DISCLAIMER: Hmm lets check my pockets shall we...Wow! A whole button and a piece of lint. In case you didn't get the picture. I have nothing I own nothing...But man, I can still dream...(insert cheesy daydream music here.)

SUMMARY: Buffy and Angel reunite. Cordelia and Spike share the pain. So what do they do? They set up a dating club where they find each other dates for the weekends. This eventually leads them to each other. But what happens when Angel realizes he may have chosen the wrong girl? (AU)

AN: Feel free to pass on ideas! And check out my home page!

"Would you stop staring you leper!" Cordelia cried out in irritation. 'Count on Xander to stare at Lorne the whole time we've been here so far, (which for the record has already been too long) with one of his stupid gawking looks.' she thought to herself quite annoyed.

She let out an inward sigh, to say things had been going well would be the biggest load of bull. They had arrived about an hour ago and the most that had been said after the initial 'hello-ing' and introductions and just been Cordelia's outburst. 'Oh God the introductions!" Cordelia shook her head trying to rid away the migraine threatening to take hold of her...

Hi everybody!' Cordelia put on a happy face as she went around meeting everyone again. She couldn't help feeling like a stranger and was waiting for the chance to go stand by her family again. Her family, in turn, were standing in the same spot, looking incredibly uncomfortable. Well with the exception of Gunn and Wes.

Wes was making his own hello's and professing how happy he was to be here again. Cordelia had to hold back a snort. From his complaining he had done before they all left, she knew the opposite couldn't be more true. She couldn't blame him either, back in LA he had found confidence in himself and had started standing out as a formidable researcher and warrior. Here he was going to be the second Giles-no one wanted in the first place- again.

She sighed realizing her position wouldn't be much better either. The Old Queen C. She wasn't dumb enough to think many people had thought she changed, and she was just waiting for the moment one of them, (most likely Xander or Buffy) brought it all back. she also knew with disgust for herself, that she would take the bait and in all likelihood slip back into Bitch mode. Survival was for the fittest. She looked back at Gunn and smiled.

Gunn was just looking around at everyone and Cordy could tell exactly what he was thinking, 'This is the super Scooby gang? And I thought I'd see something impressive.'

Cordy got to Willow, Tara and Dawn and for the first time felt it wasn't such a bad idea to be here as they enveloped her in a group hug. Then they were interrupted by the last, (well looking at Buffy and Angel holding hands, making doe eyes) the second to last person she wanted to see. That person being...

"DEMON!"

...Xander Harris!

Xander flew towards Lorne with an axe in his hand that looked far to big for him. Lorne incredibly surprised put his hands up and started backing away.

Cordelia rolled her eyes at her ex- 'so ex it barely counts that we dated' boyfriend, and again at Anya who came running after him. Cordelia quickly ran to stop Xander. Luckily for Lorne, and unluckily for Xander, Gunn got to them. He grabbed Xander by the shoulders and slammed his knee into the unsuspecting boy's nose out of reflex. The axe was immediately dropped and forgotten for the chaos that ensued after.

"HEY!" Buffy shouted. She ran and picked Xander up. "What was that for?" Leaving Xander to the care of Anya she stepped forward towards Gunn. Gunn just smiled in turn and said, "Hey he started it! You know with the trying-and may I say trying very badly-to kill my friend and all."

They both turned to Lorne who was trying desperately to hide behind Fred, and Fred who wanted nothing more but to hide as well, shaking under the slayers glare. She let out a strangled squeak as she made eye contact with Buffy and felt like fainting. For better or for worse, she did.

Cordelia quickly got into the middle of things. Breaking everyone apart she ran to pick Fred up, but looking at Wesley's worried face opted to let him do that. She tried not to wince when she realized Gunn wasn't looking to happy with the deal. 'Oh boy! Two of them, one girl!' she thought. 'Well that's a different issue that will have to be solved later.' Cordelia immediately went into Cordy mode, and started issuing orders.

"Wesley, take her inside. Willow want to make some tea for when she wakes up? Xander apologize to Lorne. Everyone else, move it or lose it! We got a man down here!" Angel who had basically done nothing and had been completely ignorant to his team's discomfort finally jumped in clearing a path to the door for Wes and Fred.

And then...

They'd sat there staring at each other...

"What's it to you May-Queen? What is he your loyal subject, of whom I have to ask your permission first to do anything around him?" Xander retorted angrily, although his pink ears gave away his embarrassment about being caught with his little staring problem.

Cordelia was chased out of memory lane, 'Or was that nightmare street?' she shuddered.

"Well Xander, if you must know-most people don't have to ask permission, but then again most people aren't entirely rude like you."

"Hey!" Anya spoke up but before she could finish Gunn gave Xander a penetrating stare and stood up for his favourite vision girl, friend.

"Well actually technically Barbie here is his or should I say was his ruler. Seeing as how she was the dimensions ruler from a prophecy, the same dimension Lorne's from. Isn't that right princess."

The two of them shared a conspiratorial smile and then both turned on cue to glare at the confused Xander.

Soon things started getting a little less tense as people started to get a little but not much more comfortable.

Willow and Tara had been looking after Fred who had woken up a little while ago and had quickly asked questions about the tea they'd made. The discussion that started so simply had now moved on to the similarities between the laws of applied physics and magic.

Wes had gone upstairs with Giles to discuss whatever demon-lore they needed to discuss.

'It's like the tweed twins! ' Cordelia stifled a laugh at her thought, and for some reason Gunn had followed. Cordelia assumed it was because he still didn't believe the two weren't related and was trying to catch them on that lie.

Angel and Buffy had moved into the kitchen together which Cordelia didn't want to think about-unless she wanted to feel a huge piercing imaginary piece of glass stab her heart.

She looked over at Lorne and couldn't decide between being amused or sorry for the poor guy. Dawn had immediately taken a fascination with him and what he was able to do. She had spent some time now asking questions about everything she could think of between singing off-key for him to read her.

"So what's your club like? Can anyone just walk in? Do you get a lot of humans? Am I old enough? Why do you dress so bright? I like your horns they're cute and shiny!-do you polish them?" Much to Lorne's credit, he had been happy to answer her questions and was actually delighted to talk to the over-hyper teenager before him. He was also pleased with the compliments she would throw in. It was liking having a little sister who didn't hate you! 'Yup got to love my disappointed family back home!'

Xander and Anya who had made a pointed statement to avoid everything about Cordelia and Gunn were just sitting on the couch both making out and Cordy sick.

Finally she couldn't take anymore and went into the kitchen for some water, forgetting it was already occupied. She stopped in the doorway and could hear arguing.

"I still don't see why you had to have them come over here. We're supposed to be doing some private reuniting not group bonding." Buffy whined.

"I know, but we can still do that!" Angel countered, "I just thought it would be nice for everyone to meet and relax together."

"Oh yah real relaxing," Buffy fumed, "I'm sure Xander felt like he was in a spa when What's-his-face, broke his nose."

"It wasn't broken and he did kind of start it!" Angel pleaded not wanting to fight, "I mean to be fair, he did try to attack and kill Lorne." Angel tried not to laugh at the word

"Tried" because that was exactly what it was-a try and not a very good one, he could barely lift the heavy axe he had chosen.

Buffy couldn't believe her ears, "Xander's fault? Could you blame him, he saw a demon! I mean come on how was he supposed to know you hang out with demons which by the way what's up with that?"

"I'm half-demon." Angel reminded her, giving her a strange look.

"Well, you're different," Buffy trailed off, "You got a soul. Anyways whatever, fine you brought the gang but could you at least talked to Cordelia about how to behave with other "lesser" people." Buffy scowled; "did you see the way she immediately started bossing everyone around like she owned the place?"

"Buffy..." Angel started,

Cordelia chose this moment to intervene seeing and recognizing that look in Angel's eyes.

"Oh sorry, to interrupt. Just a little parched you know!" She sauntered over to grab a glass and after pouring some water left quickly, desperately trying to ignore the stares at her back.

As she left she could here two apologies being spoken, apparently her disruption was exactly what they needed to see how stupid they were being. Cordy couldn't help cringing and what they could be doing now.

Suddenly as she thought about her terrible grief and how she could be the only person alone in this world, a face floated around in her mind.

'Spike!' she thought again and wondered how she could have forgot him.

She went up to Willow and asked, "I know this is going to come out sounding stupid, but I thought I saw Spike before."

The Scooby gang opened their eyes as if realizing for the first time Spike wasn't there.

As soon as Cordelia finished her sentence, Dawn quickly ran down into the basement to check up on her best friend.

"Well, actually, yah he is here. But that's weird that he isn't here-here right now!" Willow stumbled.

Cordelia just gave her a look.

Willow flushed and continued to explain, "Spike was here, he's good now you know. He's got this chip inside him that makes him harmless to humans. But he doesn't seem to be around unless he went back into the basement but he was right here when we all went too see you."

Dawn came running at that minute to report Spike was gone. "He must have left for his crypt through the back door." She told them with a hint of distress in her voice.

Cordelia shocked about everything she had been told sat down. 'So he his here-and helping the side of good.' She kept thinking about Spike wondering what had made him change and suddenly the pain she saw in his eyes wouldn't leave her alone.

'Of course, everyone's favourite slayer!'

The more she tried to not think about his hurt filled eyes the more she saw them. She knew then she had to find him. If anyone knew what she was going through, she had a big feeling it was him.

Getting up she quickly said, "Hey, guys I'm going to go out and take a night time stroll." She put on her jacket.

"But Cordy!" Tara started to warn, but Cordelia waved her off.

"Don't worry-Got everything right here!" She patted a bulge in her jacked and opened it up to reveal a stake.

"Be back in a few!" She said happily and walked into the night.

Spike blew out some smoke, and started making designs in the air with the lit butt in his hand as he sat under a tree, enjoying the peace brought by a quiet cemetery. He didn't know why he ran out but right now he didn't care. A pile of dust sat beside him and Spike took a small quiet moment for his fallen brethren he'd dusted. Not that he particularly cared for the vamp, but tonight just seemed like one of those life changing nights where you had to accept everything about yourself and who you are.

'And what am I? A love stricken, vampire with a chip, poof!' Spike thought miserably.

The truth was he knew why he left; he didn't want to face the haunting face of Cordelia Chase. Seeing her misery mirroring his had left his dead heart shattered. Spike was used to pain, Spike could thrive on pain when he wanted too or wallow in it. He had always firmly believed it was his choice and being a vamp it usually was. But Cordelia on the other hand, well pain should never be on a face as pretty as that.

'No matter how clueless and annoying the bird is!' he thought.

Also he knew she had seen him, and knew that like a typical human would want to talk about it.

'Well then again, she may talk more than normal humans but it's always been a disguise technique. She can hide how she feels better than some vampires I've met.' Spike only had to remember how quickly her happy mask went back on as he stood at the window.

Utter heartbreak concealed by sunny happiness in a second.

'Got to admire her skills anyways! Even if her taste in men stinks. I mean what is it with Peaches and women?' Spike thought as he felt the wetness on his face. He hadn't even noticed he had been crying. 'Yet Again.' he let out an involuntary growl.

Suddenly out of nowhere he heard a scream of pain he thought he recognized.

'Cordelia?' he thought panicked. He quickly ran to the sound of her screams as fast as he could.

Cordelia let out a sigh she didn't even know she had been holding. The night air was engulfing her and clearing out her mind. She could feel tension she had been ignoring come back to her and slowly be eased away.

She started walking to the cemetery. Many people thought her a ditz but the truth was she was quite smart. However even she knew how dumb she was being walking to a graveyard, in Sunnydale, at night!

'Hello Cordy! What's wrong with you!'

She ignored the voice in her head and wandered off anyways.

It wasn't long until she reached the cemetery, Sunnydale being a very small place. As soon as she took a couple steps into the cemetery, a familiar feeling shot through her head. She grabbed on to the nearest tombstone to balance herself as the vision struck. She screamed out in pain, as blinding white heat scorched the inside of her head with pictures.

FLASH: A little girl lost in the cemetery by a gargoyle statue

FLASH: swarm of vampires surround her

FLASH: they creep up and one grabs her by the head and tilts it.

FLASH: One bends over as the girl screams for help, his teeth break through skin.

"NO!" Cordelia cried. She tried getting up, she had to save the kid. There was no time to get to the others, Why didn't someone suggest paroling today?

She started running into the cemetery stumbling, still off balance. She knew where the statue was. One hand still gripped her hands, as she tried to keep the numbing pain away.

Not looking she ran straight into someone and fell.

Shaking she pulled out her stake and screamed, "Back off buddy!"

Spike ran to get to Cordelia, he had never heard such pain filled screams in his life and he'd heard a lot! He hurried through the yard and collided into something warm.

'Cordelia! Thank god!'

"Hey, pet it's me!" he stated as a wooden stake was placed into his way. "Cordelia? It's Spike!"

Cordelia recognized the voice and looking up saw the face of Spike. She lowered the stake and pulled herself. She started yelling in anxiety.

"Spike! You have to help the girl!" she was panting as she spoke.

"What?" Spike asked clearly confused, "What girl!"

"Vision...Gargoyle...girl...vampires...GO!" Cordelia managed.

Spike didn't need to be told twice, he had no idea what vision was but the rest made perfect sense. He took off right away at the urgent look in Cordelia's eyes and the authority in her voice.

'Well guess we know who's really in charge of Angel Ivestigations!' he thought with amusement.

He looked behind him to see that Cordelia was still following behind and trying to massage her temples.

The two reached the gargoyle statue in time to see the vampires gather around a small brown haired girl who was crying.

"Is this a private party mates? Or can anyone join?" Not waiting for an answer Spike vamped out and staked the nearest vampire.

He started making his way through the crowd dodging blows and staking where he could.

He growled at one of the vamps who had struck him hard in the mouth

"That bloody hurts!" he screamed. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw Cordelia usher the girl away. She took her to a safe distance where the girl could still be seen but was away from the fight.

'Good!' Spike thought as he blocked a couple hits from a vampire who had been turned at a young age from what Spike could tell. The kid looked like he would have been fifteen.

However Spike's opinion of the situation changed when Cordelia came back to the group and took out her stake.

"Pet, get out of here!" he shouted. She shook her head no.

'Bloody hell! Everyone has to be a hero!' he thought. He finished off the fifteen year old and made his way to Cordelia, luckily there were only a two vamps left and one of them was busy with Cordelia.

He stopped in surprise however to see the girl handling herself fairly well. She was dodging blows and fighting back and Spike was slightly impressed. "Someone's been training!" he yelled. She spared a smile and finally was able to stake her vamp

Cordelia needed this. She hadn't felt so alive and active in days now. She didn't know why she came back to the battle when Spike was doing such a good job but she didn't care. All her pent up feelings were coming out on this one vamp and it was doing her good.

She couldn't believe how her mind had stopped thinking and her body was naturally reacting like Angel had trained her.

'Don't think about him!' she scolded.

She heard Spike and gave him a small smile. Still looking for openings she avoided a blow and found one. She reached out and dusted her vampire and then fell to her knees in exhaustion.

Unknown to her the only vampire left had taken her moment of weakness as an invitation. She gasped as his arms went around her and he whispered, "Your mine."

Spike was on the vampire in a second. He saw the twit approaching Cordelia and as he grabbed her Spike made his move. He punched the guy's face over Cordelia's shoulder and got ready to lunge the stake through his heart.

Slender hands stopped him, he looked into Cordelia's eyes and nodded. Cordelia than staked the second vampire with a vicious lunge and then kicked his dust (literally) into the wind.

Cordelia got up and thanked Spike.

"What for luv?" he asked.

"Letting me kill that bastard." Cordelia answered, she didn't tell him that this was the one who was going to bite the girl.

"The girl!" Cordelia exclaimed.

She quickly walked over to her and comforted the small child.

Her and Spike walked the girl, named Charlotte, home and saw her safely into her parents' worried arms. After assuring the mom bringing her back was nothing, they left.

"So," Spike started,

"Yah?" Cordelia answered.

"Visions?" he questioned.

"Yah, long story." Cordy replied.

"I got time if you do pet."

Cordelia thought of going back to the Summers' residence.

"I got time. Lets go to your place."

Spike let out a laugh.

He was surprised he still could laugh and more surprised by who was causing it. Then he considered how full of surprises the girl before him was, and how drunk they were and decided with that combination anything was possible.

Cordelia had told the entire story about Doyle and passing on the visions. Spike now considered Doyle an impeccable bloke who he wouldn't mind, instead of the strange Irish bloke he first thought him to be.

When Spike realized Cordelia was slipping into depression about the details of Doyle's death he had quickly brought out the alcohol.

As Cordelia and Spike loosened up she told him about the team and all their adventures and he told her about the chip and his misadventures.

Now the two had been laughing at everyone and everything they could think of.

"Did you see what Xander was wearing?" Cordelia asked in a devilish whisper looking up to his face from her position: lying down, her head in Spike's crossed lap.

"I know Cordy!" Spike giggled without embarrassment, "I mean I don't have a bloody reflection and still no how to match!"

The two burst into laughter and Spike added, "But that's the least of his problems. Just as I left I saw him struggling with an axe I'm sure even you could pick up."

"Hey!" Cordelia slapped as she took another sip from the bottle they had opened, three others lay empty around them and two more unopened and waiting.

"But it's true!" she laughed, "You should have seen him afterwards, he tried attacking Lorne-"

"The good demon from Pylea?" Spike interrupted.

Cordy nodded and said, "Right, and Gunn totally kicked his ass."

"The vampire street fighter?"

"Ya, That's one way of putting it." Cordy agreed.

"Oh I wish I could see that!" Spike sighed dreamily

Cordelia laughed at his expression and then finally became a little more solemn. "You know what Spiky-doodle?" she asked using his newly formed nickname.

"What? Cordy-pops" Spike answered back just as serious.

"We need to stop being so pathetic. I mean it's obvious you got a thing for the slayer..." Cordy grimaced.

"And you got one for the ponce." Spike continued for her. Spike grimaced.

"Yeah, and they both got a thing for each other." Both grimaced.

"And we get nothing." Spike finishes. Both sighed.

"You know, I don't know why you want the slayer," Cordelia spoke up, "You're totally way to cute for her. And if you ditched the Billy Idol impersonation, you could totally be even hotter. The slayer, well she has frizzy limp hair and that just wouldn't compliment you."

Spike nodded, and thoughtfully said, "And you and peaches, well come on why do you like that wanker? Really, Who am I," Spike raised his voice up a notch and imitated his grandsire, "Hi I'm angel, I whine because I have a soul and did evil stuff, Is it alright if I get some hair with my gel?" Spike scrunched up his face and then looked back down at Cordelia, "Now look at you! You're Queen C and he-he just sits around making puppy eyes at frizz-uffy." Spike and Cordelia laughed. Spike took the bottle from Cordelia's hand and took a swig.

"Oh and by the way luv, I'm over a hundred years old, trust me when I say Idol copied me-and may I add without permission."

"Reallu?" Cordelia asked eyes wide, and then going back on to topic stated, "You're right! gel-puppy is so not worth crying over. We should see other people and forget about the bad hair squad."

Spike nodded his head in agreement.

"In fact I know exactly how to do that as well." Cordy continued, "We'll start our very own dating club. I'll find you a date for the weekend and you find me a date for the weekend. Since it's Friday today we got tons of time to find people for next week."

"You know luv, that's the best idea I've ever heard! And people kept saying your dumb!" Spike replied.

Cordelia smiled up at him pleased.

"But wait a minute, what if we find people the other can't stand for each other?" Spike asked.

"Hmm...how hard is that going to be for me? All I need to find is some skinny, skanky blonde!" Spike gave her a look, "Or not!" Cordelia thought about it and then she lit up again and said, "I know! We can spend this weekend together and get to know each other more-that way we'll know what the other likes and dislikes."

"Excellent idea!" Spike stated, not realizing he'd agreed to spend time with the cheerleader he had not that long ago thought to be dreadfully annoying and a bad influence.

The two continued in their fake drunken happiness both knowing deep down that come tomorrow they'll get to add nasty hangover to their heart ache. However both decided on their own, that the dating club may be what they needed to forget(or at least get laid) and to follow through with it and convince the other to as well if they didn't agree in the morning.

Soon both Cordelia and Spike passed out and both dreamt of frizz-uffys' and gel-pups and the disappearance of one of them (depending on who's dream).

TADAA! ALL DONE!

SORRY IT TOOK A WHILE TO COME OUT!

I'VE BEEN BUSY WITH SCHOOL FINALS!

ON TO THANK YOU'S!

MysticWolf1: Thanks so much for the support. I hoped I cleared up what Dawn was doing for you, and thanks for pointing out how ambiguous it was to have her there. Suspense? Sweet! That's what I was going for. THANKS FOR THE REVIEW!

Shay2: Oh I think they'd be a hoot together too! Well we'll just have to see what Angel does about choosing the wrong girl and I hope I don't disappoint you! Thanks so much for the faith and reading this fic! THANKS FOR THE REVIEW!

Imzadi: Ya poor Lindsey. He's such an awesome character-it's a shame they killed him off. Well actually it's a same they killed the show off! Grr...As for Fred and Gunn...well who knows who she's with! (add mysterious music here!) Thanks for sticking with the story and your ideas! THANKS FOR THE REVIEW!

Spike's Girl Luna Ash: Me a wonderful writer? Well thank yah kindly ma'am! Great to here you say that and I'm glad you're liking it! After all one writes to please his audience right? THANKS FOR THE REVIEW!

Queen J: Spike is an intense character. I'm glad you liked it. The plot? Well sorry can't share that with you yet...but lets say the ball is definitely rolling! THANKS FOR THE REVIEW!

Dru: I don't like Spike with the Slayer either, in my opinion Drusilla and Spike were the perfect couple. So yah not a huge B/S shipper but I will admit there's been some good fics with them together. Great work? lil' ole me? Thanks! I'm incredible flattered! THANKS FOR THE REVIEW!

liquidburning: I know! Slayer and a Vampire? Well sometimes it works! Plus Whedon and Greenwalt...who are we to argue? I'm glad you like it and I hope you don't have to wait either! THANKS FOR THE REVIEW!

LoveAlways: Thank you! I'm glad we agree on that! lol! THANKS FOR THE REVIEW!