Chapter 9

Cordelia's Confession

The next morning Cordelia woke up in alarm, not knowing where she was. She froze then felt a warm hand touch her face. She had fallen asleep on Spike on the sofa the night before.

"Good morning," he said, groggy.

"Morning," she murmured, settling down and resting her head on Spike's chest.

"Are you ready to tell the others?" Spike asked. She groaned.

"No. But I rather get it over with now."

Meanwhile...

"Your really, really weird. Did you know that?" Xander asked Fred. When asked if she wanted coffee she said no and decided to drink all of the creamers instead. Fred giggled.

"You laugh because I'm different, I laugh because you're all the same," she chanted.

"Hey I have a shirt that says that!" Xander exclaimed. Everyone laughed. Wesley had introduced Fred to the others that morning and they had too, felt instantly connected to her.

"You'll get along great with Faith," Angel said to Fred as Wesley wiped some cream off of her nose with his thumb.

"That is, assuming that Fred's coming with us," Xander said setting his puppy eyes on Fred.

"I already told Wesley last night I'm following through with the new bus route. What path does it take again?" Fred asked.

"Well, from here to Lexington, Virginia that is. Then on over to Dayton, Tennessee. Then Willow and Faith will meet up with us around Huntsville, Alabama," Angel. "Approximate arriving time in Huntsville about 2 weeks?" Fred asked. Wesley nodded.

"About that."

"Where's Spike and Lucy? It's already 10:30," Xander tapped his watch then put it to his ear.

"We're here!" Cordelia and Spike practically ran into the little booth that the others had picked out. Spike seated himself at one end, next to Xander, and Cordelia at the other end, next to Fred.

"I'm sorry. I don't believe we've met. I'm Cordelia," Cordelia said in a rush, putting her hand out to Fred. Spike realized Cordelia's mistake immediately and groaned.

"I'm Winnifred Burkle. My friends call me Fred," she said, not realizing everyone else at the table had a shocked expression on their face. She shook Cordelia's hand.

"Lucy?" Xander asked, perplexed.

"That's the first part of my secret you guys. I've been lying to you," Cordelia said, the tears already starting to come.

"My name isn't Lucy. It's Cordelia. Cordelia Chase," Cordelia said, waiting to see everyone's expression before continuing.

"And I'm not 18. I'm 17 and I didn't come here to visit friends. I'm on my way back to Phoenix, Arizona where I was born. I ran away from home," Cordelia finished, wiping away the tears with the back of her hand. Angel, the wise one, was the first one to speak up.

"Why did you keep this from us?"

"Well, I wasn't trusting anybody at the time. I wasn't about to tell you guys my real name and how old I was. For all I knew you could of been some perverted old freaks," she said.

"But now I realize I was meant to be with you guys. I was meant to travel with you. I prayed to god when Copper and I had been alone that night that he would get me through everything. I believe he wanted me to find you guys for a reason."

"I know god wanted you safe Cordelia," this came, surprisingly, from Fred. She took her hand and rubbed it gently.

"You guys understand don't you? I fled to the streets when I was 16 and I was so afraid I didn't even jump at the opportunity to make friends. Now, last night, you know I met Wesley and I felt...like nothing I had ever felt before. I felt happy, knowing that now I think it's time for me to accept people. Cordelia was just quicker to accept then I was." Everyone was quiet again.

"Say something. Please," Cordelia turned her pleading eyes straight on Xander.

"Lucy. Cordelia," he quickly corrected himself.

"I love you, but you...lied to us. How do we know you won't lie again?" he asked. Cordelia choked down her sobs.

"Please, understand. I trust all of you now. I would leave my life in any of your hands. Your my friends and now have become my family. Please, just try and hear me out," Cordelia pleaded quietly. Spike got up and hugged Cordelia around the neck. Fred quickly followed suit and then finally Angel, Xander, and Wesley. Together the six friends sat together.

They had passed a major milestone together and were ready to pass many more together in the future.