Chapter 14 (Are we there already?)

First of all thanks to Artemis, Tolbert, and SonnyAngel my loyal reviewers! I had a rather nasty Email about my story so I wanted to say this. My story is just that. A story. I love the characters on both Buffy and Angel and I like to play with them. I do not hate Angel partly because he is a fictional character and partly because, well I guess there is only the first reason. I just like to play with him. I know Spike is coming on Angel next season and that's just great but bear in mind in my fictional story (Notice the fictional) there is no season of either BTVS or Angel. There is just this story. Thank you for the reviews though. Even the hate ones. I take criticism well don't worry. And for those who have been so encouraging a double thanks to you. I won't go off and leave the story hanging. It irritates me when people do that to me so I won't do that to anyone else! Now on with the story!

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Preview: Angel and Cordelia talk and Buffy and Wesley go hunting. Real-estate wise I mean.

The Hyperion

Angel just stared at Cordelia. She was rubbing her neck where the Slayer had grabbed her and wondering if she left bruises. Angel felt his demon still howling to rip into Cordelia but pushed it down and tried to talk calmly.

"Cordelia." He said in an even tone that amazed himself."What just happened?"

"Isn't that obvious?" Cordy said not looking at him "Your ex just attacked me. And you did nothing to stop her."

"No, I didn't." Angel said sharply "Because you deserved it. For a minute I didn't even think I knew you. After all Buffy has been through in the past couple of months, the first thing she is excited about and happy about and you try to shred her."

"Oh of course Angel!" Cordelia said screeching "It's all my fault I rained on Saint Buffy's parade. Let me tell you something Angel, Buffy has you blinded. She always has. You think precious little Buffy needs you anymore? Ha. If you haven't noticed you've been replaced. By Wesley of all people! I know he's pathetic but geeze Angel, do you have to be pathetic with him?"

Angel stared at the girl he thought he might have loved. He wanted to cover his ears to block out the words that were ripping every loving feeling he ever had about her to pieces. This wasn't the Cordy he thought he knew. This was a stranger.

"you want to know what's pathetic Cordelia?" Angel said for once losing the gentle voice he used with her. "A girl who owes her life to someone many times over and no matter what she does or becomes, she is still consumed with so much jealosy, she makes a complete fool of herself whenever that girl is around."

"I'm not jealous of her." Cordelia said shocked that Angel was talking like this to her. "I just am not going to play her game of her being the worlds hope in everything she does."

"She IS the worlds hope most of the time Cordelia." Angel said bitingly "Haven't you figured that out after all these years? While you were judging people for the friends they hung out with she was fighting to save people like you. At this moment I think she was wasting her time."

"Once again you defend her." Cordelia said darkly "She's probably off screwing someone who is supposed to be your friend and yet your still defending her."

"I guess instead of screwing a friend of mine she could be trying to kill one, like you did. Or maybe she could be off screwing, Oh lets see, my son?" Angel said barely holding back his vamp face.

"Like I meant to try to kill Lorne!" Cordelia screamed at him.

"Well the knife was pretty convincing don't you think?" Angel hollered back.

"So you blame me for evil taking over my body?" Cordelia shot back "That's fair."

Angel sighed. "Yeah Cordy I guess I do somewhat blame you. I know in my mind it wasn't your fault but deep

down ....I can't help it."

"so what do we do?" Cordelia asked.

"I don't know. Theres something else but you won't remember it." Angel said sadly.

"Angel I know." Cordelia said.When Angel looked at her she said softly "Conner."

"How?" Said Angel stunned. "The spell-"

"The spell didn't work on me when I was in a coma Angel" Cordelia said interrupting him. "I slept with your son and you can't forgive me."

"I'm sorry Cordelia." Angel said truthfully "I can't. Not yet anyway."

"So I guess were stuck huh" Cordelia said. "Angel I know you can't forgive yet. I could tell the minute I woke up and saw you. When Buffy came here I new what little I had left of you was gone the minute she walked in. Or was carried in." She corrected. "Whatever, anyway, I blame her for being what she is to you. And not just to you. To everyone. Now she has Wesley and Fred and Gunn and even Lorne supporting her. What about me? They just look at me like I'm going to crazy and try to kill them again."

Angel didn't know what to say.Cordelia was right. Things were changing. The group needed to follow a hero, it's how they were. Running Wolfram and Hart wasn't a hero's gig. They would naturally turn to Buffy and the Scoobies for that spark they have. He pitied Cordelia in that minute. She went to a dark place and no one was sure she was totally back. Of course they would be wary of her.

"Don't you dare pity me Angel!" Cordelia said correctly reading the look on his face.

"I'm sorry" Angel said softly "I'm so sorry."

Cordelia turned and ran away from the look she couldn't stand to see on Angel's face. Angel watched her leave knowing there was nothing he could do to help.

"We help the helpless." He muttered "What a load of crap."

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Meanwhile Buffy and Wesley had gotten directions from Lorne on where the building was that he thought they would like. When they pulled up Buffy sucked in her breath.

"It's beautiful." She said softly "I can't believe that this is here in LA."

Wesley had also stopped and stared at the building in awe. "It's amazing. Even better than the hotel."

They stared at the three story brick building with stained glass still in the windows and the front porch surrounded by flowers and a little garden off to the side with several benches flanking a fountain featuring a little nymph with a teasing grin on his face.

"Look at all the room just outside!" Buffy exclaimed "we could have a soccer game and still have room for 100 spectators"

"Don't get your hopes up Buffy." Wesley said, just as enchanted with the place, but trying to conceal it. "It may be a disaster inside."

As if on cue a perky young lady came outside and introduced herself as the real-estate broker.

"I'm amazed you heard about this place already." She said sweetly "It's not even on the market yet."

"Yes, a friend told us about this place." Wesley said "He makes it his business to know everything going on that others have no idea about."

"Well, I'm sure you and your wife are going to love it." She said before both Wesley and Buffy stammered that they weren't married.

"Just friends and business partners." Wesley said quickly.

"Oh I'm sorry!" the girl apologized "When I saw that you both had the same home phone I just assumed. Gosh that must happen a lot doesn't it?"

"Of course." Buffy answered quickly, anxious to see the inside.

"Well, come on inside." The woman said opening the oak door," This is not a typical house for California as you probably already noted."

"Yes, it was quite shocking to see it at first." Wesley said charmingly.

"Well, the family that owned it were English and I guess once they left they missed England so much they built the exact same home they had there." The woman said smiling.

"Don't tell him that!" Buffy said gesturing to Wesley "He already thinks his homeland is the be all to end all."

The women giggled as Wesley pretended to be offended.

"Now this is what I think the best room in the house." The woman aid opening two doors that opened into one large doorway.

"Wesley and Buffy stood transfixed. The room was a library room of some sort. Bookcases lined two walls from floor to ceiling and wooden ladders with iron wheels were attached for easy access to the highest shelf. The ceiling was in a dome shape and shone with paintings of the Greek Gods frolicking on Mount Olympus. The room was dominated by a large oak table that could easily seat 20 people and stacks of research material.

"The table of course stays." The agent said "I can't imagine how anyone would be able to get it out without ruining it."

"Wesley." Buffy said as she turned to face him with her eyes shining "This is perfect. More than perfect."

Wesley could barely contain his excitement either. He wanted to run from room to room and see everything like he was a child.

"I must concur with you Buffy.It's magnificent." He said trying to look and see everything.

"Who is that?" Buffy asked noticing a portrait of an older man with laughing eyes and a warm smile.

"That was the man who built this house." the agent said "Samuel James Richardson was his name."

"I feel like he's smiling right at me." Buffy said enchanted by the kindness in his face.

"how many rooms does this place have?" Wesley asked.

"Well theres 15 bedrooms upstairs. All are equipped with everything modern I assure you. There are 5 bathrooms, also modernized. There is two sitting rooms, a billiard room, a den and a ballroom all on the first floor." The agent informed them. "The kitchen has been renovated with all the modern marvels but it still retains the feel of the house despite the dishwasher."

"this place has a ballroom?" Buffy asked excitedly.

"Planning a dance?" Wesley joked

"Nope, just a large area perfect for training." Buffy said grinning "Angels is OK but kinda small I think."

"if you don't mind me asking, what kind of training?" The woman asked curiously.

"Oh I teach self defense." Buffy said quickly.

"I took a class like that at the Y." The woman said. "It was really useful living in LA."

"Yes, you never know what's going to come at you here in LA." Wesley said while holding back a smile.

"Well, shall we see the rest of the house?" The woman asked cheerfully.

Buffy and Wesley nodded and continued on the tour.

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"I want it!" Buffy said an hour later. "What do we need to do?"

The woman hesitated before she continued

"Well theres one thing that's kind of strange. The family was worried about people that may not appreciate the home and love it as much as them."

When Buffy and Wesley looked at her quizzically she held out what appeared to be a wooden box.

"The original owner said he saw the people who would end up owning the house and that only they could open the box. I've shown this place to several people and couldn't sell it to them because of this clause."

Wesley and Buffy looked at the box. It had writings on it and symbols that covered the iron lock.

"Wes?" can you read this?" Buffy asked worriedly.

"It appears to be a mixture of early Sumerian and much later Greek symbols. When he touched the box he saw the Greek iron symbols moved to line up with the writing.Wesley smiled

"It's ingenious really. You have to move the older Sumerian and line it up with the newer Greek meanings I believe."

"So it's like respecting the old but incorporating what's new?" Buffy said softly "What a wise man. Can you do it?"

Wesley was already moving the iron pieces. For a full minute Buffy and the agent stared on in awe as seemingly different pieces melted together to form a key. With a smile of triumph Wesley turned the key. The box opened and inside was a letter.It was old and on parchment but still in excellent shape. Wesley gently picked up the paper and read it out loud.

"If you are reading this then you are the people I dreamed about that will eventually own my wonderful home. It was more than a home to me you see. It was a symbol. A symbol of love, of family, of laughing in the face of opposition of those who said things couldn't get done or that I'd fail. I saw you in my dream and had to make sure this home was protected until the time came for you to own it. It is with a humble heart and also a heart filled with joy that I bequeath my own Mount Olympus to you. I know you'll fill it with friendship, loyalty, and

above all love. May your lives be filled with all the joy mine has been.

Samuel James Richardson

Buffy and Wesley looked at each other in awe.

"First thing were doing." Buffy said " Is framing that and hanging it right next to his portrait."

Wesley nodded still a bit overwhelmed to respond. Eventually he turned to the agent who was smiling and wiping tears away.

"So how much is this place going to cost us?" He asked.

"Funny you should ask that?" The woman said

Buffy and Wesley froze. Their first thoughts were that the woman was going to say they couldn't have it. Her first words almost confirmed their fears.

"There is no price on the property."

Buffy's face fell before the woman continued.

"The terms of the sale were just what you've already done. The house is yours. If you want it of course."

Buffy and Wesley stared at her in shock before it sunk in.

"It's ours, it's ours." Buffy's mind kept repeating before with a shout of joy she hugged Wesley and kissed him soundly. Both of them blushed and then smiled and hugged again.

"It's ours. It's really ours." Wesley whispered in her ear.

After that it was just some simple paperwork and before they knew it, they closed a deal on the house. Before leaving to tell the others Buffy turned to the portrait of Samuel James Richardson.

"Thank you." She whispered to the kindly man before leaving.

His eyes still smiled at her as she left the room.

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OK I hope this chapter wasn't too sappy. I was intrigued with the idea of a place that had a bit of England to it but also one the Powers may have had a hand in picking for the new Council. Coming up. The group hears about the place and decisions are made.