HARM'S WAY

Spoilers- up to mid season 5, after that it's my AU-verse. Before the whole Lindsey incident started, there is no Lindsey and there won't be in this fic.

Disclaimer- Lets get two things straight, no matter what rumors you may have heard I don't own Angel. It belongs to Joss and that band of people that like to put their viewers through hell on occasion, but even then we still love them. Secondly, I don't own the plot either. This is a response to a challenge by GidgetGirl.

Note- I wrote a prequel to this that you really should read, it explains my representation of Harmony. I really thought that Harmony was underestimated by the AI crew. So go read 'I Just Wanted Someone To Talk To'.

Note2- Big THANK YOU to: Gidgetgirl, Darklight, MysticWolf1 and Kim-Gordon. Gives you big hug, you people rock!

Note3- I'm thinking of pairing up Fred with someone to give Cordy and Harmony a project. So do you think it should be Wes or Spike?

Note4- Does anyone know the name of Lorne's assistant? It would be really helpful it someone did.

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Chapter 2

Cordelia kneeled down and searched the little girl's face. "Harmony?" She repeated. "Is that your name?"

Harmony nodded her head, her unfettered hair swinging forward to cover her eyes. She lifted her head and peered up at Cordelia through her hair. "Yep yep."

Harmony's eyes fixed on Cordelia's hair. Her hand rose towards Cordelia's head before she jerked and pulled back. She ducked her head slightly. "You have real pretty hair, can I touch it? Mama said you should always ask before you touch someone's hair cause this one time I touched this lady's hair and it fell right off her head."

Cordelia looked dazed, but she nodded. An excited light in her eyes Harmony reached up and pulled a lock of Cordelia's hair forward, rubbing it between her little chubby fingers. Letting go of her hair Harmony patted Cordelia on the head. "Pretty."

"You have got to be kidding me." Gunn strode forward to examine Harmony. She smiled up at him, completely undisturbed to be in a room full of strangers. Gunn knelt down and studied her, before looking up at the others. He sighed. "Like we don't have enough to do already, now we have to look after a kid as well."

Harmony put her hands on her hips, her bottom lip in danger of sticking out. "I'm not a kid. I'm 4 and 2/3's."

Gunn gave her a skeptical look. "Right, you're all grown up."

She nodded. "And don't you forget it."

Angel couldn't take his eyes off Cordelia. "Cordy?"

She turned to Angel, her eyes filled with tears. "Hey Angel."

Angel darted around his desk and pulled her into a tight hug. He buried his face in her hair and inhaled deeply, oh how he had missed that smell, that smell that was distinctly Cordelia.

Angel growled as someone tapped him on the shoulder. Cordelia giggled, placing her hand on his chest. "I think the others want to say hello."

Angel reluctantly let her go. Cordy squealed as Wesley swept her into a big bear hug. "Put me down you crazy Englishman."

Wesley placed her back on the ground. Cordelia grinned at him and gave him an extra squeeze. "I missed you Wes."

He cleared his throat. "I missed you too Cordy, in fact we all missed you."

Next Lorne drew her into an embrace. "Hey Princess, don't do that to us ever again. Things aren't nearly as exciting when you're not here."

She smiled at him. "I promise, never again. No more demon possession for this girl." She looked over Lorne's shoulder and spotted Gunn. "Oh my god, Gunn you have hair!"

He laughed at her. "Yeah, what did you think? That I was prematurely bald?"

There was silence. Gunn looked slightly offended. "I'm not." Cordelia let out a laugh. "Well I can see that."

Cordelia gasped upon seeing Fred. "My gods Fred look at you. Your skirts have gone by way of Ally Mcbeal, but I like it. You look good."

Excited Fred squeezed Cordelia tightly. "I'm so glad your back. We have so much to catch up on, oh there's this new bar we have to go to."

Cordelia smiled. "Yeah, it's definitely a date."

She turned towards the window's where Spike had situated himself. She arched her eyebrow. "Hi Spike."

He nodded at her. "Cheerleader."

Cordelia grinned wickedly and pulled Spike into a hug. She whispered in his ear. "You did a good thing, let that be your reward if you can't face her."

Angel let out a loud menacing growl, he knew Spike was ensouled but that didn't mean he had the right to put his hands all over his Cordy.

Cordy looked around the room. "Hey, where's Con-"

Before he could anything about it there was a loud crash. He turned to the corner, where little Harmony stood, one finger still outstretched. The priceless Ming vase lay on the floor in shards.

Harmony looked up at Angel with her best innocent face. "Ooops?"

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"Well, we have to do something with her. She's a child, she can't be expected to take care of herself." Fred's logical argument broke into the discussion.

"But…"

Cordelia looked over towards the small table that they had set Harmony at. She was quite content to design her 'fashion show' while the adults argued over who was going to take care of her.

She broke into the argument. "Who's the busiest? What do you do here?"

"Well Fred's the head of our Research and Development division, Gunn handles the law side, Lorne does entertainment and Wes is head of our Research department, you know with the books and prophecies." Angel answered her.

Cordelia took a deep breath; she couldn't believe she was going to suggest this. "Then it's clear, Spike, Angel and I will just have to look after her."

Angel backed up, waving his hands in front of him. "No but I'm the boss, very busy."

Cordelia ignored him and focused on a cursing Spike. "And why can't you help look after her? After all you did go out with her, not to mention treating her like crap. And you're freeloading off Angel, and I know you've had practice with looking after Dawn."

Spike looked at her. "What are going to do if I say no?"

Cordelia stared him in the eye. "Tie you to a chair, naked, and leave you on the streets all night."

Spike sighed. "Bloody hell, fine then. I'll help."

Lorne felt a tug on his jacket. He looked down. "Yes my little Harmonica?"

Harmony gazed up at him and in all seriousness asked him. "You do know that your suit clashes with your skin tone right?"