AN: Sorry this took so long guys, I like to try and have the next chapter
ready before I post again, so chapter 9 is almost done so here's chapter 8.
Thanks for the reviews, keep 'em coming!
Chapter 8
Angel had slept for most of the day. Now that he had rested and had a good dose of blood in his system, he was beginning to feel like his old self. Cordelia checked in on him from time to time, refilling his mug every hour of so. He awoke to a quiet room, the sun would be setting soon and the curtains were still drawn keeping out the harmful rays. Running his hands through his hair he reached for his shirt, which was stained with his blood and full of holes, resembling his state when he arrived. Doing the best he could, he carefully pulled the shirt on, trying his best not to further tear his healing wound or his shirt. Standing slowly he left the room in search of Cordelia.
That afternoon Cordelia had taken care of Angel and Josh. Keeping Josh in the living room with her, so as not to wake Angel, she got started with her homework. History books littered the living room carpet as well as the table, all open in various stages of the period she was researching. The assignment was due in soon and making the most of her time, she decided to get a head start. Again she had to laugh, if the Scoobies knew how hard she actually worked at school, they would laugh in her face and call her a lair. Pushing away the negative thoughts, she continued her assignment, stopping to fed Josh and check on Angel. It was nearing dinner and Cordelia, leaving her work for later, carried Josh into the kitchen where they set about making something to eat.
Opening the cupboards and searching inside, she spoke to Josh as well as to herself.
"So what shall it be tonight?" Moving some tins around, she closed the cupboard and tried another.
"Well Angel doesn't eat food, and your not really ready to eat anything in here." She said, poking her head into the fridge.
"Talking to yourself again?" Angel asked.
Hand to her chest she gasped for air. "First of all I was talking to Josh. And second of all didn't we talk about you not doing that?"
"Sorry occupational hazard."
Closing the fridge door, she moved towards him.
"You can't wear that." She motioned to his ruined shirt.
"Why not?" he said fingering the fabric, as the tear became larger.
"That shirt is ruined."
"That shirt is my favourite." He replied with a similar tone.
"Right, like you don't have a closet full of black shirts."
"Black happens to go with everything, it makes the lack of reflection less of a problem, well as far as dressing goes."
"Wait here." She said walking past him, disappearing into the hallway.
Moving further into the kitchen, he glanced down at Josh in his bassinette. Placing his finger in Josh's tiny hand, he felt an ache in his unbeating heart as the innocent baby squeezed his finger. Never had he felt so completely trusted and forgiven in his life. No judgement was being passed, nothing was expected of him, and he was loved unconditionally, in all of his years he had never felt as at peace as he did at that moment, and as quickly as it had arrived, it was seized.
"Sorry no black, this is the best I could do." Cordelia declared as she held up a white shirt by the hanger. "My dad tended to opt for white."
"No problem." He replied, taking the shirt from her hand, heading for the bedroom.
He reappeared moments later, the shirt slightly long in the sleeves, was almost the right size. In his hand was what remained of his favourite shirt.
"Do you think it salvageable?" he questioned.
"As a shirt or a bathing suit?" Taking it from him, she threw it in the trash. "I'll get you a new one." She replied, still searching for something to eat.
"You, sit." He said directing her to the table. "While I cook." She smiled as he started pulling stuff out of the fridge.
Within minutes he had cooked up an omelette, and was serving up the meal to a hungry Cordelia. Taking a mug from the cupboard he poured himself a coffee, and took a seat at the table.
"This," she replied with a mouthful of omelette, "This is really good. Where did you learn how to cook?"
"You travel the world as long as I have, you pick up a few things." He smiled, taking another sip of coffee.
After the dishes were cleared away, they took Josh into the living room to give him his bottle. They sat on the couch, Angel with Josh in his arms got comfortable as Cordelia tested the temperature of the milk, when she was satisfied that it would not burn the infant, she handed him the bottle. They sat in silence as they watched the baby drink, completely fascinated with the event unfolding before them.
"Do you think his real parents were ever in as much awe as we are now?"
"They'd have to be crazy not to be." He replied, Cordelia paused then spoke of her fears.
"He's gonna have questions." Angel looked up at Cordelia, tearing his gaze away from the baby.
She sighed. "Like what happened to his real parents, does he have other family members, and if so why didn't they take care of him? He's going to want to know who he is and where he came from, how am I going tell him?" she asked, staring into the eyes of the baby in Angel's arms.
"Cordelia, you put your life on hold to raise this baby, no matter what happens he is going to love you like a mother. You're the one who is going to be there for him, to teach him, that will mean more to him than anything." Angel replied, looking up at her.
"Thank you." She whispered as a small smiled graced her lips.
"Besides, I'll be here to fill in the blanks." He said, handing her the empty bottle, standing he took Josh for a walk.
She sat with a smile on her face, Angel was right she would care for this baby as if he were her own, and that would be what mattered. Joining them in the bedroom, they put Josh to bed.
Returning to the living room, Cordelia started to collect up her history books, marking the pages she needed with pieces of paper, she made a stack on the table.
"So, history?" Angel asked taking a seat.
"Yep, thought I would make start on it before it completely left my head."
"What period are you studying?"
"The Boxer Rebellion."
"Do you need any help?"
"What do you know about the Boxer Rebellion?"
"Well I was there at the time."
"No way."
"Way."
"I keep forgetting you're older than you look."
"I'll take that as a complement."
"Definitely, you look pretty hot for a 250 year old." She grinned, as did he. "So why don't you tell me what you know, that is of course if you don't mind."
"No I don't mind, it's not like I have anywhere else to be."
Cordelia sat on the floor in front of the fireplace completely engrossed in Angel's story, he had taken her to a world she thought only existed in her dreams. The only light came from the fire and it reminded her of the stories around the campfire she had learnt about in class, sitting across from her, Angel stared into the fire as he recalled memories he had long forgotten. Deciding to pause the story, Cordelia put the kettle on, while Angel checked on Josh.
"You know this may sound crazy, but I'm actually remembering stuff, I'm actually learning and remembering stuff. I've been staring at those books all afternoon and nothing stuck, apart from the fact that I have to return them next week." Cordelia called from the kitchen.
Pouring the hot water into two mugs, she got the milk out of the fridge. "Did you ever think about teaching?"
"Me, teach?" he asked with laughter in his voice.
"Well yeah why not?"
"Yeah I can see it now, class if you'd like to turn to page 52 you'll see a picture of me at the Boxer Rebellion."
This caused Cordelia to laugh, thinking how funny it would be if Angel actually showed up in her history class presenting himself as figure 3 on page 52.
Seeing that Josh was still fast asleep, he left the room. Hearing Cordelia's laughter in the kitchen he questioned her.
"What's so funny?" He called getting closer to the kitchen.
"Sorry...I'm just....just...imagining you introducing yourself to your class." She said through fits of laughter.
Laughing he joined her in the kitchen. "Yeah...I guess it would be on the funny side."
"It would be like looking at your yearbook picture." She giggled, taking deep breathes to calm herself, she handed Angel a mug.
******************
Buffy couldn't believe her eyes. Angel and Cordelia. Cordelia and Angel. Laughing. Angel laughing. Searching her memory of any recollection of the event taking place in the past, she grew agitated when she realised that she had never seen Angel smile, much less laugh. There was the occasion almost smile, she just assumed he only had the one facial feature. Now that she had seen him smile she began to feel jealously overtake her as she realised she was not the one who had caused the once in a lifetime event. Of all the people who could have taken it away from her it was Cordelia. Deciding she had seen enough she stood to leave.
Stepping on a dry stick it snapped beneath her weight. "Damn it." She whispered, not moving.
****************
Angel stopped laughing.
"What is it?" Cordelia asked seriously.
"I thought I heard something. You stay here, watch Josh, I'll check it out." Placing his mug on the breakfast bar, he made his way out of the kitchen door.
*********************
Hearing the door open, Buffy bolted as fast as she could, leaving as quietly as she had arrived. Hiding behind the wall she peered into the garden. Angel did a sweep of the grounds and then disappeared back inside the house.
TBC
Chapter 8
Angel had slept for most of the day. Now that he had rested and had a good dose of blood in his system, he was beginning to feel like his old self. Cordelia checked in on him from time to time, refilling his mug every hour of so. He awoke to a quiet room, the sun would be setting soon and the curtains were still drawn keeping out the harmful rays. Running his hands through his hair he reached for his shirt, which was stained with his blood and full of holes, resembling his state when he arrived. Doing the best he could, he carefully pulled the shirt on, trying his best not to further tear his healing wound or his shirt. Standing slowly he left the room in search of Cordelia.
That afternoon Cordelia had taken care of Angel and Josh. Keeping Josh in the living room with her, so as not to wake Angel, she got started with her homework. History books littered the living room carpet as well as the table, all open in various stages of the period she was researching. The assignment was due in soon and making the most of her time, she decided to get a head start. Again she had to laugh, if the Scoobies knew how hard she actually worked at school, they would laugh in her face and call her a lair. Pushing away the negative thoughts, she continued her assignment, stopping to fed Josh and check on Angel. It was nearing dinner and Cordelia, leaving her work for later, carried Josh into the kitchen where they set about making something to eat.
Opening the cupboards and searching inside, she spoke to Josh as well as to herself.
"So what shall it be tonight?" Moving some tins around, she closed the cupboard and tried another.
"Well Angel doesn't eat food, and your not really ready to eat anything in here." She said, poking her head into the fridge.
"Talking to yourself again?" Angel asked.
Hand to her chest she gasped for air. "First of all I was talking to Josh. And second of all didn't we talk about you not doing that?"
"Sorry occupational hazard."
Closing the fridge door, she moved towards him.
"You can't wear that." She motioned to his ruined shirt.
"Why not?" he said fingering the fabric, as the tear became larger.
"That shirt is ruined."
"That shirt is my favourite." He replied with a similar tone.
"Right, like you don't have a closet full of black shirts."
"Black happens to go with everything, it makes the lack of reflection less of a problem, well as far as dressing goes."
"Wait here." She said walking past him, disappearing into the hallway.
Moving further into the kitchen, he glanced down at Josh in his bassinette. Placing his finger in Josh's tiny hand, he felt an ache in his unbeating heart as the innocent baby squeezed his finger. Never had he felt so completely trusted and forgiven in his life. No judgement was being passed, nothing was expected of him, and he was loved unconditionally, in all of his years he had never felt as at peace as he did at that moment, and as quickly as it had arrived, it was seized.
"Sorry no black, this is the best I could do." Cordelia declared as she held up a white shirt by the hanger. "My dad tended to opt for white."
"No problem." He replied, taking the shirt from her hand, heading for the bedroom.
He reappeared moments later, the shirt slightly long in the sleeves, was almost the right size. In his hand was what remained of his favourite shirt.
"Do you think it salvageable?" he questioned.
"As a shirt or a bathing suit?" Taking it from him, she threw it in the trash. "I'll get you a new one." She replied, still searching for something to eat.
"You, sit." He said directing her to the table. "While I cook." She smiled as he started pulling stuff out of the fridge.
Within minutes he had cooked up an omelette, and was serving up the meal to a hungry Cordelia. Taking a mug from the cupboard he poured himself a coffee, and took a seat at the table.
"This," she replied with a mouthful of omelette, "This is really good. Where did you learn how to cook?"
"You travel the world as long as I have, you pick up a few things." He smiled, taking another sip of coffee.
After the dishes were cleared away, they took Josh into the living room to give him his bottle. They sat on the couch, Angel with Josh in his arms got comfortable as Cordelia tested the temperature of the milk, when she was satisfied that it would not burn the infant, she handed him the bottle. They sat in silence as they watched the baby drink, completely fascinated with the event unfolding before them.
"Do you think his real parents were ever in as much awe as we are now?"
"They'd have to be crazy not to be." He replied, Cordelia paused then spoke of her fears.
"He's gonna have questions." Angel looked up at Cordelia, tearing his gaze away from the baby.
She sighed. "Like what happened to his real parents, does he have other family members, and if so why didn't they take care of him? He's going to want to know who he is and where he came from, how am I going tell him?" she asked, staring into the eyes of the baby in Angel's arms.
"Cordelia, you put your life on hold to raise this baby, no matter what happens he is going to love you like a mother. You're the one who is going to be there for him, to teach him, that will mean more to him than anything." Angel replied, looking up at her.
"Thank you." She whispered as a small smiled graced her lips.
"Besides, I'll be here to fill in the blanks." He said, handing her the empty bottle, standing he took Josh for a walk.
She sat with a smile on her face, Angel was right she would care for this baby as if he were her own, and that would be what mattered. Joining them in the bedroom, they put Josh to bed.
Returning to the living room, Cordelia started to collect up her history books, marking the pages she needed with pieces of paper, she made a stack on the table.
"So, history?" Angel asked taking a seat.
"Yep, thought I would make start on it before it completely left my head."
"What period are you studying?"
"The Boxer Rebellion."
"Do you need any help?"
"What do you know about the Boxer Rebellion?"
"Well I was there at the time."
"No way."
"Way."
"I keep forgetting you're older than you look."
"I'll take that as a complement."
"Definitely, you look pretty hot for a 250 year old." She grinned, as did he. "So why don't you tell me what you know, that is of course if you don't mind."
"No I don't mind, it's not like I have anywhere else to be."
Cordelia sat on the floor in front of the fireplace completely engrossed in Angel's story, he had taken her to a world she thought only existed in her dreams. The only light came from the fire and it reminded her of the stories around the campfire she had learnt about in class, sitting across from her, Angel stared into the fire as he recalled memories he had long forgotten. Deciding to pause the story, Cordelia put the kettle on, while Angel checked on Josh.
"You know this may sound crazy, but I'm actually remembering stuff, I'm actually learning and remembering stuff. I've been staring at those books all afternoon and nothing stuck, apart from the fact that I have to return them next week." Cordelia called from the kitchen.
Pouring the hot water into two mugs, she got the milk out of the fridge. "Did you ever think about teaching?"
"Me, teach?" he asked with laughter in his voice.
"Well yeah why not?"
"Yeah I can see it now, class if you'd like to turn to page 52 you'll see a picture of me at the Boxer Rebellion."
This caused Cordelia to laugh, thinking how funny it would be if Angel actually showed up in her history class presenting himself as figure 3 on page 52.
Seeing that Josh was still fast asleep, he left the room. Hearing Cordelia's laughter in the kitchen he questioned her.
"What's so funny?" He called getting closer to the kitchen.
"Sorry...I'm just....just...imagining you introducing yourself to your class." She said through fits of laughter.
Laughing he joined her in the kitchen. "Yeah...I guess it would be on the funny side."
"It would be like looking at your yearbook picture." She giggled, taking deep breathes to calm herself, she handed Angel a mug.
******************
Buffy couldn't believe her eyes. Angel and Cordelia. Cordelia and Angel. Laughing. Angel laughing. Searching her memory of any recollection of the event taking place in the past, she grew agitated when she realised that she had never seen Angel smile, much less laugh. There was the occasion almost smile, she just assumed he only had the one facial feature. Now that she had seen him smile she began to feel jealously overtake her as she realised she was not the one who had caused the once in a lifetime event. Of all the people who could have taken it away from her it was Cordelia. Deciding she had seen enough she stood to leave.
Stepping on a dry stick it snapped beneath her weight. "Damn it." She whispered, not moving.
****************
Angel stopped laughing.
"What is it?" Cordelia asked seriously.
"I thought I heard something. You stay here, watch Josh, I'll check it out." Placing his mug on the breakfast bar, he made his way out of the kitchen door.
*********************
Hearing the door open, Buffy bolted as fast as she could, leaving as quietly as she had arrived. Hiding behind the wall she peered into the garden. Angel did a sweep of the grounds and then disappeared back inside the house.
TBC