Disclaimer: I own nothing of Angel otherwise I would be rich, very rich.

Spoilers: Lets just say all eps of Angel bar season 5

Rating: G-PG-13 poss higher

Authors notes: indicates thoughts, //\\ indicates non-person speech

Summary: Cordelia sinks into a deep depression realising she has to give birth to her dead daughter,  Whilst Groo returns to offer her a way out of LA. The gang try to figure out who is behind a spate of attacks on young women.  Meanwhile, Drusilla and a mysterious force both have plans for Cordelia and her baby.

Chapter Three – I'm here princess

St Matthews Hospital, Maternity wing

2 hours later Cordy is still in Angel's arms, unable to accept the news that her baby is dead.  Angel, too is also in shock and he feels useless, unable to do or say anything to help his seer and closest friend.

Is it me? Did I do something wrong? Is it because I'm part demon?  Should I not have stopped those guys?

My Cordy, my dear Cordy if ending my life would ease your pain I would gladly do this for you

"Angel?"

"Yes?"

"Is this a dream?"

"No I'm afraid not, its real Cordy"

"Are you sure?"

"Cordelia, please you shouldn't torture yourself like this. Cordelia? Cordy? Cor?"

Cordy sat up in her bed with a blank expression on her face. Angel gently shook her to try and get a reaction out or her.  Cordy continued to stare at the wall.  He knew there was nothing he could do for her now.

"I'm gonna let the others know what's going on.  Just shout if you need me"

No reaction.  Angel quietly left the room to find a phone and to call the gang to let them know what was going on. He had no idea what he was going to say them, let alone find the right words.

Connor oh Connor

"Angel investigations, we help the helpless" Wesley answered

"Wes, its me"

"Aah Angel, how is Cordelia? Has she gone into labour yet?"

"Wes look I have to tell you something, are you sitting down?"

"Angel, is everything alright, I mean Cordelia and the baby?"

Everyone looked at Wesley and he put the phone on speaker. 

"The baby, it's a girl" Angel said softly, not wanting to tell the others that Cordy had lost the baby.

"I'm having a daughter? I'm having a daughter!!"  Connor said excitedly, forgetting about the wound on his neck

The gang began celebrating the imminent arrival of a new baby.  They were so happy that they didn't hear Angel say, "Something's happened"

"Sorry to break-up this miniature soiree but Angel cakes is trying to say something" said Lorne

With that they all went quiet

"It's the baby, she, she's dead"

Gunn and Fred held hands while Connor stared intensely at the phone

"The doctors, they did a scan but they couldn't find a heartbeat"

"They're wrong" Connor shouted, "My daughter is alive, she's alive!!"

"Connor, please" Angel said gently "the baby is gone and Cordy needs you right now"

"We're on our way" Gunn spoke determined to help Cordy

"No, we shouldn't crowd her, Fred will you bring Connor with you?"

"Sure Angel, we're on our way"

With that Wesley put the phone back on the hook and looked at the gang.  He saw Lorne go into his office and assumed he was getting ready to begin the shiv-roth for Cordelia and Connor.  Gunn sits down in shock while Fred goes to talk to Connor.

"Are you ok? Do you want to talk" Fred said as she layed a hand on Connor's shoulder.

"Its all my fault, I shouldn't have come back"

"Don't say that Connor, you wouldn't have met your father or any of us if you hadn't"

"Its just"

Connor couldn't bear to talk anymore so he just fell forward into Fred's arms crying.  Gunn and Wesley agreed to look after Connor as he was in no condition to help anyone at the moment.  Fred took her coat and made her way to the hospital.  Wesley sees Lorne leaving the office acting quite strange.

"Where are you going"

"I've got to gather some things for the shiv-roth, ill be back soon"

"See you later then"

As Lorne leaves the hotel he breathes a sigh of relief

I hope they didn't hear who I was talking to

Hyperion lobby

Gunn, Wes and Connor are sitting down watching the television in silence still unable to talk about Cordy

//the police are still at a lost to discover who is behind a series of attacks on young women in the Los Angeles area, officials are reluctant to release any information at this time however we can tell you that several of the bodies have been exsanguinated\\

"What does exsanguinate mean?" asked Connor still red eyed from his crying

"It means that the bodies have been drained of all their blood"

"Now is not the time for some crazy ass demon to be on the loose" said Gunn

"I know replied Wes but we should go and check it out, we'll get Angel on the way"

St. Matthews Hospital, Maternity Wing

Fred arrived at the hospital to see Angel leaning against the door to Cordy's room in shock with slightly puffy eyes

"Angel?"

"Hey Fred"

Fred opened her arms out for Angel and he didn't refuse the warm and gentle nature of his friend

"How is she?" Asked Fred cautiously

"She's still in shock, she won't speak or acknowledge that I'm in the room"

"You do now what she has to do next don't you?"

"What?"

"She has to give birth"

"But the baby, she's dead"

Fred gave Angel a look that said 'now do you understand?'

Wes arrives at the hospital sees Angel and pulls him to one side

"Angel, there's a situation that we need your help with"

"Not now Wes, Cordy needs me"

"I'm not trying to doubt that Angel but it seems there is an exsanguinating demon on the loose"

"What in LA? Hold on while I talk to Fred"

Angel left Fred at the hospital while he went to help Wes, Gunn and Connor to track down the demon. 

Higher realms

How can we get the chosen one when she is with the lower beings?

Do not worry he will come to protect her and deliver the chosen one to us Underground sewer

In the underground sewer, Drusilla and the sect of monks are standing around a circle of dead women.  In a darkened corner, a large gourd is almost full to the top with blood.

"Soon we will have enough to begin the ritual"

LA Streets

Wes, Gunn Connor and a despondent Angel are out patrolling the streets of LA, concentrating on bars, pubs and parks. As Angel and Connor are talking about Cordy, Wes and Gunn are talking about the task in hand

"Dad? How is she, really?"

"She's not good, the doctors were talking about inducing when I left"

"Inducing, what's that"

"The doctors have got to give Cordy some drugs so she can have the baby"

"But how, I don't understand, my baby is dead"

"I know son, but it can't stay inside Cordy, it wouldn't be safe"

"Oh dad"

Angel pulls his son into his arms

why does it have to take a tragedy to bring my son to me?

Meanwhile

"Wes, dya think this has anything to do with Cordy's baby"

"I'm not sure, from my research there is the mention of some sort of prophecy to do with an apocalypse but I haven't been able to translate it yet"

"Well, you'd better hurry up Wes"

"Look Gu…hey what's that, Angel, Connor look over there"

As the gang looked to where Wes was pointing to, two robed figures slowly came into view.  Almost immediately Angel vamped out and threw one of the figure against the wall

"What have you done to her, what have you done to the baby"

"We don't know what you mean"

"You're lying" Angel growled

"Please we know nothing, honest"

"Come on Angel, perhaps they're telling the truth" said Wesley, the voice of reason

"Please dad, this isn't doing Cordy any good"

Angel hesitantly let the figure go.  Almost immediately they ran away

"Well what do we do now" said Gunn vocalising what everyone was thinking

St Matthews Hospital, Maternity Wing

"Fred, honey can you get me something to drink?"

I just wanna be alone, why is this happening to me, am I a bad person?

Fred walked quickly back from the drink machine, she certainly didn't want to leave Cordy alone for longer then necessary. She was so preoccupied with her thoughts that she didn't notice a large man come up behind her

"Oh my god its you"

"Where is my princess?"

"Follow me Groo, I'll take you too her"

Fred and slowly entered Cordy's room, unsure of what her reaction would be

Cordy looked up and as soon as she saw Groo she broke down

"Oh Groo"

That was all Cordy could say.  Groo held Cordy in his arms and silently cried in his heart.

What has happened to my princess, I never should have left her

There was a knock at the door

"Erm excuse me Miss Chase, I have to give you an anaesthetic now before we can induce you"

"Ok" Cordy said in a weak voice

The doctor left the room and Fred came in.

"How is everything?"

Groo answered "my princess is very sad we will have to be strong for her"

"Oh NO NOT MY BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Cordy sat up with a start

"Cordy what is it, what did you see"

"I sa, saw Drusilla, and some guys in robes, they were cutting my baby out of me"

"What I don't understand" Fred said in a confused tone

Groo stood up "you're coming with me princess, I sense much danger here"

"But you can't just leave? What about Angel"

"Fred please let me go, I can't stay here any longer"

Fred nodded slowly.  She understood that if Cordy had a vision of her baby,  then things must be really bad.  She let Cordy go with Groo but not before giving Cordy a huge hug and making Groo promise to look after her.

"Don't tell me where you are going cos that way I can't lie and y'all know I ain't that good at lying"

"Thanks Fred, I'll see you soon"

Hyperion

Angel, Connor, Wes and Gunn entered to lobby of the hotel, ready to begin research.  They weren't prepared to see Fred waiting for them.

"Where's Cordy?" asked Connor worriedly

"She's gone"

"Gone?, gone where?" Angel shouted

"She's gone with Groo, I don't know where just know that she's safe"

"But what about the baby" asked Wes

"Cordy had a vision, of Drusilla whoever that is"

Caritas

"Take it easy my princess, we're almost there"

"What are we doing here?" asked Cordy weakly

"Relax cupcake, Groo is gonna take you somewhere safe"

"Lorne? what's going on? I don't understand"

"Trust me sweet cheeks"

With that Lorne began to chant to open a portal to Pylea.

"mhfieusjk  eifujnfx asuijtrgnmk dikmfgoi tugpt  sdootmhtosdf"

A bright swirling portal opened up in the middle of the lounge.

"Lorne, what's"

"Come my princess, back to where you can rest"

"Tell them, tell them I'm ok" said Cordy

"See you soon" replied Lorne somewhat sadly

As Groo and Cordy disappeared into the portal to Pylea, Lorne whispered

"I sure hope the powers know what they're doing"

Hyperion

"What do you mean she's gone, what is she doing with this Groo?" shouted Connor, distressed

"Angel please, Cordy was so afraid, this Drusilla girl has got her really wigged"

"I think we had better be prepared for any eventuality, especially with Drusilla involved"  stated Wesley

"If anything happens to her, I'll"

"Yeah that goes for me too" said Gunn

Pylea

Cordy and Groo entered the castle where Cordy last reigned as princess.  Groo dismissed all the servants and he led Cordy to a chamber reserved for special visitors to Pylea.

"Talk about stepping back in time" said Cordy with a slight depression in her voice

"You will be safe here" said Groo still unsure of human rituals when it came to procreation

"Groo could you uh"

"Princess?"

"Groo" Cordy whispered breathlessly. "I think the baby is coming!"

"I don't under" Groo watched helplessly as Cordy began to clutch her enlarged stomach in pain

Hyperion

A bright flash engulfed the lobby as Skip appeared

"What are you doing here?" asked Angel

"I'm here to take Cordelia upstairs"

"Huh?" said Connor

"The higher realms, the powers felt that she might need protection considering..."

"Considering what" asked Wesley, not wanting to give anything away

"That doesn't matter now, where is she?"

"Groo has taken her somewhere to rest, she just lost the baby"  spoke up Fred

"Mmmm, was Cordelia acting kind of strange before that, I mean kind of Soulless?" Skip directed at the gang

The gang stand in front of Skip confused, Lorne slowly sneaking in trying not to get noticed.  Angel looks at Skip and images begin to flash across his mind

Cordy biting Connor, yellow eyes............

Gunn turns, hearing a noise behind him - Lorne.  In an instant Connor has Lorne pushed up against a wall.

"WHERE IS SHE!!!!!!!" Connor shouts

"Connor listen to me"

"QUIET!!!!!" bellowed Skip "I think you should listen to me"

"Go ahead, and this better be good" Angel with a stern edge to his voice

"Cordelia's daughter is special, very special kind of like a chosen one except she is prophesied to lead the army of good and it is imperative that she remains on our side"

The gang stared at Skip, stunned.

"What else do you know about this?" asked Wesley, curiosity intrigued

Skip looked at Wesley, face not giving anything away.

"find her, before it's too late" Skip pleaded before disappearing

Pylea

Groo stood looking at Cordy with confusion and sadness in his eyes.  Carefully he handed the lifeless body of Cordy's daughter to her.  Cordy is barely able to look at her, knowing is she does she will have to accept that she is gone.

"I shall leave you to mourn"

"Please stay"

"Anything for you princess"

Cordy looked at her daughter with huge sadness in her eyes.  She didn't even try and stop the tears from falling.  Groo gripped her tightly allowing his own tears to fall.

"Goodnight my precious Niamh sleep tight"

Coming soon - Chapter Four - Mother's love for the dead

Promise!!!!

Niamh - meaning 'radiance' or 'brightness'