Angel led Cordelia out to his car. He wasn't sure what else he could do. What had gone wrong? Everything had been going well. Cordelia was relaxing, and he couldn't pretend he hadn't liked holding her in his arms.
"Are you all right, Cordy?" he asked once they were seated in his convertible.
"I'm fine."
"Then why did you want to leave?"
"I just did, ok." Maybe she could tell him she thought she was going to have a vision. Falling down and smashing her head in front of people, bad. Too bad he already knew he didn't get any warning…
"No, it's not ok. This isn't the first time you've made lame excuses to get out of something. I want to know what's going on."
"Nothing is going on Angel. Why can't you mind your own business?"
"This isn't healthy Cordy."
"How do you know what I do Angel? Maybe I just don't like hanging out with a wimpy Englishman, a guy who leads a gang of demon hunters, and a Brooding Boring Vampire!"
"Oh, Yeah! Who do you hang out with then?" countered Angel, not trying to harm her, but knowing he'd have to get her to admit that she had a problem.
"I hang out with lots of people! In fact, I had a date with a really hot Spanish guy last night. And we had a wonderful time. So there!"
"You didn't go out with a Spanish guy last night Cordy. I would have been able to smell it."
He said it matter-of-factly but to Cordy it was a big reminder of how much Angel could perceive and knew about her.
"I care about you Cordy. I care that you're isolating yourself and keeping the world from getting to know a wonderful woman. I, I care that you're unhappy." he said the last part softly, almost whispering it, as he tried to catch her eyes.
Cordy wasn't looking at him. She was embarrassed, and scared to look and see his gentle soulful eyes staring into hers. She was afraid to be vulnerable, but she was almost more scared by the fact that he cared. No one had ever really cared about her, not like Angel. Not enough to worm their way into her heart and find out every little secret about her.
"I love you." She said it without thinking because she was Cordelia Chase and what she thought she said. It was a hurt little whisper, as if she'd been backed into a corner and could do nothing else but show herself.
"What?" Angel said just as softly.
She looked at him. She wasn't going to take it back now. Whatever happened, she had to be honest now.
"I love you. The books. I know you know. They were about you. I didn't know at first. I wanted to you to love me. It's your fault. Always watching over me, being my Angel. I couldn't help it."
She looked away again then and he lifted her chin up to look at him.
"Cordelia Chase you have no idea how lonely I was until you walked into my life. I'd rather go back to Hell than have you leave me. I love you."
He kissed her then and it was soft and sweet and she realized that she'd been crying but it didn't matter. It was the first time she'd ever kissed someone she loved, and that made it perfect.
"Cordy, the curse. Everything. This isn't going to be easy. I can't give you a normal relationship. It won't be perfect."
Aww, Angel was worried about her again. How cute.
"Angel, if I can manage fighting demons, blinding visions, and taking care of three men, all while wearing the perfect shoes I can manage a relationship with the vampire I love."
"A typical Cordelia Chase answer. I wouldn't have it any other way."
They kissed again and she snuggled against him, content to watch the stars wrapped up in each other. And Cordelia didn't think about romance novels for the rest of night.
The End
