The next day at Wolfram and Hart; now Angel Investigations.



"So we need to work this out." Gunn said angrily.

"Yeah I know that! Do you think I can't handle this just because I don't have a brilliant lawyer's mind?" Wesley retaliated.

"Guys..." Angel tried to say.

"Okay we can't bring that up Wesley." Gunn said, the thought of Fred creeping into his mind.

"Guys!" Angel shouted.

Both Gunn and Wes turned to see a frustrated Angel at the doorway.

"What?" Gunn asked.

"I have...well a surprise." Angel said smiling.

Angel turned and took Cordelia's hand, and led her in.

"Hey guys, I'm back." She said smiling and sweeping her hair out of her face.

"Cordelia? How? But I thought..." Gunn stuttered.

"Cordelia!" Wes said running and throwing his arms around her neck.

Gunn then joined in and hugged Cordy too. Angel stood back smiling. It felt great to see Cordelia again.

"How did this happen? I mean you were..." Gunn trailed off.

"The Powers brought me back. Said I had someone to help." She replied, shooting a smile at Angel.

"Babycakes! Is that really you?" Lorne said walking in the door and hugging Cordelia.

"Wow, so much attention!" Cordy said laughing, "Yes it's really me."

"So the Powers brought you back. Why? I mean you're supposed to help someone? But they didn't say who?" Wes said looking thoughtful.

"Where's Fred?" Cordelia asked suddenly.

"What?" Gunn and Wes blurted at the same time.

"Fred? Where is she?" Cordy asked looking around. She could see the pain in their eyes. "What? Where is she?"

"Cordelia, maybe you should sit down. There's a lot you need to know." Angel said, placing his hand on the small of her back.

"She's not...no?" Cordelia said quietly.

"There was nothing any of us could do to save her." Angel said looking at Gunn, "Ilyeria, an ancient demon was released into her body. Ilyeria took over her body, and she killed Fred.

Angel could see the tears fill Cordy's eyes, and it killed him. It killed him to see her cry, to feel pain. It made him wonder where she had been before, well before she came back. She had to be in heaven. It was Cordy, she was the real angel. She was his angel.

"So...she's gone?" Cordy said crying, "And this...this demon?"

"Well she tried to get Wesley to help her, because she looked like Fred. Wes fell for it at first," Angel said putting his hand on Wesley's shoulder, "but our Wes is stronger than that. Needless to say we got rid of Ilyeria for good. She killed our friend, and very nearly killed Wesley too."

"Oh well that's good. But poor Fred, she was so...innocent." Cordy said as the tears still fell down her face. "She was a brave one though; she was the strongest one. I'm sure she's looking down on us right?"

"Yes. Yes, I'm sure she is." Wesley said, obviously trying not to cry.

***

Later on in Angel's office.



"Are you okay Cor?" Angel asked looking at Cordelia from the doorway.

"Yeah. Come in here." Cordelia said reaching out her hand to him.

Angel walked over to the bed where Cordy was laying on her stomach. She took his hand and pulled him down next to her. He smiled and kissed her.

"It's great to have you back Cordy." Angel said, laying on his back and glancing into her soft brown eyes. Cordy lay over his stomach and smiled.

"Well it's great to be back. I know I must have missed you. I mean I loved you so much, Angel. But what do we do now?" She asked, looking serious again.

"I'm not sure." Angel said brushing her hair out of her face.

"I mean, we can't have a normal relationship. And I, well I am not sure we can control ourselves together." Cordy said trying not to smile.

"Yeah I know what you mean. It was hard enough to stop last night. But I have my curse, and I there's no way to get around it. But I won't lose you. I am not letting you go again, Cordelia. You belong with me, and somehow I will find a way to be with you." He said kissing her again, and then letting her rest her head on his chest.

"And I don't want to lose you either Angel. All I remember is being torn apart from you, and I never want that again. If being with you means controlling ourselves; if that's what it takes; I'm all for it. I love you so much." She said closing her eyes, and drifting to sleep.

"We'll find a way Cor. I will find a way, that's why I am going to see the Powers." He said.

"What?" Cordy said opening her eyes, and sitting up.

"I am going to talk to the Powers That Be. They are the only ones that can help me. You said they brought you back to help me, why? We need to know why." Angel said.

"When?" She asked.

"As soon as I can. Tonight if I can." Angel said.

"Are you sure it's a good idea? It's not safe to bother them Angel. And I don't want you getting hurt." Cordy said.

"It's something I have to do. They are the ones with the power to help us. To let us be together, and they have to help us." Angel said.

"Be careful Angel, maybe I should go with you?" She asked, sitting up so that Angel could get up.

"No, I am not putting you through that risk. They brought you back, and they can certainly take you away again, and I won't risk that. I will be careful, but I have to do this." Angel said.

"Okay, but don't make them angry Angel. They are powerful, like you said, and dangerous." Cordy said softly kissing Angel. "I love you."

"I love you too." He said kissing her forehead. "I'll be back soon."



***



Angel had been to see the Powers once before, so this time he was ready. He brought a gift, as he had with the Oracles before.

"What is this? What does this lower being want with us?" the Powers bellowed.

"I have brought a gift, and I come for answers." Angel said loudly.

"And what answers would you be so rudely requesting, lower being?"

"You brought someone back to Earth; Cordelia Chase. She was told that she was brought back to help someone; me. What is her purpose here? And is she back to stay?"

"Well the lower being is impatient isn't he?"

"Please help me out here." Angel said, trying to sound patient.

"Cordelia Chase was brought back to help you. Only time will tell her purpose. We can tell you that she is going to stay on Earth. We won't take her back, not in the same way. But you didn't just come to ask us that now did you?" The Powers asked. "You ask us of this curse bestowed upon you. The curse you bare for your past."

"Yes." Angel replied.

"You were given that curse to atone for all of your past sins, lower being, and you want us to just take it away?"

"Well, no. I'll do anything! I have helped many people. I have tried to redeem myself. I'm sure it doesn't fully atone for what I've done, but I'll do anything."

"Anything he says? Well there is one way, lower being. One way that you can be cured. You will still remain as a demon, with your soul, but you will be rid of your curse."

"What? What do I do?" Angel asked.

"It will be a test, a test of strength. Not just physical, but mental. You will have to pass them completely. And then, and only then may you be cured of this curse."

"I'll do it!" Angel said.

"So willing to do this are we? Are you sure? There is no turning back once the test has begun. No getting out of it." The Powers said.

"I'll do it. Whatever it takes." Angel begged.

"So it shall be. Let the tests begin!" The Powers bellowed.

Angel suddenly found himself in a dark room. He felt the hilt of a sword in his hand. But he could see nothing; as if his sight was gone. It wasn't just the room that was dark, it was his eyes. He heard a noise behind him and swung around. He hit nothing, but he could sense something in the room with him. Something, big. His, now bare, feet hit the cold stone as he walked slowly across the room towards the noise he heard. He lifted the sword parallel to his nose and stood still and silent. It took all his concentration to focus on whatever this demon was. He took a deep, obviously unneeded breath, and swung the sword.

He heard the clean slice of something being severed in half. At the same moment his eyesight returned to him. He saw the two pieces of an unknown demon on the floor before him. If this was what the test was going to be like, it was nothing. Right? Unless it got worse from here.

He looked around and saw a doorway leading to a hall. He walked slowly through the door and down the carpeted hallway. They walls were narrow, but considerably in better condition of that in the room. He saw a doorway to his left and walked in.

To his surprise he ended up in a small bedroom. What was this? It was obviously a girl's room, with a bed and blue and white decorations. Was this part of the test, or was it over just like that? But then he heard someone behind him. He knew it was before he even turned around.

"Hello Angel."

"Buffy."

TBC...