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What Is To Be
-Eighteenth-
By Annie
2003-10-15
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤
Buffy sat on the side of the bed, buttoning up her shirt as she rested her eyes on his half-clad form. He was still dressing, seemingly unaware of being watched, and she somehow found that immensely sexy. She bit her lower lip as she finished the last of her buttons, fighting the urge to rip the shirt open again and jump his bones. Smiling a little to herself she got to her feet and walked up to him.
He just pulled a white T over his head and when her hands slid over his shoulders as he pulled it down he turned around to face her. She stepped into him, tilting her head back as he slipped his arms around her and bent forward to join their lips.
"Mmhh," she sighed once they broke it. "I don't know what I like best: you without your clothes, in all that... amazing splendor..." He smiled and she did as well before she slowly added: "Or you WITH clothes, leaving the splendor to be hinted and imagined and..."
She trailed off and he drew a small breath as he looked into her eyes, her yearnings much too clear as they swiveled in the green.
"Thought we agreed it was time to reluctantly join the rest of the world..." he mumbled and she smiled a little again.
"Yeah?" she then said slowly, wanting him to elaborate.
"So, do you know what hearing you say that does to me?" he grumbled and she smirked.
"I have a pretty good idea," she teased, her growing anticipation for him to act on it becoming clear and he leaned forward again, brushing his lips against hers and she couldn't control a small moan as his hands slid up under her shirt to caress the arch of her back.
There was a hard knock on the door and she sighed.
"We'll be right down!" she called.
"Just wanted to know if you guys are hungry," Wes replied and the Slayer and her mortal shared a glance before they both smiled.
"Starving," they replied with one voice.
"Okay, we're ordering from a China restaurant down the block... anything special you'd like?" Wes now asked and the two blondes interrupted the deep kiss they had once more engaged themselves in.
"No," Spike answered. "Nothing."
"Except maybe dumplings!" Buffy added. "And some of those shrimp thingy- s... And a large order of bamboo and rice."
"And 'starving' it obviously is," Wesley muttered as he turned and walked down the hallway.
Spike smiled and Buffy returned it before giving him a quick kiss on the mouth, and then stepping out of his embrace. He seemed in lack of enthusiasm over this move, but she gave him another bright smile and he literally looked as though he was melting. She had a swirl of warmth within her at the expression in his eyes and then she was in his arms again, holding him in a hard hug and he held her back.
"What's this for?" he asked quietly and she kissed the side of his throat before she answered:
"For loving me."
He closed his eyes at that, for the thousandth time questioning the reality of these moments creating themselves and centering around her.
Buffy had meant what she said earlier - she could have stayed in that room forever and ever. She knew with certainty that she could live at a beach collecting seashells for the rest of her life, as long as he was there with her.
"We need to get downstairs," she grumbled and he nodded, still savoring her scent as she pulled away for the second time.
She smiled once more, running her hands down his chest before she turned away from him and walked up to the bed, beginning to straighten out the sheets. She walked around the bed, tucking them under the mattress when her fingers hit something which had slipped in between the foot of the bed and that end of the mattress. She furrowed her brow, glancing up at Spike who had pulled on a white shirt and was buttoning it the way she had hers just a few minutes ago. She reached down further, grasped the edge of the thing and brought it up. Resting her gaze at the back of a frame she stared at it for a moment before she then blinked and turned it over. Her heart skipped a beat and then a wide smile spread over her lips as she looked up and once again rested her eyes on Spike.
He just finished the last button and turned his head to her, meeting her gaze with his own and growing quizzical at the incredibly adoring expression in them. Then he noticed what she was clutching and a sheepish look crossed his face as he grew self-conscious.
"Why was this wedged in there?" Buffy asked with a gesture to the place she had found it.
"Well..."
"You didn't want me to see it?" she asked, merely seeming curious and he felt how he was blushing for maybe the third time in his life.
A smile was still playing on her lips and she raised her eyebrows in wait for his answer.
"I keep it on top of that, most of the time," it finally came as he pointed to the bedside table. "But then, when you came here, I moved it to the drawer. I... I guess I didn't want you to get the willies or anything... I took it out last night after you left just to look at you. Eh, it. And then..."
He trailed off and her smile broadened as she approached him.
"You know, last night I wigged out 'cause you DIDN'T have one of me," she confided and he smirked a little. "But this..." she then said, looking at the drawing of herself again. "This is absolutely beautiful. Thank you," she mumbled, stepping into him and snuggling closer and he smiled a little as well, stroking one hand through her locks.
"You that surprised I actually had one of you?" he asked and she laughed softly, moving her head back to look up at him as she shook it slowly.
"Just happy," she admonished gently.
He kissed her on the forehead and then sighed.
"We should head down," he said and she nodded, still holding onto the frame and he cocked an eyebrow. "You wanna take that with you?" he asked and she smiled.
"Would you mind?" she asked and at that he smirked, hearing the tease in her voice.
She turned and walked around the bed, placing the frame carefully on the place he had said was where it normally resided, making sure it stood straight before she joined him in the doorway.
***
"What DO we know?" Cordelia asked, an hour later, all of the gang - with the exception of Susannah - were gathered at the research table, the conference room filled with a sticky warmth from the body heat not circling. "What's the plan?" she added, her eyes going to Buffy.
"The plan is that Angel, Sp-... I mean, William and I are going to see Forte tomorrow, and try to get some answers out of him," she replied. "I know it's probably risky, and I know it's not the best chance we have, but as of now it's our only one. And regarding the whole what-we-actually- know... The Big Bad is some ancient demon thing-y which supposedly desires a 'second' apocalypse in four days."
"Right," Cordelia gave a nod. "I knew that."
"Unfortunately it's not much to know, is it?" Buffy commented and Cordelia gave a small smile in recognition before turning her head to Angel as he spoke up.
"We have some hope put across seas. Has Giles called back yet?"
Buffy shook her head.
"I'm not expecting him to 'til later tonight. He said he'd call whether he had useful information or not. I think it'll be around eight," she stated.
"Okay, good. And it's not true that we have no more to go on, we have the prophecy," Angel remarked and Buffy raised her eyebrows.
"Yeah, all half of it," she then murmured. "Sorry," she added, "but it's true. We have no idea what all the parts even mean until they hit us head on. Literally. What's supposed to happen today, for example?" she asked and Angel, about to place an objection when he seemed to have to admit the truth of what she was saying, stopped himself from speaking.
"'And there shall be fire and water dancing as one on the fourth day's mid hour'," Spike instead was the one who answered her question and she turned her head to him where he sat next to her.
"Okay, and this non-cryptic message of course means...?" she asked, having the silence be the only thing that met her and she held her hands out in a meaningful gesture as she added: "See?"
The quiet persisted as they all grew thoughtful, and then Cordelia turned to Gunn and Fred, asking:
"How's Susie doing?"
"No change," Gunn said. "She's been sleeping..."
"Restlessly," Fred chimed in.
"...for the past few hours," Gunn finished. "It doesn't bode very well, does it?"
"No," Wesley sighed, "it doesn't. I've been trying to find something out about this bottle mystery, now that it seems it is actually of some importance. The facts on bottles figuring in both myth as well as history is too extensive a research area; it is difficult to find the right place to search. I have been targeting those with ties to Egypt, and still the list goes on and on... Perhaps some of you wouldn't mind helping me with this later this afternoon?"
"Of course not," Cordelia said with an encouraging smile. "We're all up for putting in the man hours."
"Or wo-man," Buffy nodded, the mood lightening up slightly with that as there were more smiles among the assembled.
"Man OR woman is naturally as welcome," Wesley replied and Buffy smiled as well.
***
"Okay," Cordelia said, four hours later, holding up her hands as she had closed her eyes and making every last tired head raise to turn to her.
She opened her eyes, then closed them again demonstratively before she said:
"When I blink I actually see heaps and heaps of these distasteful little things!"
Angel smirked, leaning back on his chair as he observed her. The others seemed to take the interruption in their research as a good enough excuse for an actual break and Fred and Gunn rose as one, saying they would go upstairs and check on Susannah. Buffy splayed her upper body over the book she had been ogling in well-hidden blindness - as all the letters were beginning to melt together and all the pictures were one blob of black. Spike slipped one hand over her back and she groaned approvingly.
"Come here," he said, making her sit up and turn her back to him before he started gently massaging her strained shoulders.
She closed her eyes in pure delight as his used fingers worked her muscles.
"Oh... God," she moaned when he hit a soar spot and Wesley rose with a clearing of his throat, casually leaving the room as well which had Cordelia finally keep her eyes open long enough to exchange a humorous look with Angel.
He raised his eyebrows and nodded to the doorway in a silent question, which she answered with a smile and a getting-to-her-feet. He mirrored her movement and then followed her out of the room and into the foyer where she turned to him with her smile broadening before it died and he looked at her questioningly.
"I see them," she said and he frowned, not following. "Those icky little things with their caps or corks or no tops at all and their funny-shapes or tear shapes or square or triangle or..."
"Hungry?" he cut her off and she focused her gaze in his again before she smiled another one of those incredible smiles of hers.
"I could eat," she answered and he offered her an arm, which had her looking at him for an extra long second before she slid her hand into the cranny of it. "Are you offering to dim my hunger, kind sir?" she then asked and for another moment he stared at her, lost in the various scenarios he could attach to that simple sentence, and then he smirked.
"I'll wine and dine thee, milady, until thou knowest not to whom thine pleasure is owned," he offered, his voice melodic and she felt a small tingle at the top of her spine as she listened to it.
"I bet you said that to all the ladies," she then countered with a raise of her eyebrows before she slipped her hand away from his arm and walked ahead of him into the kitchen. "All of those you found you had a... sweet tooth for, anyway," she added as she walked up to the refrigerator. Angel had followed her, and now he stopped a few feet behind her as she cut off his forthcoming reply with: "Or maybe only those who you wanted in your bed?"
At this he suddenly smiled.
"You so sure I want you in my bed?" he asked and knew that he had her in quite the tight corner.
Cordelia felt her heart nearly stop. Her back was to him and thankful for the fact that he wouldn't be able to read her reaction immediately on her features she swallowed and quickly collected herself as she said:
"I was speaking hypothetically. And it was more an inquiry than a question."
"So, you're asking me... what?" Angel retorted and she grabbed a carton of milk before turning around to face him.
"Well..." she said, realizing that she had merely secured her place in the corner by giving that explanation. Looking feverishly for some way out of this predicament she finally added: "If it helped... talking to them when you were trying to... to seduce them?"
He took a step closer and she nearly leaned into the still open fridge, then he wondered:
"So to you I was just now trying to seduce you?"
There was nothing she could do to stop this, she knew it, and with the knowledge came the only way out. Escape through denial and then further with changing of the subject. So, she merely glared at him before she took a step closer as well, standing right before him as she reached one arm out and pushed the door to the fridge shut.
"Milk?" she asked.
Now he smiled crookedly, watching her much too closely and she rolled her eyes at him before turning from him in favor of the counter. Putting the carton down she reached up and opened one of the cabinets, bringing two tall glasses out and feeling how she breathed a small sigh of relief when he moved away from her nearest vicinity, crossing the room.
She was out of the corner.
Then she suddenly thought of something... What if he had been trying to tell her something? What if he had WANTED her to think that he had been trying to seduce her? Had he been? Why? Why would he? It wasn't like they were flirting all the time. Okay, so they were friendly. That was true. Sure. But... HE didn't feel anything else, did he? Anything more. Buffy had joked last night, had said that it was obvious how they looked at each other. She had seemed serious enough, but Cordelia still doubted that she was right. So much time had elapsed since she and Angel had... Well, almost had...
"How can I bring you back down?" his voice interrupted her thoughts and she jerked before she turned to face him.
"Huh?" she asked.
"You seemed like you were floating a long way up," he elaborated and she smiled dismissively.
"Just checking on those stars up there," she said with a shrug. "They seem to still be aligning prettily enough. 'The god of fire'... What do you suppose that means? Akhenaton? So, they're supposed to align with him? Right?" she asked, taking the glasses of milk and handing one to him.
He took it with a slightly wondering look and she stopped her questions as she looked quizzical as well.
"Why are we drinking this?" he asked.
"'Cause even though you promised to 'wine and dine' me I think we should stay off the alcohol wagon," she replied firmly. "With Susannah acting the way she is and the hours of page-turning we still have up ahead of us I think it might be the most mature conclusion."
He smiled again, this time it was gentler and she returned it tentatively.
"Now," she then said, "to the 'dining'?"
He laughed, nodding as he took a sip of his milk before putting it aside and walking up to the fridge.
"Let's see what we can find fit for a lady," he murmured and she gave him a playful slap on the back. "What?" he demanded, turning partially back to her. "You sure are one heck of a topic changer."
She giggled, taking a mouthful of milk and making a slight face before she put it on the counter, thinking how nice it would have been with perhaps a bottle of bubbly champagne... Pushing the thought away she replied mock- coyly:
"One of my many attributes."
He smirked, looking back at the contents of what was hopefully a good dinner and trying to pick the ingredients he might need.
"You know," he said. "I never was much for the... food aspect of things. I'm not so sure I'm the right man for this."
Cordelia smiled widely, coming up to stand next to him and gazing at the interior of the fridge as well.
"If you give it your best effort," she said, "I promise I'll make a really good show of loving it."
He looked at her, then pushed her gently with one shoulder and she swayed slightly to the side before she pushed him back.
"Deal," he agreed.
***
"What time is it?" Angel asked and Cordelia glanced at the clock on the wall.
"Almost ten past seven," she answered him and he frowned deeply, looking into the frying pan.
"I've been doing this for twenty minutes," he said. "It's not supposed to look so... raw, is it?"
She leaned forward, then suppressed her smile to a twitching of the sides of her mouth as she shook her head in concurrence.
"Did you do the thing with the thing?" she asked and he looked lost. "The turning of the knob?" she translated and he checked, just to be sure, before he nodded.
She looked at it, then looked closer before she blinked and straightened her back. Crossing her arms over her chest she said:
"You turned the wrong knob."
"The wrong knob?" he repeated, an actual question mark seemingly painting itself across his features and she felt a small wash of sympathy pour through her at the sight of it.
"Here," she said, stepping up to his side and taking a soft hold on his left wrist, guiding it toward the stove and holding it over one of the empty hot plates. "Hot," she added meaningfully and he turned his head to her as she looked up at him, making her grow aware of how very much pressed against his side she stood with the front of her body.
She looked into those eyes of his for an eternity. He moved his hand away from the plate, his fingers brushing against hers and she felt her mouth slowly grow dry.
Then the smell of something burning hit their nostrils.
"The bread," Cordelia stated simply and the next instant he had torn himself away from her as he rushed to open the oven.
Now she couldn't keep her giggles down as he brought out the burnt lump which would have been a probably tasteful piece of Paine Riche. Defeated he put it aside, tuning the knob of the stove to zero as well before he turned to her.
"The best laugh comes to those who laugh last," he stated meaningfully and her merriness was taken aback as she squinted. "I gave it my best effort," he pointed out, "now it's your turn to make a good show of 'loving' it."
"That?!" she exclaimed, pointing to the blackened imitation of a rock lying behind his back and he nodded seriously. "I'll smile at it, pet it, talk baby-talk to it. I'll carry it around for the rest of the evening in a blanket - but you can't make me eat it!"
He looked as though he was willing to test that theory and she seemed apt to voice another hard protest right before he broke into a smile.
"You didn't REALLY think I'd make you, did you?" he asked and she shrugged.
"One thing about you is nothing is ever for certain," she replied.
"Really?" he wondered and she nodded.
"Just when I think I've got most of what is you figured out... you surprise me," she stated and he eyed her for a few seconds before he reached out a hand to her.
"Dance?"
All though he had turned on the radio before, on one of the stations playing really old goodies, this move was unexpected. She looked at his hand as though it was something foreign and he wiggled his fingers.
"Come on, I won't twist your arm," he said and she cocked an eyebrow before she tentatively slipped one hand in his.
He led her out from behind the long table and to the more open floor of the room before he faced her and placed his left hand on her waist, pulling her carefully to him. They stood still for a moment, his gaze caught in hers, and then she smiled again, seemingly self-conscious. They slowly began to move to the music, her eyes leaving his as she looked away and struggled to keep her heart from pacing too hard in her chest.
He would feel it.
He would hear it.
"I'm sorry I wasn't able to give you a wonderful dinner," he murmured and she shook her head that it didn't matter.
"Points for effort, as said," she replied, voice low as well and she closed her eyes when his hand traveled from her waist to the small of her back.
For the extent of one song they moved like this, in stillness. At ease with each others company. Enjoying it. One of Cordelia's temples coming to rest against his jaw line. Neither one of them ready for the short few minutees to actually end.
But they did. And others picked up where they left off as Cordelia pulled back a little to look up at him. Their movements slowing and stopping as they observed each other. Finally Angel slowly leaned forward, Cordelia closing her eyes in quiet acceptance of the kiss she knew he was about to give, but then something ripped through her and she stiffened, opening her eyes again and she could see that he was staring at her.
"What's happening?" he asked as her right hand gripped his left tightly.
"I... don't know," she mumbled, then furrowed her brow as she could suddenly see her own breath drifting like smoke from her mouth.
The second after she began to shiver with a frost that seemed to spread from the center of her chest and through her veins. She could see his eyes widening and soon she came to understand why as his body suddenly burned against hers, even through her clothes, and with a cry of growing pain she pushed him away from her; making herself fall backward in the process and she hit the floor with a low thud.
"Angel?" she breathed when he tore at his shirt, tearing it open he then fought to get it off him and finally succeeded. "Angel!" she tried to yell, but her voice didn't carry and she clasped one hand by her throat as the shivers she was under began to take over completely.
He went down on his knees, beads of perspiration forming on his torso and he was fighting for air as his gaze met hers. He seemed to whisper her name before he fell to the side and she couldn't hold her head up any longer, the chills succeeding in overpowering her and she swam into an ocean of dark.
**************************************************************************** **************************************************************************** **************************************************************************** ******************
Whatever happened with our hero and heroine? Whatever WILL happen from this point on? Stay tuned! Same channel, same computer screen! ;)
Special thanks to Adrianna *big smile!* :), wolf116 *heh-heh, we'll see* ;), ayavalla *happy!* :), maribel *nice of you* ;), Winters *aw, good to read* :), Captain *lol and goodie* ;), Keleven *smiles widely at that* :), Rachel9 *sucks, don't I know it. And glad you liked* :), SC Heather *SO very cool to read!* :), Coquine *It's really great to hear from you anyhow, anyway! So happy that you're liking it!* :), fictionfreak2 *thanks so, so, so much! Really neat that you're liking it!*
Sorry this was a short reply thing-y, but I'm way stressed and I still wanted to give you shout outs and I hope the good thing is getting them... Well, anyways, thanks for as always GREAT comments! I love reading your feed back! (As stated on numerous occations!) ;)
Still no net at home, no. But I'm working on it! Okay, this is it for now and hey, so hope you liked this chapter as well.
A.M.L, Annie.
PS. I thought I posted this chapter a WEEK ago!!! Obviously I did not. I have no idea why it didn't take to the site and I apologize for it being so terribly late!!! And no, STILL no net at home but it's because they're installing broadband and it's some hassle around it and, well, no boring details but you get my drift, right? I will be back as soon as I can and right now I'm going through some very stressful times so I hope you will forgive me, again, that the updates are so sporadic! I am thinking of you and working my best to make it the best for you guys! A.M.L.
What Is To Be
-Eighteenth-
By Annie
2003-10-15
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤
Buffy sat on the side of the bed, buttoning up her shirt as she rested her eyes on his half-clad form. He was still dressing, seemingly unaware of being watched, and she somehow found that immensely sexy. She bit her lower lip as she finished the last of her buttons, fighting the urge to rip the shirt open again and jump his bones. Smiling a little to herself she got to her feet and walked up to him.
He just pulled a white T over his head and when her hands slid over his shoulders as he pulled it down he turned around to face her. She stepped into him, tilting her head back as he slipped his arms around her and bent forward to join their lips.
"Mmhh," she sighed once they broke it. "I don't know what I like best: you without your clothes, in all that... amazing splendor..." He smiled and she did as well before she slowly added: "Or you WITH clothes, leaving the splendor to be hinted and imagined and..."
She trailed off and he drew a small breath as he looked into her eyes, her yearnings much too clear as they swiveled in the green.
"Thought we agreed it was time to reluctantly join the rest of the world..." he mumbled and she smiled a little again.
"Yeah?" she then said slowly, wanting him to elaborate.
"So, do you know what hearing you say that does to me?" he grumbled and she smirked.
"I have a pretty good idea," she teased, her growing anticipation for him to act on it becoming clear and he leaned forward again, brushing his lips against hers and she couldn't control a small moan as his hands slid up under her shirt to caress the arch of her back.
There was a hard knock on the door and she sighed.
"We'll be right down!" she called.
"Just wanted to know if you guys are hungry," Wes replied and the Slayer and her mortal shared a glance before they both smiled.
"Starving," they replied with one voice.
"Okay, we're ordering from a China restaurant down the block... anything special you'd like?" Wes now asked and the two blondes interrupted the deep kiss they had once more engaged themselves in.
"No," Spike answered. "Nothing."
"Except maybe dumplings!" Buffy added. "And some of those shrimp thingy- s... And a large order of bamboo and rice."
"And 'starving' it obviously is," Wesley muttered as he turned and walked down the hallway.
Spike smiled and Buffy returned it before giving him a quick kiss on the mouth, and then stepping out of his embrace. He seemed in lack of enthusiasm over this move, but she gave him another bright smile and he literally looked as though he was melting. She had a swirl of warmth within her at the expression in his eyes and then she was in his arms again, holding him in a hard hug and he held her back.
"What's this for?" he asked quietly and she kissed the side of his throat before she answered:
"For loving me."
He closed his eyes at that, for the thousandth time questioning the reality of these moments creating themselves and centering around her.
Buffy had meant what she said earlier - she could have stayed in that room forever and ever. She knew with certainty that she could live at a beach collecting seashells for the rest of her life, as long as he was there with her.
"We need to get downstairs," she grumbled and he nodded, still savoring her scent as she pulled away for the second time.
She smiled once more, running her hands down his chest before she turned away from him and walked up to the bed, beginning to straighten out the sheets. She walked around the bed, tucking them under the mattress when her fingers hit something which had slipped in between the foot of the bed and that end of the mattress. She furrowed her brow, glancing up at Spike who had pulled on a white shirt and was buttoning it the way she had hers just a few minutes ago. She reached down further, grasped the edge of the thing and brought it up. Resting her gaze at the back of a frame she stared at it for a moment before she then blinked and turned it over. Her heart skipped a beat and then a wide smile spread over her lips as she looked up and once again rested her eyes on Spike.
He just finished the last button and turned his head to her, meeting her gaze with his own and growing quizzical at the incredibly adoring expression in them. Then he noticed what she was clutching and a sheepish look crossed his face as he grew self-conscious.
"Why was this wedged in there?" Buffy asked with a gesture to the place she had found it.
"Well..."
"You didn't want me to see it?" she asked, merely seeming curious and he felt how he was blushing for maybe the third time in his life.
A smile was still playing on her lips and she raised her eyebrows in wait for his answer.
"I keep it on top of that, most of the time," it finally came as he pointed to the bedside table. "But then, when you came here, I moved it to the drawer. I... I guess I didn't want you to get the willies or anything... I took it out last night after you left just to look at you. Eh, it. And then..."
He trailed off and her smile broadened as she approached him.
"You know, last night I wigged out 'cause you DIDN'T have one of me," she confided and he smirked a little. "But this..." she then said, looking at the drawing of herself again. "This is absolutely beautiful. Thank you," she mumbled, stepping into him and snuggling closer and he smiled a little as well, stroking one hand through her locks.
"You that surprised I actually had one of you?" he asked and she laughed softly, moving her head back to look up at him as she shook it slowly.
"Just happy," she admonished gently.
He kissed her on the forehead and then sighed.
"We should head down," he said and she nodded, still holding onto the frame and he cocked an eyebrow. "You wanna take that with you?" he asked and she smiled.
"Would you mind?" she asked and at that he smirked, hearing the tease in her voice.
She turned and walked around the bed, placing the frame carefully on the place he had said was where it normally resided, making sure it stood straight before she joined him in the doorway.
***
"What DO we know?" Cordelia asked, an hour later, all of the gang - with the exception of Susannah - were gathered at the research table, the conference room filled with a sticky warmth from the body heat not circling. "What's the plan?" she added, her eyes going to Buffy.
"The plan is that Angel, Sp-... I mean, William and I are going to see Forte tomorrow, and try to get some answers out of him," she replied. "I know it's probably risky, and I know it's not the best chance we have, but as of now it's our only one. And regarding the whole what-we-actually- know... The Big Bad is some ancient demon thing-y which supposedly desires a 'second' apocalypse in four days."
"Right," Cordelia gave a nod. "I knew that."
"Unfortunately it's not much to know, is it?" Buffy commented and Cordelia gave a small smile in recognition before turning her head to Angel as he spoke up.
"We have some hope put across seas. Has Giles called back yet?"
Buffy shook her head.
"I'm not expecting him to 'til later tonight. He said he'd call whether he had useful information or not. I think it'll be around eight," she stated.
"Okay, good. And it's not true that we have no more to go on, we have the prophecy," Angel remarked and Buffy raised her eyebrows.
"Yeah, all half of it," she then murmured. "Sorry," she added, "but it's true. We have no idea what all the parts even mean until they hit us head on. Literally. What's supposed to happen today, for example?" she asked and Angel, about to place an objection when he seemed to have to admit the truth of what she was saying, stopped himself from speaking.
"'And there shall be fire and water dancing as one on the fourth day's mid hour'," Spike instead was the one who answered her question and she turned her head to him where he sat next to her.
"Okay, and this non-cryptic message of course means...?" she asked, having the silence be the only thing that met her and she held her hands out in a meaningful gesture as she added: "See?"
The quiet persisted as they all grew thoughtful, and then Cordelia turned to Gunn and Fred, asking:
"How's Susie doing?"
"No change," Gunn said. "She's been sleeping..."
"Restlessly," Fred chimed in.
"...for the past few hours," Gunn finished. "It doesn't bode very well, does it?"
"No," Wesley sighed, "it doesn't. I've been trying to find something out about this bottle mystery, now that it seems it is actually of some importance. The facts on bottles figuring in both myth as well as history is too extensive a research area; it is difficult to find the right place to search. I have been targeting those with ties to Egypt, and still the list goes on and on... Perhaps some of you wouldn't mind helping me with this later this afternoon?"
"Of course not," Cordelia said with an encouraging smile. "We're all up for putting in the man hours."
"Or wo-man," Buffy nodded, the mood lightening up slightly with that as there were more smiles among the assembled.
"Man OR woman is naturally as welcome," Wesley replied and Buffy smiled as well.
***
"Okay," Cordelia said, four hours later, holding up her hands as she had closed her eyes and making every last tired head raise to turn to her.
She opened her eyes, then closed them again demonstratively before she said:
"When I blink I actually see heaps and heaps of these distasteful little things!"
Angel smirked, leaning back on his chair as he observed her. The others seemed to take the interruption in their research as a good enough excuse for an actual break and Fred and Gunn rose as one, saying they would go upstairs and check on Susannah. Buffy splayed her upper body over the book she had been ogling in well-hidden blindness - as all the letters were beginning to melt together and all the pictures were one blob of black. Spike slipped one hand over her back and she groaned approvingly.
"Come here," he said, making her sit up and turn her back to him before he started gently massaging her strained shoulders.
She closed her eyes in pure delight as his used fingers worked her muscles.
"Oh... God," she moaned when he hit a soar spot and Wesley rose with a clearing of his throat, casually leaving the room as well which had Cordelia finally keep her eyes open long enough to exchange a humorous look with Angel.
He raised his eyebrows and nodded to the doorway in a silent question, which she answered with a smile and a getting-to-her-feet. He mirrored her movement and then followed her out of the room and into the foyer where she turned to him with her smile broadening before it died and he looked at her questioningly.
"I see them," she said and he frowned, not following. "Those icky little things with their caps or corks or no tops at all and their funny-shapes or tear shapes or square or triangle or..."
"Hungry?" he cut her off and she focused her gaze in his again before she smiled another one of those incredible smiles of hers.
"I could eat," she answered and he offered her an arm, which had her looking at him for an extra long second before she slid her hand into the cranny of it. "Are you offering to dim my hunger, kind sir?" she then asked and for another moment he stared at her, lost in the various scenarios he could attach to that simple sentence, and then he smirked.
"I'll wine and dine thee, milady, until thou knowest not to whom thine pleasure is owned," he offered, his voice melodic and she felt a small tingle at the top of her spine as she listened to it.
"I bet you said that to all the ladies," she then countered with a raise of her eyebrows before she slipped her hand away from his arm and walked ahead of him into the kitchen. "All of those you found you had a... sweet tooth for, anyway," she added as she walked up to the refrigerator. Angel had followed her, and now he stopped a few feet behind her as she cut off his forthcoming reply with: "Or maybe only those who you wanted in your bed?"
At this he suddenly smiled.
"You so sure I want you in my bed?" he asked and knew that he had her in quite the tight corner.
Cordelia felt her heart nearly stop. Her back was to him and thankful for the fact that he wouldn't be able to read her reaction immediately on her features she swallowed and quickly collected herself as she said:
"I was speaking hypothetically. And it was more an inquiry than a question."
"So, you're asking me... what?" Angel retorted and she grabbed a carton of milk before turning around to face him.
"Well..." she said, realizing that she had merely secured her place in the corner by giving that explanation. Looking feverishly for some way out of this predicament she finally added: "If it helped... talking to them when you were trying to... to seduce them?"
He took a step closer and she nearly leaned into the still open fridge, then he wondered:
"So to you I was just now trying to seduce you?"
There was nothing she could do to stop this, she knew it, and with the knowledge came the only way out. Escape through denial and then further with changing of the subject. So, she merely glared at him before she took a step closer as well, standing right before him as she reached one arm out and pushed the door to the fridge shut.
"Milk?" she asked.
Now he smiled crookedly, watching her much too closely and she rolled her eyes at him before turning from him in favor of the counter. Putting the carton down she reached up and opened one of the cabinets, bringing two tall glasses out and feeling how she breathed a small sigh of relief when he moved away from her nearest vicinity, crossing the room.
She was out of the corner.
Then she suddenly thought of something... What if he had been trying to tell her something? What if he had WANTED her to think that he had been trying to seduce her? Had he been? Why? Why would he? It wasn't like they were flirting all the time. Okay, so they were friendly. That was true. Sure. But... HE didn't feel anything else, did he? Anything more. Buffy had joked last night, had said that it was obvious how they looked at each other. She had seemed serious enough, but Cordelia still doubted that she was right. So much time had elapsed since she and Angel had... Well, almost had...
"How can I bring you back down?" his voice interrupted her thoughts and she jerked before she turned to face him.
"Huh?" she asked.
"You seemed like you were floating a long way up," he elaborated and she smiled dismissively.
"Just checking on those stars up there," she said with a shrug. "They seem to still be aligning prettily enough. 'The god of fire'... What do you suppose that means? Akhenaton? So, they're supposed to align with him? Right?" she asked, taking the glasses of milk and handing one to him.
He took it with a slightly wondering look and she stopped her questions as she looked quizzical as well.
"Why are we drinking this?" he asked.
"'Cause even though you promised to 'wine and dine' me I think we should stay off the alcohol wagon," she replied firmly. "With Susannah acting the way she is and the hours of page-turning we still have up ahead of us I think it might be the most mature conclusion."
He smiled again, this time it was gentler and she returned it tentatively.
"Now," she then said, "to the 'dining'?"
He laughed, nodding as he took a sip of his milk before putting it aside and walking up to the fridge.
"Let's see what we can find fit for a lady," he murmured and she gave him a playful slap on the back. "What?" he demanded, turning partially back to her. "You sure are one heck of a topic changer."
She giggled, taking a mouthful of milk and making a slight face before she put it on the counter, thinking how nice it would have been with perhaps a bottle of bubbly champagne... Pushing the thought away she replied mock- coyly:
"One of my many attributes."
He smirked, looking back at the contents of what was hopefully a good dinner and trying to pick the ingredients he might need.
"You know," he said. "I never was much for the... food aspect of things. I'm not so sure I'm the right man for this."
Cordelia smiled widely, coming up to stand next to him and gazing at the interior of the fridge as well.
"If you give it your best effort," she said, "I promise I'll make a really good show of loving it."
He looked at her, then pushed her gently with one shoulder and she swayed slightly to the side before she pushed him back.
"Deal," he agreed.
***
"What time is it?" Angel asked and Cordelia glanced at the clock on the wall.
"Almost ten past seven," she answered him and he frowned deeply, looking into the frying pan.
"I've been doing this for twenty minutes," he said. "It's not supposed to look so... raw, is it?"
She leaned forward, then suppressed her smile to a twitching of the sides of her mouth as she shook her head in concurrence.
"Did you do the thing with the thing?" she asked and he looked lost. "The turning of the knob?" she translated and he checked, just to be sure, before he nodded.
She looked at it, then looked closer before she blinked and straightened her back. Crossing her arms over her chest she said:
"You turned the wrong knob."
"The wrong knob?" he repeated, an actual question mark seemingly painting itself across his features and she felt a small wash of sympathy pour through her at the sight of it.
"Here," she said, stepping up to his side and taking a soft hold on his left wrist, guiding it toward the stove and holding it over one of the empty hot plates. "Hot," she added meaningfully and he turned his head to her as she looked up at him, making her grow aware of how very much pressed against his side she stood with the front of her body.
She looked into those eyes of his for an eternity. He moved his hand away from the plate, his fingers brushing against hers and she felt her mouth slowly grow dry.
Then the smell of something burning hit their nostrils.
"The bread," Cordelia stated simply and the next instant he had torn himself away from her as he rushed to open the oven.
Now she couldn't keep her giggles down as he brought out the burnt lump which would have been a probably tasteful piece of Paine Riche. Defeated he put it aside, tuning the knob of the stove to zero as well before he turned to her.
"The best laugh comes to those who laugh last," he stated meaningfully and her merriness was taken aback as she squinted. "I gave it my best effort," he pointed out, "now it's your turn to make a good show of 'loving' it."
"That?!" she exclaimed, pointing to the blackened imitation of a rock lying behind his back and he nodded seriously. "I'll smile at it, pet it, talk baby-talk to it. I'll carry it around for the rest of the evening in a blanket - but you can't make me eat it!"
He looked as though he was willing to test that theory and she seemed apt to voice another hard protest right before he broke into a smile.
"You didn't REALLY think I'd make you, did you?" he asked and she shrugged.
"One thing about you is nothing is ever for certain," she replied.
"Really?" he wondered and she nodded.
"Just when I think I've got most of what is you figured out... you surprise me," she stated and he eyed her for a few seconds before he reached out a hand to her.
"Dance?"
All though he had turned on the radio before, on one of the stations playing really old goodies, this move was unexpected. She looked at his hand as though it was something foreign and he wiggled his fingers.
"Come on, I won't twist your arm," he said and she cocked an eyebrow before she tentatively slipped one hand in his.
He led her out from behind the long table and to the more open floor of the room before he faced her and placed his left hand on her waist, pulling her carefully to him. They stood still for a moment, his gaze caught in hers, and then she smiled again, seemingly self-conscious. They slowly began to move to the music, her eyes leaving his as she looked away and struggled to keep her heart from pacing too hard in her chest.
He would feel it.
He would hear it.
"I'm sorry I wasn't able to give you a wonderful dinner," he murmured and she shook her head that it didn't matter.
"Points for effort, as said," she replied, voice low as well and she closed her eyes when his hand traveled from her waist to the small of her back.
For the extent of one song they moved like this, in stillness. At ease with each others company. Enjoying it. One of Cordelia's temples coming to rest against his jaw line. Neither one of them ready for the short few minutees to actually end.
But they did. And others picked up where they left off as Cordelia pulled back a little to look up at him. Their movements slowing and stopping as they observed each other. Finally Angel slowly leaned forward, Cordelia closing her eyes in quiet acceptance of the kiss she knew he was about to give, but then something ripped through her and she stiffened, opening her eyes again and she could see that he was staring at her.
"What's happening?" he asked as her right hand gripped his left tightly.
"I... don't know," she mumbled, then furrowed her brow as she could suddenly see her own breath drifting like smoke from her mouth.
The second after she began to shiver with a frost that seemed to spread from the center of her chest and through her veins. She could see his eyes widening and soon she came to understand why as his body suddenly burned against hers, even through her clothes, and with a cry of growing pain she pushed him away from her; making herself fall backward in the process and she hit the floor with a low thud.
"Angel?" she breathed when he tore at his shirt, tearing it open he then fought to get it off him and finally succeeded. "Angel!" she tried to yell, but her voice didn't carry and she clasped one hand by her throat as the shivers she was under began to take over completely.
He went down on his knees, beads of perspiration forming on his torso and he was fighting for air as his gaze met hers. He seemed to whisper her name before he fell to the side and she couldn't hold her head up any longer, the chills succeeding in overpowering her and she swam into an ocean of dark.
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Whatever happened with our hero and heroine? Whatever WILL happen from this point on? Stay tuned! Same channel, same computer screen! ;)
Special thanks to Adrianna *big smile!* :), wolf116 *heh-heh, we'll see* ;), ayavalla *happy!* :), maribel *nice of you* ;), Winters *aw, good to read* :), Captain *lol and goodie* ;), Keleven *smiles widely at that* :), Rachel9 *sucks, don't I know it. And glad you liked* :), SC Heather *SO very cool to read!* :), Coquine *It's really great to hear from you anyhow, anyway! So happy that you're liking it!* :), fictionfreak2 *thanks so, so, so much! Really neat that you're liking it!*
Sorry this was a short reply thing-y, but I'm way stressed and I still wanted to give you shout outs and I hope the good thing is getting them... Well, anyways, thanks for as always GREAT comments! I love reading your feed back! (As stated on numerous occations!) ;)
Still no net at home, no. But I'm working on it! Okay, this is it for now and hey, so hope you liked this chapter as well.
A.M.L, Annie.
PS. I thought I posted this chapter a WEEK ago!!! Obviously I did not. I have no idea why it didn't take to the site and I apologize for it being so terribly late!!! And no, STILL no net at home but it's because they're installing broadband and it's some hassle around it and, well, no boring details but you get my drift, right? I will be back as soon as I can and right now I'm going through some very stressful times so I hope you will forgive me, again, that the updates are so sporadic! I am thinking of you and working my best to make it the best for you guys! A.M.L.
