Okay kids. It has been forever and I am ready to start rolling on this story again. So I'll just get started on it.

Second Chance Chapter 9.

Cordelia sat with her head in her hands. 'Search for the one who is not supposed to be. The one who was supposed to die at the hand of an angel in a time of possession.'

What did that mean? Who was it? She couldn't figure it out. Wouldn't be able to until all of her memories returned. Was anyone there who wasn't supposed to be? Who could help them? She laid her hands on her stomach, cast up a quick prayer to whoever it was that was listening to them. All she wanted was for her child to be okay. Her baby had to be all right. She wouldn't survive if it wasn't.

Perhaps the Oracles had lied. She combed through her hair, let it run through her fingers. And as suddenly as if she had always known, the answer came to her. If time could be reversed, then it could be sped up. And she knew just the person to do it. The one who was supposed to die at the hand of an angel in a time of possession.

Cordelia rushed into Doyle's office, saw Wesley sitting there also. "Wes, I need you to find out if there's a Jenny Calender anywhere. We need her. I know how to stop this thing."

Wesley got out of his chair and took down a phone book. "Yes, there is. She's living in Sunnydale. Why?"

"Something the Oracles told me. Search for the one who is not supposed to be. The one who was supposed to die at the hand of an Angel in a time of possession. That's Jenny. She's a teacher, and a witch. A member of the Kalderash clan of Gypsies. The ones who cursed Angel with his soul. In my dimension, Angel killed her when he was Angelus."

"That's all well and good, darlin', but how is she going to protect our baby?" Doyle asked, drawing Cordelia into his lap. Cordelia was anxious to explain.

"She's a Gypsy. That means she's better than a witch cause she was born with the power. And she can cast spells. Time spells. One that can send me forward to when our baby's supposed to be born. If I'm thinking right, the Hound will try to follow me. Once he's there, it becomes the present, right?"

Wes nodded slowly. "Technically, yes. Wherever we are at any particular time is our present. I think I'm beginning to understand you, Cordelia. You want to speed along your pregnancy so that the baby is born now. That way the Hound doesn't have time to prepare for killing you both."

"Right. I want Jenny to make me nine months pregnant instead of five. I want to be in labor now instead of then." She grimaced. "Imagine this, me willingly putting myself into pain prematurely. But I can't think of any other way out."

Angel, who had been listening at the door, spoke up. "I think it's a good idea, guys. And we have to try something. Let's contact this Jenny and see if she'll help us."

Doyle looked at Cordelia. "We aren't ready for a baby yet." He said, and Cordelia heard a note of fear in his voice. "The nursery isn't finished, we don't have a name picked out, not enough stuff."

Cordelia fell in love with him all over again. He was absolutely terrified. "We'll be fine, Doyle. There isn't a better way to do this, and I'm willing to do anything to keep our baby safe. Everything else we can worry about later."

"Are you sure there isn't a better way to do this?"

"We're sure." Angel said, rolling his eyes. "And let's please get this done before the girls and the kids get back. I don't want our children here for this."

Three hours later, Cordelia was in bed, in labor. Jenny had been more than willing to drive to LA to perform the ritual. She, with her Gypsy powers, was able to verify that what they were telling her was the truth, and knew instinctively that what they proposed was the best way out. She'd gotten there in under two hours, and was delivering the baby herself.

"You all right, Cordelia?" Jenny asked, looking up at the young woman, who was so obviously in pain.

"They don't call this labor for nothing. Any sign of the Hound?"

Wesley poked his head in the door. "Our protection spell seems to be holding him off for the moment. How long should this be?"

Jenny cast him a quick look. "As long as it takes. She's moving rather quickly though. I was able to speed her labor as well as her pregnancy. Not long. The baby's beginning to crown."

Doyle turned as white as a sheet. He was dealing worse with the labor than Cordelia was. Cordelia just groaned in relief. "Thank God it's almost over. How do women do this for thirty hours at a time?"

"Pain medicine, which you've had none of." Jenny said cheerfully. "Push, Cordelia."

Cordelia pushed, bearing down on her internal muscles and on Doyle's hand. Tow more pushes and the baby was out, and crying. Cordelia collapsed against her pillows, triumphant, and glowing. "What is it?"

Doyle anxiously bounced on the balls of his feet. "Is it okay?"

"Congratulations, Mom and Dad, you have a beautiful baby boy. And the Hound is now defeated."

Cordelia reached out her arms, and her squalling baby was placed into them. She only got a second of rest however, before a violent contraction tore through her. She yelped, and handed Doyle their son. "What's going on? Why am I still having contractions?"

Jenny looked up. "He isn't alone in there. Push, Cordelia. We've got twins."

By the time the sun went down, Doyle and Cordelia had a son and a daughter. Cordelia had slept for a couple hours after giving birth, but was awake, entertaining everyone in the hotel, and holding her son. Doyle sat in a chair next to the bed with their daughter.

"Well," Angel said, pacing anxiously, "the most pressing matter we have at the moment is what you're going to name them."

Cordelia sat up, enjoying the role of center of attention. "We have decided to name him Hunter Wyatt, and she is going to be named Devon Elizabeth."

Doyle reached for Cordelia's hand. "And for everyone interested, we're getting married as soon as humanly possible."

"And we'd like Buffy and Angel to be the Godparents."

Buffy held Reina back from insisting on seeing the new babies. "We'd be honored, Cordy."

Cordelia looked at Doyle, her eyes wet and glistening. "I love you." She said softly, "And I am so glad that I came back." She looked up at the ceiling. "I guess I need to thank the Powers for my second chance. It was all worth it."

THE END!