AN: Just a big thanks to everyone who reviewed, hope you like the next chapter.

Chapter two

Cordelia held the baby close, protecting him from the chill. Angel had called an ambulance from Cordelia's cell phone and they were on their way to recover the body. Rachel's body lay on the alley floor, and all Cordelia could do was stare, as she rocked the baby gently from side to side, her eyes never left the young woman.

"Are you sure your all right? You don't have to stay." Angel said, as he placed a reassuring hand on Cordelia's back.

Slowly tearing her gaze away, she looked at Angel. "I want to stay."

Within a few minutes an ambulance arrived, and without the sirens whaling, nobody noticed them place the body on a stretcher, closing the doors behind them.

Angel had explained on the phone that they had just found the woman on their way home. Finding her wallet they were able to identify her, and this being Sunnydale, the wallet still being with the body was not as suspicious as one might think. The ambulance driver approached them.

"There's nothing you can do here, I suggest you take your wife and child home. These streets aren't safe at night."

Not correcting the driver, Angel nodded his thanks and joined Cordelia.

They watched the ambulance disappear out of site before either one of them spoke.

"We should get you home." Angel said turning to Cordelia. She nodded and they walked side by side, back to her house.

When they arrived at the front door, Cordelia removed her key from her trouser pocket, and unlocked the door. She stepped inside and turned to face Angel, who just stood on the porch.

"You can come in." She said, as she walked further into the house.

"Are you sure your parents won't mind?" He asked before he moved.

Too tired to lie, she spoke. "They're not here."

"Oh, they're away for the weekend?" He had spent very little time with Cordelia Chase, but every time he did, he was sure that she was trying to hit on him. At least that's what Buffy had said. But from what he had seen from her this evening, he was doubtful that she would try anything in the state she was in.

"Something like that. Are you coming in or not?" He stepped inside and closed the door behind him, following her into the open lounge.

It was spacious, and tastefully decorated, obviously showing the money that was spent on it. Cordelia took a seat on the large couch, careful not to disturb the sleeping baby in her arms. Angel took a seat opposite her on one of the matching chairs. For a moment they sat in silence.

Many questions had been swimming around in his head that night, so he made a start at getting some answers.

"Cordelia." He paused, which question to ask first. "What we're you doing in the alley this evening?"

She took a deep breath. She knew that there were questions she needed to answer. And she knew that Angel was different from the rest of them, besides, she was tired of hiding who she really was.

"I left the Bronze and I was on my way home, when I heard screaming."

"So, why didn't you go and get Buffy, wasn't she at the Bronze tonight?"

"Yeah. But I guess instincts just set in. I heard someone screaming for help, so I went."

"You may have saved his life." Angel said leaning forward, his arms resting on his knees.

"Hardly, if you hadn't of come along when you did, the ambulance would have been picking up three bodies."

She paused as she thought about it. "What were you doing there anyway?"

"Patrol. I gave Buffy the night off." She nodded.

After a long pause, Angel spoke again. "So what are you going to do about Josh?"

"What I promised to do. I'm gonna take care of him."

"Cordelia, won't your parents be a bit suspicious when they hear crying at all hours of the night?"

"Unless it drifts across the Hawaiian coastline, I think I'll be alright." She joked.

"Hawaii?" Angel was confused.

"Yes, apparently once you visit, you don't want to leave." Angel was starting to put two and two together.

"Your parents moved to Hawaii?"

"That's right. I've got the place to myself."

"They didn't want you to go along with them?"

"Believe me, they asked once and when I refused, lets just say they weren't too cut up about it. I believe my room is to become the gym, or was it daddy's new office, I forget." She said with a hint of anger in her voice.

"So how long ago did they leave?"

"Well they wanted to be there in time for Christmas, so about four months, give or take." She said as she peered down at the baby in her arms, he was still sound asleep.

"So, you were alone for Christmas?" Angel asked, starting to realize why Cordelia could be the way she was.

"If anyone asks, I was skiing in Aspen."

Angel distantly remembered Buffy and the gang mention something about Aspen, in one of their many verbal bashings of Cordelia.

"Angel? Could we just keep this between the two of us? The baby as well, I just don't want anyone finding out yet."

He nodded. "Sure." He paused. "I know that we haven't really had a chance to talk that much, what with Buffy and everything, but if you need to talk to someone, you know that you can talk to me. I may not be the chattiest person in the world, but I'm a good listener."

That earned him a small smile, one that he returned.

"Thank you." She replied. "For everything, not just the saving my life part." She smiled. "Hey you are a good listener."

"See, I told you."

TBC