Chapter 6

Love is a Fickle Thing

"Do you accept animals here?" Xander asked the lady behind the front desk at the motel. She appeared to be missing a few teeth.

"We accept anything and everything," she said. Xander summoned the others in.

"Do you think we will all be able to room together or remotely close?" Angel asked.

"Sorry. Two of you's to a room not including the canine. It's always jam-packed on drop off nights. One of you will have to room with another girl who already agreed on rooming with someone else," the lady said beginning to file her nails.

'What's the point?' Cordelia wondered in her head. Angel looked to the crew.

"I'll go ahead and room with the girl that's already here," Wesley volunteered.

"Alright then. I'll room with Lucy," Spike said.

"And, oh look, your stuck with me," Xander said putting his arm around Angel's shoulder.

"God help me," Angel murmured under his breath. Once everyone got their room keys they turned to Cordelia.

"Tell us now," Xander said. She let out a sigh.

"I'm really tired guys. Do you think I could tell you in the morning?" she asked.

"NO!" Xander cried.

"Sure Luc. You get some rest and we'll all meet at the Denny's next door in the morning okay?" Angel said. Everyone agreed then bid goodnight to each other as they headed to their separate rooms.

Cordelia sat quietly in the dark, hugging her knees on the sofa. She listened as Spike bustled around in the bathroom. Copper lay his head between his paws on the floor, snoring lightly.

"You lazy dog," Cordelia whispered poking Copper in the head with her red painted toe. He had it so easy. She remembered the day she got him on her 8th birthday. He was her last present. She opened up the box and a big fluff of copper and white jumped at her. She loved him from the moment she saw him. And together for the next nine years they never left each others side. Copper was getting old now and she knew her time with him was very precious. Spike came out of the bathroom in full jammies. Cordelia couldn't help it and soon she was laughing hysterically.

"What's the matter with you?" Spike asked. This only made Cordelia laugh harder.

"Lucy, honestly," Spike lay down on the bed a waited patiently until Cordelia got herself together.

"You going to give me the silent treatment now?" she asked, a big grin still plastered on her face. Spike smiled, making Cordelia's heart melt.

"Will you tell me your secret Lucy?" Spike asked, sitting up against the headboard. Cordelia felt all the breath in her catch in her throat and tears came to her eyes. Just the thought of loosing Spike or Angel or Xander or even Wesley was enough to bring her to tears. They had become her family. Spike watched dumbfounded, as small tears rolled down Cordelia's cheeks. "This is really serious isn't it?" he got up off of the bed and went to her. He sat next to her and looked into her eyes.

"I'm just...so afraid I'm going to loose what I have," she whispered, wiping away hot tears.

"Lucy, listen to me. Nothing you could tell me could be so bad for us not to love you anymore," Spike tried assuring her, gripping her hand tightly. "Come on Luc," he gently coaxed.

"Alright," she said. "First I should tell you my name isn't Lucy. It's Cordelia. Cordelia Chase. And I'm not 18. I'm 17 and I'm not visiting friends here. I'm on my way to Phoenix, Arizona. I ran away from home," Cordelia wasn't holding back her tears anymore. Spike sat in shock for only a minute before taking Cordelia into his arms. That's when she totally let go. She sobbed into Spike's chest for a long time. When she was finally calm enough to speak again Spike asked her something she had been dreading to answer.

"Why did you do it?"

It seemed so lame now.

"I had lived in Arizona my whole life and then one day my dad just decided it was time for a change and we moved to New York. This girl asked me to be her friend but she was really a gang member and wanted me to shoot a guy to get in."

"It's okay Cordelia. I understand and I know the others will too. You have a very special place in all of our hearts now and nothing can ever change that," Spike wasn't fighting for eye contact anymore as Cordelia lost herself in his gaze. She was surprised at how well he was taking everything. She finally smiled and collapsed into his embrace, laying her head on his chest. He poked her affectionately in the ribs. She giggled.

"I have a confession to make too," Spike said.

"What?" she asked.

"Remember when I told you why I poked you all the time?"

"Yeah. You said or else I would never listen," Cordelia smiled up at him.

"Well, that's not the truth. The truth is I really like hearing you laugh. Or even talk. I've come to love everything you do Lucy," he said, stroking her hair.

"Cordelia," she corrected gently.

"I love you," he said, barely audible. Then he kissed her. Kissed her like no one had ever kissed her before.

And at that very moment as she reacted to Spike's gestured, she realized that all this time she had been in love too.

Sorry I didn't get it up as soon as I had hoped but I hope you liked it anyways!

Dru619