy!" She smiled, enthusiastically shaking his hand. "Cordelia was just telling me she's been working for you for…how long did you say?"

"She's been working WITH me for almost 3 years now." Angel answered, instead of Cordy. Cordy grinned to herself as he emphasized the phrase "with me."

"Oh, that's nice. So…" Cindy stared at Cordy waiting for her to say something.

"So...what have you been up to, Cindy? Anything new?" Cordelia asked, wishing Cindy would just go away.

"I've been great. I'm in the middle of my third year in collage. I'm majoring in architecture and design.

"That's great". Cordy smiled.

"Also I've been going out with this amazing man for almost three years now...let's see...what else?"

Cordy's smile froze as she realized how perfect Cindy's life was, especially compared to her own. "Wow that's sounds serious. Three years." she gritted through her teeth.

"Yeah, I hope so. After all, he did give me this" Cindy raised her hand, showing Cordy a beautiful silver ring with little sparkling diamonds. It looked like an engagement ring and from the look on Cindy's face Cordy knew that it was.

"Engaged? So soon?" Cordy really hated this conversation.

"Could you believe it? I mean, we plan on waiting to get married till after we graduate, but it's still so exciting! You know, he's in pre-med, following in his father's footsteps. And you, Cor? any exciting men in your life?"

"Nope, still looking." Right now, she would be grateful if the earth swallowed her up.

"Well, I need to go. People are waiting for me. Nice meeting you, Angel", Cindy turned to Cordy and gave her a hug before she began to walk away. "Bye, Cor".

As soon as Cindy was out of sight, Cordy looked at Angel and then ran out of the club.

Running after her, he found her sitting on the curb near the Bronze, sobbing. "Cordy? What is it?" he asked as he put his arm around her.

"How can you ask me after what just happened?"

Angel looked confused. "You mean meeting your friend?"

"Her life is so perfect and happy while mine is…." She stopped and lowered her head.

"Your life is what? Bad? Disgusting?"

"Thanks, Angel. You really know how to cheer up a girl. You should volunteer at the hot line. You'd be great."

"Cor, your life is great. What does she have that you don't?"

"Oh, let's see...maybe a life, a direction???" She yelled that last part. "I only have visions and demons and prophecies".

"That's not true, you...you have so much more". Angel tried to comfort her.

"Like what?"

"Like Connor. That baby loves you like a mother...heck you are his mother. You take care of him; you love him. And the work you do, you don't sit in a classroom learning about buildings all day. You're out there saving the world, time after time. You were chosen for a reason and you DO have a direction. You have had a more exciting life in three years then that girl will ever have. You're doing important work. And you have your family with you". He looked at her and saw she was smiling. *Job accomplished* he thought to himself.

"And love?" He looked at her surprised. "What about having love? Romantic love? Besides Groo, and that was months ago, I had no one. She has a fiancé".

Angel didn't know what to say. If only he could admit to her that he loved her: that she means the world to him. "You have me, what do you need a nagging fiancé for?". He grinned. He knew she wasn't completely happy with her life, but he'd at least persuaded her not to be ashamed of it.

"Angel no! Be careful…"

"Cordy, Cordy". He shook her.

She just kept screaming. She had to be having a vision of him. He called her name, but her gaze was far away. She continued to yell, telling him to stay away. People passing by looked at them oddly, probably thinking they were drunk.

"Angel?" This time she was talking to him. "Oh, God! This vision, it felt so real. I saw you and that demon...you were struggling with him and he was way stronger then you. He threw you around like you were a puppet".

"Ok, Cor, I get the picture. When is he coming?"

Before she could say anything, a big light began to grow in front of them, and, quite suddenly, the demon Cordy had seen in her vision jumped out. He was big and terribly ugly. As he began to move, he grabbed a few passerbies and threw them out of his way. Angel jumped in and they started to struggle.

"Angel, no! Be careful. He's too strong! We need to just go!"

"What do you mean 'go'?" he gasped as the Brolug threw him against the wall.

"Angel…" she ran to him.

"I'm fine." He said, trying to get up.

"No, you're not. Trust me, he'll be fine. Let's go."

"You're worried about him??? How about me?"

"You'll be fine, too, if you'd just listen! Let's GO!" Before Angel could answer, the Brolug came towards them. Angel struggled to his feet, readying him for a fight, when Cordy stopped him.

"I'll take care of him, you stay here. "she ordered

"Cordy, are you crazy? He'll kill you!" Angel advanced towards the Brolug. She ran in front of him, her back facing the Brolug, who stopped and looked at them. "No!" She stopped Angel.

"Cor, come on". Angel tried to go around, but she wouldn't let him.

"Just listen to me, you stubborn vampire! I know what I'm doing, don't ask me how, but I know, so back off!! NOW!!!" This time Angel didn't argue, perhaps it had to do with the fact that her eyes had begun glowing.

She walked towards the Brolug and, with each step she glowed more and more brillantly, till she was hard to look at. Angel stood there squinting at her, amazed at her beauty and confidence.

As she reached the Brolug, she touched his arm. "You don't need to do this; this is not why you're here. Leave!" To the surprise of Angel, the Brolug just looked at her then walked away. When he was gone, Cordy stopped glowing and, as Angel hurried to her side, she would have collapsed, if he hadn't grabbed her.

"How did you…? Did you know…?" Angel asked, confused.

"I don't know how I knew what to do...I just knew that if I'd talk to him, he'd listen. But, that doesn't matter now. We need to go back to Buffy's place and tell everyone about the Brolug." she said.

"Can't it wait till morning?" Angel asked, looking at his watch. It was near midnight.

"Yeah, I guess it can wait till morning, but we still need to go." They started to walk towards the house. "That was unbelievable Cordy". Angel said to her, smiling.

"I know! It felt so incredible! I think I'll like this new gift. Worst case scenario, I can always use it during blackouts". They laughed as they strolled along, holding hands.

"Is it clear? Have you found them?"

"Not yet, Magistrate, not yet, but soon. I have met the warriors: the man and woman".

"The chosen one?" the Magistrate asked.

"No, Magistrate, the warriors from the prophecies".

"Well, well! This is going to be interesting. Brolug, find the rest and let me know as soon as you do, understood?" the Magistrate ordered.

"Yes, Magistrate. Understood".

TBC.