Vengeance

Title: Vengeance

Author: AngelDelia

Email: deliachase@hotmail.com

Rating: PG-13 (NC-17 later parts)

Category: Angst, romance, AU

Content: C/A, S/F, S/F/C/A friendship, Anya/G-friendship

Disclaimer: The characters in the Buffyverse were created by Joss

Whedon & David Greenwalt.

Distribution: Anywhere, as long as i am notified.

Willow doesn't exist in this fic.

Buffy and Cordelia are best friends.

Cordelia's attitude is like Fred's, and her way of dress the same too, too much like Cordelia.

Cordelia and Xander and very much in love.

Oz and Buffy are good friends.

Jenny Calendar is still alive (but living far form Sunnydale), she was the one who restored Angel's soul.

Faith is not a slayer. Anya is the other slayer.

Xander is the werewolf

KEEP A OPEN MIND CAUSE THE CHARACTERS ARE NOTHING LIKE THE SHOW

Part 1

Cordelia was enjoying the night air as she walked to Buffy's house. It had been a long time since she had gone out at night without worrying about the evils that lurked in the dark, but she felt like being brave that night. She hadn't seen Buffy in almost a week, other than school, because Buffy had actually been patrolling a lot more lately. Cordelia suspected that part of that was because Angel had been out of town for the past two weeks, having to go to Ireland to get something for Giles. Cordelia missed Angel too, ever since Angel had returned from hell, their friendship with had grown. The two of them would spend hours talking and were surprised to find out how much they had in common with each other. Cordelia enjoyed hearing about all the things that Angel had seen in his 240 plus years, while Angel appreciated the fact that Cordelia readily accepted everything about his life, including his vampiric nature. Buffy knew about Cordelia and Angel's friendship, and while she wasn't overjoyed by it, she tried to understand that the two of them were friends. Normally Cordelia wouldn't have minded not seeing Buffy that much, but Xander had also been busy all week.

(At least Angel wants to hang out with me, unlike certain boyfriend.) Cordelia was surprised by that thought, but she was lonely. She missed hanging out with the Buffy and Xander at the Bronze. Cordelia knew that Xander was hanging out with his dad. Cordelia heard a twig snap to her right and she stopped walking.

"Who's out there?" she shouted as she slowly drew a stake and a bottle of holy water from her purse. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw who had been following her. "Angel," she smiled as she ran up and gave him a hug. "When did you get back in town?"

"Late last night," Angel answered as he returned Cordelia's hug, gently lifting her off the ground. When he let her go, he smiled down at the brunette. "If I had known I was going to get that kind of a welcome, I would have had you pick me up at the airport."

"Why didn't you?"

"I didn't get in until five in the morning and I knew that you had mid-terms today, so I figured I would let you sleep." Cordelia seemed to think about that for a minute.

"Okay. I see your point. You're forgiven," Cordelia replied, smiling up at him. She pulled him into another hug. "So where are you headed, as if I didn't know" Cordelia joked. Angel looked at her guiltily.

"Yeah, well, I haven't seen her in two weeks, so I thought I'd surprise her."

"Wait, are you telling me she doesn't know that you're back in town?"

"Nope. Told you, I just got back in last night," Angel explained as he and Cordelia started walking towards Buffy's house. "I tried calling her earlier but all I got was the answering machine."

"Yeah well, she's been out patrolling a lot," Cordelia said, the hurt she felt over her loneliness in her voice. Angel noticed it and wondered what was wrong.

"What's up Cordelia?"

Cordelia shook her head. "Nothing really. I mean, I know Buffy has to patrol and all, but it's like she's been too busy to even hang with me. Every time I suggest something, she comes up with an excuse and then leaves. And then Xander has been helping his dad and tomorrow he will be going to LA for three days, so I won't even get a chance to see him." Angel's heart went out the cheerleader. He knew what it was like to be lonely and it bothered him to see her like this.

"Is that why you were heading over to Buffy's now?"

"Yeah. Mrs. Summers is out of town this weekend, and since winter break started, I thought that maybe I could talk Buffy into maybe doing a girl's night out " Cordelia finished sadly. (And now Angel's back, so Buffy will want to spend time with him. Not like I blame her or anything. I mean he's Angel and if Xander wasn't so distant I would want to spend time with him.) Angel could see what Cordelia was thinking and had an idea.

"Well, how about this. We both show up, but I'll only stay a minute. I have to talk to Giles anyway. That way, you and Buffy have the night to talk and do whatever girls do on girl's night out." Cordelia smiled at the vampire. (That smile is definitely worth giving up a night with Buffy.)

"Would you really do that?" she asked, unsure if she heard Angel right.

"Of course. You're my friend Delia," Angel stated. "Besides, it's not like I won't be able to see Buffy tomorrow or anything."

"Thanks," Cordelia replied, feeling better already. Cordelia then decided to change the subject. "So was your trip successful? Did you get everything that Giles wanted?" Angel's face lit up.

"Yes, it was very successful. More so than I had hoped for," he said. Cordelia could hear the joy in his voice.

"What do you mean?"

"It's a surprise. I want Buffy to be the first one to know." This piqued Cordelia's curiosity, but she knew enough about the vampire to know that he wouldn't divulge any information until he was ready to. That's when she noticed that they had arrived at the Summers' home. Angel knocked on the door, but there was no answer.

"Strange," Cordelia noted, "all the lights are on, including her bedroom one."

"Maybe she can't hear us," Angel said. "Should we try the door?"

"Sure," Cordelia shrugged as she turned the knob. It opened easily and she called out Buffy's name as she and Angel entered the living room. "She's probably upstairs or something."

Angel and Cordelia made their way upstairs. They could see the door to Buffy's room was wide open and they could hear sounds coming from the room. Cordelia looked over at Angel and saw a tense look on his face. She had a feeling that whatever was going on, she wasn't going to like it. As they reached Buffy's bedroom, the cheerleader and the vampire felt like their worlds had been turned upside down. Angel caught Cordelia as she fainted and carried her downstairs and out the door, not even bothering to close it. His only concern was getting the two of them as far away from that house as quickly as possible. Upstairs, Buffy and Xander were oblivious to the pair that had just witnessed them as they continued to make love.

***

"Hello."

"Buffy, it's me Oz," came the voice on the other end of the line.

"What's up Oz?" Buffy said as she played with Xander's hair.

"Just thought I would let you two know that I just saw Angel and Delia heading over to your house." Buffy sat up when she heard that.

"Angel's back," she asked. Xander looked over at the girl in bed with him and could see her excitement over the news that her boyfriend had returned to town.

"Yup. I figured I should give you a heads up."

"Thanks Oz. I'll talk to you later," Buffy hung up the phone and turned to see Xander already getting dressed again. "Oz said both Delia and Angel were on their way over."

"Okay, I'm outta here," Xander replied as he finished putting on his shirt. "Did you still want to get together tomorrow before I have to go to LA?"

"Yup," Buffy answered as she started getting dressed. "Say around three or so. That way you have time to see Delia."

"Yeah, I haven't seen her all week. I miss her you know?" Xander said as he put his shoes on. "I hope she's okay about that."

Buffy shrugged her shoulders, "You know Cordelia, she's pretty easy going. Besides if she loves you as much as you love her, she'll be happy to spend any amount of time with you." Buffy watched as Xander walked over to her bedroom window. She quickly joined him and gave him a kiss.

"You have fun with Angel," Xander said.

"You know I will," Buffy grinned.

Xander climbed out the window and Buffy went to her dresser to finish getting ready for Angel's visit. She wished that she had time to get a shower, but she didn't want to waste a single minute of him being there. (I just hope he doesn't smell him on me) Buffy still wasn't sure what to make of her relationship with Xander and she was pretty sure that he felt the same way. There wasn't any love between the two. Buffy was in love with Angel and Xander loved Cordelia with all his heart. It was just that the two of them could give each other something that was lacking in their relationships with the other two. Cordelia still wasn't ready to give herself over to Xander (in spite the rumors Cordelia never had sex with her previous boyfriends), while Buffy and Angel couldn't do anything more than kiss because of the happiness clause. (Damn gypsies, having to mess around with my fun.)

Buffy and Xander were only in it for the sex. They could have the loving relationship with their chosen loves without having to pressure them for something the other wasn't willing to give yet. Buffy knew that eventually Cordelia and Xander would start sleeping together, and she would be happy for her best friend. (He's not Angel when it comes to experience, but Xander does have his charms.)

The only person that knew of the relationship was Oz. He had found Buffy and Xander in the stacks one day and surprised the two of them by keeping their secret. He covered for the two of them whenever someone asked about them.

Buffy looked in the mirror and was satisfied with how she looked. She went downstairs to wait for Angel and Cordelia and was surprised to find the front door wide open. She took a quick look around the house to make sure that nothing was amiss. (Odd, maybe I didn't close it tightly when Xander first got here.) Buffy went outside and sat on the front porch to wait for her love and best friend.

On the other side of town

"Angel?" Cordelia whispered against Angel's chest.

"I'm here Cor," he said softly, holding her tightly.

"Where are we? What happened?"

"We're in the park and you fainted," he said, holding onto her like she was his lifeline. "I carried you here." Cordelia looked up at the man holding her and could see the tracks that his tears had left on his face. She reached a tentative hand to brush one away.

"It's true, isn't it?" she said quietly. "I mean, it really happened?" Angel couldn't say anything. He just nodded his head. "That bitch," Angel looked down at the girl in his arms, shocked to hear her swear. She struggled to get out of his arms and he let her. He watched as she started to walk around, murder clearly written in her eyes. "That goddamn whore. And him. All this time he was telling me that he loved me and he was busy screwing my best friend, that lowlife son of a bitch." Angel didn't say anything, knowing that when Cordelia's temper flared, it was best to let her rant. "I trusted her. I told her everything and this is the thanks I get. That lying little tramp. But, hey, can't blame it all on her can we? Nope. It takes two to tango and I'd say she had a willing partner. No wonder he never bothered pressuring me to sleep with him. He didn't need me. He already had a willing partner."

"Delia," Angel said sadly. The tone in his voice made her stop and look at him. What she saw there made her anger disappear as her heart went out to the vampire.

"Oh my god, Angel, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't be taking this out on you," she apologized. "This has to be just as hard for you too. I know how much you love her." Cordelia wrapped her arms around Angel, her pain momentarily forgotten in her concern for the vampire. Angel allowed himself to be comforted by the brunette, surprised at her sudden change in attitude.

"No, Delia, it's okay," Angel replied. "I know exactly how you feel. It's all I can do to not want to go back there and let my demon out." Cordelia pulled back from Angel, a little bit of fear in her eyes. Angel saw it and felt bad immediately. "It's okay Cordelia. It's only toward them, I could never hurt you." Cordelia saw the truth in his eyes. "So, please, go ahead and vent. It'll do us both good." Cordelia actually smiled at that.

"How much venting am I allowed?"

"How much do you love them?"

"Well, as of right now, I don't," Cordelia replied truthfully as she pulled herself up and sat next to the vampire. "I don't even want to know them. All I want to do is scream and cry and break things but I don't know if it will do any good."

"Sometimes it does a whole lot of good," Angel told her.

"Sounds like you're talking from personal experience," Cordelia replied.

"Not really," Angel shrugged, "just watched as others have used that as therapy. I was usually the one that inflicted the pain, not the other way around." Cordelia thought about that for a moment.

"I just can't believe the two of them would do that. I mean, I believe it, because I saw it and all, but that they could declare their love for us and the entire time they're humping like bunnies. That's just so sleazy." Angel watched as Cordelia started processing everything that she had just learned, trying to see if there was a reason for the betrayal of her best friend and boyfriend. She was trying to find clues that would have indicated that something was going on. As bad as he felt at Buffy's cheating, he felt even worse because of the pain that he knew Cordelia was going through. Cordelia had just lost two of the most important people in the world to her and he wasn't sure how well she would be able to handle it.

"Angel, how long do you think it was going on?" Angel was surprised when Cordelia asked him that question. He thought about all the times that Buffy had begged off seeing him, saying she was going to patrol. He remembered when he went looking for her, him never finding any trace that she had even been out those nights. (My god, all this time, she's been with him.)

"I think awhile Cordelia," he said gently, waiting for the girl to start sobbing. Cordelia just nodded her head.

"Yeah, that's what I think too. It makes sense now," Cordelia took Angel's hand in hers, trying to both give and receive comfort from the vampire. "All those times that I couldn't find either one of them. The looks I saw between the two of them when they thought no one was looking. I just always passed it off as an overactive imagination." Cordelia snorted, "Overactive my ass." Angel was about to say something when he sensed some vampires nearby. He gathered Cordelia in his arms.

"Cordelia, we have to get out of her. Are your parents home," Cordelia shook her head. "I don't want you to be alone right now, and to tell you the truth I could use some company. How about coming back to the new house?"

"Yeah, I think that would be a good idea. I don't really want to be alone either. Besides, I've been dying to see the new place." Angel led Cordelia out of the park as a certain bleached blonde vampire looked on.

Spike had heard the entire conversation, and much to his dismay, his undead heart broke for the cheerleader. Spike knew what it was like to have the person you love be with someone else and he didn't wish it on anyone, even his sire. He didn't think that Angel would do anything to get back at the slayer for her betrayal of him, but he had a feeling that the blonde bimbo was going to have some trouble ahead for her harming the young brunette. (And I think I might actually want to help Peaches with that.) Spike grinned as he followed Angel and Cordelia.

TBC....