Title: Taken Back
Author: Lady Shalott
Email: R
Category: Post "Not Fade Away", Romance/Drama
Content: A/C
Summary: Fifty years after the events of "Not Fade Away", Angel realizes that the mission is not lost.
Spoilers: Umm…none really. References to events from NFA and through out the series.
Disclaimer: The characters in the Angelverse were created by Joss
Whedon & David Greenwalt. No infringement is intended, no profit is made.
Distribution: You only need to ask.
Notes: Wow. No notes. That is a first for me. Wait, oh yeah. Detailed notes can be found in chapters one and two. Oh, and here's more. Prose, I love however dialogue I am not so great at. Yeah, so, sorry.
Feedback: Is loved more than Karl Urban.

Just get in
Oh, it's so amazing here
It's all right
'Cause there's beauty in the breakdown

Chapter Three

Angel hated his job. As an independent contractor currently employed by the Olympus Hotel and Casino, he provided security for many of the high-rollers and celebrities that passed through the hotel doors. It didn't matter if the person had private security, Angel was always right there as well. The hotel had been plagued by lawsuits in the past, and it was his job to make sure celebrity bodyguards didn't cause any unnecessary problems. His skills had gotten him many job offers in the past.

Not this time. The girl was a spoiled, pampered socialite who also had a reputation for being hostile and unpredictable. Olympus management had demanded she sign a release allowing Hotel security to accompany her own staff. She had agreed because no other hot casino would give her the time of day. Angel had agreed because work was work. If he had known about her, things would have been much different.

"Excuse me". London Langdon called in his direction.

"Yes". Angel nearly growled at the annoying bi…witch. She only smiled. " I want to go shopping. Has the hotel made preparations to close the mall concourse for my privacy?"

Angel seriously contemplated biting her. "No, they are not going to close the mall".

The socialite shrugged and sighed. "Whatever. Are you the only security I am going to have?"

"Is that a problem?" Angel stood , arms crossed, staring at her with unfathomable eyes. What ever the girl was going to say died in her throat as she meekly replied "Okay".

The sun wasn't down yet, but that didn't matter since the group wasn't leaving the Resort building. Angel trailed a few feet behind London. What was the reason he had chosen this profession? Oh yeah, his misplaced need to thumb his nose at the Powers That Be while still earning a living. There just weren't that many openings for a former evil vampire-turned champion-turned nearly evil corporate CEO. He sighed. Someone should start a network. He saw a Vellen demon wearing its human skin, and let his eyes flash gold in warning. Fortunately the demon was busy reading a shop directory and only gave them a second glance. London went into Hermes and Jimmy Choo, coming out laden with packages. She gave Angel a sideways glance, as if wondering whether or not to have him carry her purchases. He didn't say anything but she must have seen something in his face, because she handed them off to an assistant instead.

It was in Gucci that the trouble started. London was-to put it nicely-a huge bitch. She had been complaining to her minions about the lack of any good styles this season when she spotted a dress she liked.

Unfortunately, it was on another girl.

That didn't stop the heiress. She got up, marched over to the girl and demanded that the dress be handed over. The other young woman declined loudly. What London and Angel both missed was her large boyfriend coming out of the changing rooms behind her. In a moment he had grabbed London's arm. "Leave my girlfriend alone". The guy snarled.

In the blink of an eye, Angel was there. "Get your hands off her". Angel saw the guy's snarl and raised him a menacing glare.

Big Boyfriend let go of London. "Who are you, her bodyguard?"

"Actually, yeah". Angel saw the shop assistant pick up the phone. His vampire hearing caught the word 'security', and he knew he had to end this. "London, go shop somewhere else".

"It is Miss Langdon, and no. I want that dress."

"I got it at Diamante". The other girl offered. "It's just across the hall". She was getting upset, and just wanted to leave.

London shrugged then flounced off, tossing over her shoulder "You look like a cow in it!" He minions trailed after.

"Come on, Joey, let's just go". The girl begged her boyfriend. The guy looked at Angel. "That bitch needs some manners."

Angel shrugged. He didn't have a problem with this guy, her was only doing his job. "Yeah, I know". Angel turned away from the couple and headed out of the store. It was at the entrance that he noticed London talking to a girl in front of Diamante. "Please be a friend". He muttered.

It wasn't.

As Angel got closer, he could hear the women talking. The lilt and cadence of the brunette's voice was familiar but when he heard he say, "I'd rather be working than living off the money someone else spread their legs for!", it was forgotten. With a burst of vampiric speed, he managed to reach London before she did any damage to the other woman.

Snagging London by the shoulders, he turned to the brunette. "You'd better leave". She rounded on him, and he almost fell. It was her. It was Cordelia. Cordelia Chase, who had died over fifty years ago on the monumental day that had set the rest of his existence in motion.

Before he could say anything, she shot both him and London a scathing glare. "You're all crazy.", she muttered as she turned into the crowd.

Angel let go of London so fast that she dropped to the ground. He ignored her indignant scream and took of after Cordelia. Damn, she moved fast. He stopped, sending out his senses in search of her. She was still here, her musky fragrance still in the air. He noticed a sweep of brown hair going into L'Occitane, and followed it.

She was standing with her back to him, examining a shelf of products. He approached her slowly, and she turned before Angel reached her.

"Oh, God." he heard her mutter. Then louder, "Listen, I didn't do anything to that blonde bimbo. I didn't even touch her, she ran into me".

He stopped and stared. He had been so certain that the girl was Cordelia. Now that he got a better look, however, he could see that there were minute differences. Although their appearances were scarily similar, this girl had blue eyes, not hazel. There was a slightly different set to her facial feature. She was also missing Cordelia's beauty mark. Although they could have been twins, it was not the same girl. Yet, she even smelled like Cordelia…

The girl's almond eyes were wide, staring at him, as if he were a lunatic. Which he was, obviously. Angel gulped. "I'm sorry. I thought you were someone else.

She gave him a look. "Like someone who wasn't just attacked by your girlfriend? Whatever". Before he could correct her, she turned from him. Angel had only taken a step when he heard her grumble, "Someone should tell the princess that her guardian angel is insane." Angel turned back, thinking maybe Cordelia was only playing a cruel trick on him, but the girl had already walked away.

Angel slowly made his way back to where London was screaming at a Hotel security guard. When she saw him, London turned on Angel. "You dropped me! You bastard! No one treats me like that!"

Angel growled at her. "You're lucky that girl isn't going to sue you for assault!"

"That bitch! This is her fault! Get your hands off me!" The last was screamed at the security officer, who was trying to usher London back to her suite. "I will only go if he", pointing at Angel, "stays the HELL away from me!"

"Fine by me". Angel ground out. He didn't care if he broke contract with the hotel. He just wanted to go home and have a nice, long brood.

Angel's townhouse was in North Las Vegas. He kept his car windows tinted black, and existed for the shaded walkway between carport and front door. He knew many people believed he lived in the hotel, but he would rather stake himself than spend more time on the Strip than he already had to.

Entering his dimly lit home, Angel glanced around. It was mostly bare, except for the bedroom and some antique furniture salvaged from Wolfram and Hart. Angel sat down into a comfortable, worn leather chair and steepled his fingers under his chin. Letting his mind drift, he thought about events both past and present.