Author: Hieiko (spikey@otakumail.com)

Disclaimers: I don't own Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Angel the Series, or any of the characters in these shows. I only write about them.

Distribution: If you want this, go ahead. Just email me and tell me where it's at. Thanks.

Spoilers: Set Post - BtVS: Chosen and Post - AtS: Destiny. AU after that.

Pairings: Hints of S/B, A/C, and B/A. Eventually S/C.

Rating: PG-13 for language, violence, and sexual situations. Nothing you won't see on the show.

Feedback: Would love that, pet. Send 'em off to spikey@otakumail.com

Summary: Spike finally goes to see Buffy in Italy, but their reunion does not go as well as he'd hoped. Cordelia Chase wakes up from her coma, and finds out that her friends are now working at Wolfram and Hart. She leaves the City of Angels and starts a new life elsewhere. The blond vampire and the part-demon seer find love once again, in the people they never would have expected.



TURNAROUND
Chapter 3



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January 21, 2004
Los Angeles, California
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Cordelia Chase opened her eyes. This time, she managed to stay conscious for longer than five seconds.

He was there, looking down at her, with a strange half-worried and half-happy expression on his face. He was also holding her left hand. His skin didn't feel cold like a vampire's should, and Cordy guessed that maybe she was cold, too, which made them the same temperature. Granted, it was a ridiculous thing to think at a time like this. What was a newly-awakened coma patient supposed to think about, anyway?

The memories rushed into her mind like a tsunami. About Jasmine, Connor, and... all these things that happened when she wasn't really there. Angel was still looking at her, and she wondered if this was how he'd felt when he got his soul. Remembering not-yourself doing evil things, and then having to deal with the consequences. It seemed being away from Angel made her understand him more. That was rather weird. That she understood him at all in the first place, well...

"...are you feeling?"

She only caught the last of what he'd said, busy as she was sifting through these memories of hers. Hey, she'd just woken up; she definitely had a right to be disoriented. But still, she gave a little smile, and answered as truthfully as she could.

"I feel weird. Not sick-weird, just feelings-weird. But I think I'll be okay."

Angel smiled then, but it had a tinge of sadness. She thought he looked like he hadn't smiled much in a long time.

"How's Connor?" she asked, as she remembered the little baby-turned-sullen teenager she had helped take care of. But then she recalled what Pod-Cordy had done, and almost wished she hadn't asked about the boy.

"You remember Connor?" Angel croaked out, eyes wide.

Cordy frowned at his question. Why shouldn't she remember Connor? Sure, there were a few things that she wished she DIDN'T remember, but why would she forget? Maybe he'd thought she wouldn't have Pod-Cordy's memories. That seemed like the logical explanation. But the way he'd sounded, clued her in that it wasn't the RIGHT explanation. Only now did she look around the room, and what she saw filled her with foreboding.

"Angel, what the hell are we doing in Wolfram and Hart?"



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January 31, 2004
Los Angeles, California
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Angel replaced the receiver and sighed. Was this happy news? Sad news? Did he care whether it was one or the other?

When Spike hadn't returned from Italy since he left almost two weeks ago, Angel had assumed that he had reunited with the blond Slayer and... Well, he didn't want to think of what they would be doing. As it was, he had assumed wrong.

It turned out that Buffy and Spike didn't get back together. And then his wayward grandchilde had taken off for parts unknown. Angel wondered what that would mean for the Shanshu prophecy.

He also wondered what it would mean for... him and Buffy. He still kept that sliver of hope that someday they would have their chance. That hope had shrunk considerably when Buffy chose Spike as her Champion instead of him. But now that hope flared again. Could he ever truly let go of her?

"Angel, I need to tell you something." Cordy's voice broke into his thoughts.

She stood at the doorway of his office. From the speculative look on her face, Angel realized Cordy knew exactly what he had been thinking.

When Angel didn't reply, but instead just looked at her, Cordy stepped inside the office and stood in front of his desk. She motioned for him to move, and then they settled beside each other on the couch.

"Look, I'm just going to say this. Direct to the point, okay?" She paused. "I love you, Angel."

"Cordy..." Angel started to say.

She cut him off. "Please, Angel, don't say anything yet. There's something else. I'm leaving."

"Leaving? You mean, leave Wolfram and Hart? But Cordy, you don't have to do that..."

"No, I don't. But this is what I want. This place... it's not a good place. I can't convince any of you, but I can't stay here."

"Where are you going? Stay, please. You know we care about you." He paused. "I care about you, Cordy. I lo-"

"Don't say it. Not when just minutes ago you were imagining a future with Buffy."

Angel didn't know what to say, because she was right. So he kissed her. And she kissed him back.

They pulled away almost at the same time. When Cordy looked up and stared straight into his eyes, Angel saw that she hadn't changed her mind. She knew him well, knew that he hadn't moved on. He couldn't string her along. He'd hoped she would stay and they could just be friends, but now knew that wasn't going to happen.

"Goodbye, Angel." And then she was gone.