Title: This is me, now
Author: Cookie-dough
Rating: PG-13ish I guess for now
Spoilers: Let's just say up to season 4 to be on the safe side
Pairing: A/C.would I give you anything else? Hmmmm maybe B/S one day.
Timeline: Set in season 3, only Cordelia and Xander never dated, so Willow never cheated on Oz so everything's dandy with them.
Summary: When Angel rescues Cordelia and a baby, the pair start to spend more time together, and Angel sees a side of Cordelia no one knew existed.
Disclaimer: I don't own them, Joss does, apparently he gives us what we need, but it's not necessarily what we want. A/C!
Distribution: If ya want it, let me know
AN: Just a thanks in advance to people who stop by, read and review.
Chapter one
Cordelia lived alone. Well for roughly 250 odd days a year this was true. Her parents had bought a place in Hawaii, and as tempting as moving there sounded, Cordelia didn't want to leave Sunnydale.
She chuckled. If only the Scoobies could hear me now, she thought to herself. They would never, could never believe that I was actually staying in Sunnydale on my own accord. They would think that I could never give up my popularity and status in school to even think about moving. I wonder if they would feel the same way if they knew I was here by myself? But I'm never going to find out the answer to that question, simply because they will never find out. I must be some actress if they've yet to see who I really am, the popular, bitchy act they see everyday is just that, an act. They are better off not knowing, I can carry on as I am and if I don't let anyone in, then I can't get hurt.
It was still early, but Cordelia had decided to call it a night. She wanted to spend the weekend alone, without Harmony and friends in tow. The Bronze had been busy; a Friday night usually was, especially when there was a band playing. The Dingoes had entertained them that evening and with Oz playing, Willow and the gang had come along to watch. Apparently, from what Cordelia had overheard, there had been very little Hellmouthy activity that week so the Scoobies were kicking back at the Bronze.
"I'll see you guys on Monday." Cordelia said, as she stood to leave.
"You're not leaving already are you? Zack is supposed to be here soon and you know that he'll want to ask you to the formal." Harmony replied.
"I would stay Harmony, but I.. ah I'm going to the spa this weekend, really early." She held her breath, would Harmony buy her story.
"Well I want to hear all about it on Monday." Cordelia sighed, nice recovery.
Grabbing her jacket, she made her way downstairs and headed out the large steal door, avoiding the Scoobies as best she could. Cordelia Chase, leaving a party early? She didn't want to have to come up with an excuse for them as well.
The evening chill had picked up, and she wrapped her jacket tighter around herself, crossing her arms across her chest. She kept her head down and headed for home. Turning left at the end of the alley in which the Bronze was situated, she heard a scuffle. Turning toward the sound she listened again. Nothing. Shaking it off, she started to walk away. It was then that she heard it.
"Help, somebody help me!" The voice cried.
Cordelia spun on her heel and ran towards the screaming woman. Ramming her hands into her pockets, she searched for the stake she had placed in there only hours ago, along with a cross. She didn't hangout much with the Scoobies, but that didn't mean that she didn't know how stay safe in Sunnydale. And being safe meant always carrying a stake and or cross, both for the truly prepared.
She ran to the corner of the alley, keeping close to the wall, she surveyed the situation. Four vampires surrounded the young woman, and upon closer inspection, Cordelia found that the woman was carrying a bundle in her arms, the bundle started to cry. Deciding that the element of surprise would be her best chance at causing these vampires any kind of damage, she kept to the shadows. One of the vampires took a couple of steps towards the woman and Cordelia tensed.
"Look at this boys, it's not everyday that we get a two for one." The other three vampires chuckled, and seeing this as her best chance, Cordelia stepped forward and plunged the stake through the vampire's back. The laughter stopped as their friend turned to ashes and Cordelia took up his place in the circle.
"Two for one, how about buy two, get the third free?" said Cordelia.
"Well now we're even, three against three." The would-be lead vampire replied.
"Come on, I hardly think that's fair." Cordelia said, as she took small steps towards the woman.
"Well you should have thought about that, before you stuck your nose into other people's business."
"What can I say, I'm curious." She threw back, all the while taking small steps towards the woman.
It wasn't until she reached her that she found that the vampires had already started the party. There was blood running down her neck, and her hands were stained with the liquid they craved. Following the dripping blood from the woman's hand, she saw a metal rod lying on the ground. Obviously the woman had tried to protect herself and her baby, but the rod was also covered in blood.
"Are you okay?" Cordelia whispered to the woman, never taking her eyes off the vampires in front of her.
"I, I don't know, there's a lot of blood. I tried to stop them, but they just.." She held one hand to her stomach. Cordelia realized what had happened. They had used her own weapon against her, stabbing her with it.
"Your gonna be fine. I'll take care of these guys and we'll get you to the hospital." Cordelia said, sizing up her next plan of attack.
"You're not going anywhere, we came here to party." The vampire said as they all started to move in on Cordelia.
"Sorry to crash the party, but it's getting late, you guys should be asleep." Angel said as he kicked a vampire's legs out from beneath him. Pulling a stake from his pocket he stabbed it into the vampire's heart, causing him to disappear with the breeze.
"Wow busy night, you guys might wanna think about heading off." Cordelia said, standing ready in a fighting stance she had seen Buffy execute many a time, all the while keeping the young woman and baby safely behind her.
"My thoughts exactly." Angel replied, punching another vampire in the chest, sending him crashing against a dumpster.
He grabbed a hold of the other vampire and brought his knee up into his chest, causing him to bend over in pain. Pushing him back up, Angel punched him in the face and thrust the stake in his chest. One more left.
Cordelia turned her attention to the woman and baby. She had lost a lot of blood and was near passing out. Cordelia helped her to the ground; removing her jacket she placed it under the woman's head.
"It's gonna be alright, we'll be out of here soon."
The leader of the group picked himself up off the ground and ran at Angel. The vampire kept his head low and rammed it into Angel stomach sending him flying into the wall. This time he went after Cordelia and the young woman.
Shaking away the dizzy feeling, Angel reached for his stake and ran at the vampire. He grabbed him by the shoulder, and stabbed the stake through his back, he exploded before he could speak.
"You're gonna be okay, you have to stay with me okay? What's your name?" Cordelia asked.
"Rach..Rachel."
"I'm Cordelia, and who's this little bundle?" She said peering at the baby inside the blankets.
"Josh."
"Well Josh, we're gonna get your mommy to the hospital and everything will be great."
"I need you to..." the woman paused taking deep breaths. "You, you have to take care of him, promise.. Promise me you'll take care of him."
"We're gonna get you to the hospital.." Cordelia began before the woman cut her off.
"I won't make it there. I need you to take care of my son, he doesn't have anyone else. Promise me you'll raise him as if he were your own."
Tears formed in her eyes as she nodded. "I promise."
By the time Angel joined Cordelia's side, Rachel was gone.
TBC
Author: Cookie-dough
Rating: PG-13ish I guess for now
Spoilers: Let's just say up to season 4 to be on the safe side
Pairing: A/C.would I give you anything else? Hmmmm maybe B/S one day.
Timeline: Set in season 3, only Cordelia and Xander never dated, so Willow never cheated on Oz so everything's dandy with them.
Summary: When Angel rescues Cordelia and a baby, the pair start to spend more time together, and Angel sees a side of Cordelia no one knew existed.
Disclaimer: I don't own them, Joss does, apparently he gives us what we need, but it's not necessarily what we want. A/C!
Distribution: If ya want it, let me know
AN: Just a thanks in advance to people who stop by, read and review.
Chapter one
Cordelia lived alone. Well for roughly 250 odd days a year this was true. Her parents had bought a place in Hawaii, and as tempting as moving there sounded, Cordelia didn't want to leave Sunnydale.
She chuckled. If only the Scoobies could hear me now, she thought to herself. They would never, could never believe that I was actually staying in Sunnydale on my own accord. They would think that I could never give up my popularity and status in school to even think about moving. I wonder if they would feel the same way if they knew I was here by myself? But I'm never going to find out the answer to that question, simply because they will never find out. I must be some actress if they've yet to see who I really am, the popular, bitchy act they see everyday is just that, an act. They are better off not knowing, I can carry on as I am and if I don't let anyone in, then I can't get hurt.
It was still early, but Cordelia had decided to call it a night. She wanted to spend the weekend alone, without Harmony and friends in tow. The Bronze had been busy; a Friday night usually was, especially when there was a band playing. The Dingoes had entertained them that evening and with Oz playing, Willow and the gang had come along to watch. Apparently, from what Cordelia had overheard, there had been very little Hellmouthy activity that week so the Scoobies were kicking back at the Bronze.
"I'll see you guys on Monday." Cordelia said, as she stood to leave.
"You're not leaving already are you? Zack is supposed to be here soon and you know that he'll want to ask you to the formal." Harmony replied.
"I would stay Harmony, but I.. ah I'm going to the spa this weekend, really early." She held her breath, would Harmony buy her story.
"Well I want to hear all about it on Monday." Cordelia sighed, nice recovery.
Grabbing her jacket, she made her way downstairs and headed out the large steal door, avoiding the Scoobies as best she could. Cordelia Chase, leaving a party early? She didn't want to have to come up with an excuse for them as well.
The evening chill had picked up, and she wrapped her jacket tighter around herself, crossing her arms across her chest. She kept her head down and headed for home. Turning left at the end of the alley in which the Bronze was situated, she heard a scuffle. Turning toward the sound she listened again. Nothing. Shaking it off, she started to walk away. It was then that she heard it.
"Help, somebody help me!" The voice cried.
Cordelia spun on her heel and ran towards the screaming woman. Ramming her hands into her pockets, she searched for the stake she had placed in there only hours ago, along with a cross. She didn't hangout much with the Scoobies, but that didn't mean that she didn't know how stay safe in Sunnydale. And being safe meant always carrying a stake and or cross, both for the truly prepared.
She ran to the corner of the alley, keeping close to the wall, she surveyed the situation. Four vampires surrounded the young woman, and upon closer inspection, Cordelia found that the woman was carrying a bundle in her arms, the bundle started to cry. Deciding that the element of surprise would be her best chance at causing these vampires any kind of damage, she kept to the shadows. One of the vampires took a couple of steps towards the woman and Cordelia tensed.
"Look at this boys, it's not everyday that we get a two for one." The other three vampires chuckled, and seeing this as her best chance, Cordelia stepped forward and plunged the stake through the vampire's back. The laughter stopped as their friend turned to ashes and Cordelia took up his place in the circle.
"Two for one, how about buy two, get the third free?" said Cordelia.
"Well now we're even, three against three." The would-be lead vampire replied.
"Come on, I hardly think that's fair." Cordelia said, as she took small steps towards the woman.
"Well you should have thought about that, before you stuck your nose into other people's business."
"What can I say, I'm curious." She threw back, all the while taking small steps towards the woman.
It wasn't until she reached her that she found that the vampires had already started the party. There was blood running down her neck, and her hands were stained with the liquid they craved. Following the dripping blood from the woman's hand, she saw a metal rod lying on the ground. Obviously the woman had tried to protect herself and her baby, but the rod was also covered in blood.
"Are you okay?" Cordelia whispered to the woman, never taking her eyes off the vampires in front of her.
"I, I don't know, there's a lot of blood. I tried to stop them, but they just.." She held one hand to her stomach. Cordelia realized what had happened. They had used her own weapon against her, stabbing her with it.
"Your gonna be fine. I'll take care of these guys and we'll get you to the hospital." Cordelia said, sizing up her next plan of attack.
"You're not going anywhere, we came here to party." The vampire said as they all started to move in on Cordelia.
"Sorry to crash the party, but it's getting late, you guys should be asleep." Angel said as he kicked a vampire's legs out from beneath him. Pulling a stake from his pocket he stabbed it into the vampire's heart, causing him to disappear with the breeze.
"Wow busy night, you guys might wanna think about heading off." Cordelia said, standing ready in a fighting stance she had seen Buffy execute many a time, all the while keeping the young woman and baby safely behind her.
"My thoughts exactly." Angel replied, punching another vampire in the chest, sending him crashing against a dumpster.
He grabbed a hold of the other vampire and brought his knee up into his chest, causing him to bend over in pain. Pushing him back up, Angel punched him in the face and thrust the stake in his chest. One more left.
Cordelia turned her attention to the woman and baby. She had lost a lot of blood and was near passing out. Cordelia helped her to the ground; removing her jacket she placed it under the woman's head.
"It's gonna be alright, we'll be out of here soon."
The leader of the group picked himself up off the ground and ran at Angel. The vampire kept his head low and rammed it into Angel stomach sending him flying into the wall. This time he went after Cordelia and the young woman.
Shaking away the dizzy feeling, Angel reached for his stake and ran at the vampire. He grabbed him by the shoulder, and stabbed the stake through his back, he exploded before he could speak.
"You're gonna be okay, you have to stay with me okay? What's your name?" Cordelia asked.
"Rach..Rachel."
"I'm Cordelia, and who's this little bundle?" She said peering at the baby inside the blankets.
"Josh."
"Well Josh, we're gonna get your mommy to the hospital and everything will be great."
"I need you to..." the woman paused taking deep breaths. "You, you have to take care of him, promise.. Promise me you'll take care of him."
"We're gonna get you to the hospital.." Cordelia began before the woman cut her off.
"I won't make it there. I need you to take care of my son, he doesn't have anyone else. Promise me you'll raise him as if he were your own."
Tears formed in her eyes as she nodded. "I promise."
By the time Angel joined Cordelia's side, Rachel was gone.
TBC