Chapter Three

Fred watched Cordelia swing her leg up towards the punching bag, dipping her torso lower to allow her leg more room. It hit the bag with a thud, causing it to rocket forward. Cordelia straightened up before ducking to let the bag pass over her. Instead of ducking again when it returned, she met it with a fist.

Fred was pretty sure she was good at comprehending things- after all, she used to have her theories of the universe posted on her wall. So, would she be so off kilter to believe Cordelia had launched in to training because of the arrival of Buffy and her lackeys?

[Shhh Fred,] she chided herself mentally. [Stop being so mean!] She couldn't help it though- after that man had made fun of Cordelia, who was nothing but nice- to her. She had been tempted to wave the shake in front of Cordelia's ex in proof of her un-snottiness.

"Fred!" The call brought her back to life. Fred blushed as Wesley repeated her name. "Fred. I do believe you have dozed off. If you are serious about training, you would be well to pay attention to me." Fred nodded hurriedly, a few strands of lengthy brown locks bouncing, the rest secured in a ponytail.

Soon, the clang of swords (the cheap metal types) filled the air in the training room and drounded out Fred's thoughts.

Finally, when Fred's muscles had turned liquid and she was seeing spots, Cordelia told them to stop. The boys were reluctant, so Cordelia had conceded her and Fred would watch them. Cordelia had rolled a fallen punching bag to the corner and dragged Fred with her to sit on the make- shift bench.

"So, Fred," Cordelia winked, "What do you think of Wesley?"

Fred immediately began blushing, but tried to pull off a Queen C. "Oh, I think he's okay." Her voice was steady, but the fact that she had slyly turned her head away from Cordy ruined the act.

"I was just asking, 'cause, you know, he thinks you're a hottie," Cordelia casually threw out, brushing a few strands of hair out of her glowing brown eyes. Once again, Fred was flabbergasted at her cool casuality and amazing beauty. Although Cordelia didn't have Fred's intelligence, she had the bubbly personality, vibrant beauty and radiating energy Fred had always admired.

"H-he does?" She felt absurdly pleased at the thought, and felt her face burn brighter. Wringing her hands and biting her lips, she studied Wesley studiously. Perspiration beaded his hairline and concentration lined his face, and Fred thought he was absolutely wonderful. "Really?" Her voice wavered- it had the unsure hopefulness Fred mastered. Not on purpose, mind you, but still.

"Mhmm," the petite brunette hummed, and then shouted out, "Drop the swords and fight like men you mice!" When both of the guys looked at her, she just shrugged and giggled. "It's more interesting anyways."

When the men resumed sparring, Cordelia turned to Fred. "Wesley is waaay to English to say this, but he really likes you. And you like him. There is *so* a high school subject between you. Why don't you just go for it?"

Fred nodded as if it made sense. "Do you mean chemistry?"

Cordelia nodded. "Oh, yeah. I tried erasing the word from my memory. That was totally NOT my favorite thing in the world."

***

She collapsed into the tub, letting the bubbles soothe her aching muscles. "Ohh..." Cordelia moaned. "Thank you *so* much Dennis! I so owe you.." Then, there was silence. It was like heaven- the constant static in her head began to ebb away... she was slipping into unconsciousness.

As soon as blackness enveloped her, a sharp knocking began to hammer its way into Cordelia's utopia. [God no... if there is anything good or right in this world, please let the noise go away.] And eventually, to her immense relief, the noise subsided- until someone was shaking her awake. "Cordy! Cordy wake up- Cordelia!"

"Ugh- ugh," the fuzz of sleep still in her mouth, she blinked up at somebody's worried face, and realized it was Angel's. "A-Angel? What the hell?"

He was still shaking her when he realized she was, er, partially exposed. He let her go, and she sunk back into the water, her lids fluttering half- way shut again. He grinned sheepishly, his cheeks flushing a red, "I was worried. And you didn't answer- you shouldn't fall asleep in the water. You can drown."

"Thank you Mr. Safety," she mumbled. And WHY was he still looking at her that way? Like he never saw breasts before. Rolling her eyes, she smiled up at Angel unexpectedly. "Sorry. I need sleep. And thanks for caring."

"Y-your welcome," he said hesitantly, seeming to expect it to be a trap. "W—well, I'm going to, you know, wait out there."

Biting her lip to stifle a giggle, she nodded and he bolted out of the room. "What a baby..." She murmured before slipping out of the tub, slipping into a rather risqué robe and making her way to the living room. [*Something* must have happened... he would be with Buffy otherwise.] She couldn't help being bitter. When you think you might *love* somebody and you know that it will *never* be possible, it leaves you a little cranky.

Her foot slipping, she tumbled into Angel, causing them both to fall with a thud to the floor, Cordelia's robe situated in an inappropriate area and Cordelia *herself* thinking inappropriate thoughts.

[Oh, shit. This is so not helping my "relaxing"...]

Suddenly, Buffy, her crew in tow barged in. "Heellllo, private house. Barge much?" Even her mildly snarky comment couldn't stop Buffy from gaping with pure terror. "This is *so* not what you think," she added, hastily securing her robe and scrambling off of the bewildered vampire.

"Angel?" Buffy glared at him impatiently, apparently waiting for an explanation.

Poor baby, Cordelia thought sympathetically, but she couldn't stop the giggle from bubbling up her throat. He looked so cute when frightened- and the rather piqued Slayer seemed increasingly frightening.

***

Angel slowly ascended to his feet, ceremoniously dusting off his spotless black duster. Cordelia looked like she was about to laugh. [*She* was the one who put me in this position... damn Seer.] He was about to resort to her methods and stick his tongue out at her when she jolted backwards, clasping her head. Angel immediately grabbed her and wrapped her in his protective embrace while she thrashed about in growing pain.

Like always, he felt so helpless... he wanted to help Cordelia, ease her pain, but there was no way. And this one seemed to be a big vision because her cries were not subsiding and neither was her thrashing. Gathering her in his arms (and carefully not to move the robe) he sat down with her in his arms, her head pounding about on the cushions. A gust of wind showed that Dennis would help if needed.

Buffy had fallen silent, as had Willow and Xander, when the vision began. Slowly, Cordelia's shrieks settled into cries and her cries had fallen into whimpers. Her thrashing had stilled, too, but she buried her face in his shirt and unashamedly (at the moment) cried, sobs wracking her body. He did the best he could and provided her comfort, not minding as his silk shirt began to dampen from tears. Finally, she stopped but she wouldn't look up.

"There..." Angel inwardly cursed at his inadequately- he couldn't do anything but slay the baddie and hand her aspirin. He felt the tremble in her voice, the unrelenting pitter-patter of her racing heartbeat. It was so unfair... "There was Drusilla. And Darla. And a girl. A blonde girl." Pause. "The blonde one wasn't a vampire... but... they treated her like one." Pause. "They... were torturing..." a shudder ripped through her body as she described the horrid event, "children. And... it hurt." Digging her face deeper in her chest, she needed comfort.

"Cordelia..." he began gently. "Is there any place, or person I have to save?" She shook her head and when she finally looked up, his undead heart broke. Her large eyes were puffy from tears and paths the liquid had made down her cheeks were still there, leaving an imprint. "I-it was just to inform you, I-I think." Sniffling, she wiped her nose on her sleeve and removed herself from his lap and shuffled down the corridor into the bedroom. He could hear her faint voice calling to Dennis for water and aspirin. He hurried to oblige her.