Title: Eternity
Author: Wereleopard
Posted: 15/05/05
Rating: PG
Email: Drama/Angst/Romance/Crossover
Genre: Romance Angel/Charmed/Buffy
Summary: Death is just the beginning

All of Angel and Buffy and up to season 6 of Charmed. Disclaimer: The characters in the Angelverse were created by Joss Whedon & David Greenwalt. No infringement is intended, no profit is made I am just poor.
Distribution: FSB, AO, ST if anywhere else please just let me know!

Feedback: Yes please!

Nieves thanks for beta'ing it was very much appreciated Love Ya

Chapter 8

Wesley couldn't believe it she was back. He saw Angel's face and knew that it would take a little time for anyone to actually start to move for the research. "Well we should get some research done when Cordy is back maybe she will have more information for us to work on." He looked around realising that no one had actually listened to him and for once in his life he didn't care, he was happy to be ignored.

Angel stood there not moving, Cordy had orbed off leaving him alone again. She said she would be back so he was going to have to trust her in this. Fred walked over and touched his arm gently and soon Wesley and Gunn were there too. He turned to his friends, his family and a smile appeared on his face it lit the whole thing up.

"She's back." He whispered afraid to talk to loudly in case he woke up, Angel was still waiting for the moment that he found out it was a dream; if it were the case he never wanted to wake up. He watched the smiles on his friend's faces and it hit him, really hit him that she had been here. Feelings came rushing in, his chest felt like it was going to explode, his legs could no longer support him as he slid to the ground, the other 3 members of AI following him, they were all connected, they had lost her together and now they had found her together. Their heart was back. They knew that they had research to do, plans to make and they didn't have long but he just wanted a moment just to be together, a moment to remember what had come back to them.

Angel looked up and saw Willow standing by herself not knowing where to go. The witch could see that Buffy was upset but she wasn't sure what it was about, Spike was trying to hide in the darkest corner and everyone else seemed to be confused about what had just happened. Angel reached out a hand to Willow, she smiled shyly at him and walked over, and sitting on the floor with the rest of them.

"Welcome to the family Willow. Once this battle is out the way and of course we survive we'll get you a room sorted out."

Paige walked over to them and looked down. "Of course we are going to survive you've just got Cordy back, we can't have that happiness ruined just yet and once this is finished we'll have a welcome home party." Paige said grinning, a groan was heard from her two sisters and she glared at them, but none of them could keep it up for long smiles broke out on all of their faces. They were not battling this alone they had people who understood what was going on and one's that could truly help.

Piper hugged her husband tightly as she watched the group on the floor. This was the reason they did what they did, to help people and bring families and loved ones together. She hoped that something could be done to help Angel and Cordy even though they were together but if she remembered what Cordy had told them they still had a curse to contend with. But they were witches maybe there was something in the book of shadows that could help. She would have to remember to look into that when they got home.

Buffy watched her best friend go and join her ex-boyfriend, she felt angry and jealous that he had moved on, she knew that it was unfair of her to say or think that when she had relationships with other people. She turned her eyes onto Spike and stared accusingly at him. He tried to move further back into the darkness but his back hit the wall. She walked over grabbed his arm and pulled him into the office.

Angel watched as Buffy grabbed hold of Spike and lead him so they could have some privacy. He knew that there had been something between them and that Spike loved her, he wasn't sure how Buffy felt but if Spike did not let her know he was alive Angel guessed that Buffy did not feel the same way about the blonde vampire. He hoped that something could be worked out he had no idea what was going to happen next as long as he had Cordy and the rest of his family he didn't care, he could do anything. He hoped that they could work something out and quickly Angel knew that when Buffy was upset or angry she would loose her concentration and that was something that they didn't need not now. They needed the slayer at her best and focused on the job at hand.

Cordelia orbed up to see the elders, they had called to her, she hoped it was not more bad news because if it was she was going to tell them what they could go and do. Looking around she saw the other whitelighters wandering around in their long flowing white robes, which were so not flattering and she was glad to get rid of those robes, it was one fashion statement that she didn't want to make. This place made her think of a Greek heaven all white, peacefully with large pillars, steps and doors. It wasn't exactly stylish but hey she didn't live here. She preferred the look of her apartment or the hotel. Thinking of the hotel brought a smile to her face, it was a smile that had people walking into walls and missing steps, it was one that you wanted to smile back and just stay there feeling the glow from it, the love. Angel loved her, he told her and she had told him that she loved him. It was the first time as themselves they had managed to tell each other. Her hand went to her mouth as she thought about the kiss they both had put everything into it all the pain, the loss, the suffering, the friendship and the love, it was the sweetest, the passionate and the most profound kiss she had ever felt. Her tongue came out and swiped along her bottom lip she could still taste Angel it was a purely masculine taste it was purely, him.

"Cordelia?" A male voice questioned.

The whitelighter turned to see and elderly man, one she had never met before standing in front of her.

"Yes" she answered sceptically her eyes narrowing suspiciously.

"Do not worry we are not hear to hurt you but to help." He said softly not wanting to upset her.

"Yeah well last time I thought someone was trying to help me they hijacked my body and tried to take over the world so please forgive me if I don't take this at face value."

He nodded. "Very well. Please come this way and we will tell you why we called you here."

"Oh goody." She mumbled.

The man stopped and looked at her. He couldn't understand why she had this attitude problem with them and why she was still a whitelighter? There was something going on, something he didn't know about, he was just a messenger, he was asked to take her to see the elders in a private session. That only happened when something big was coming and it was obviously being kept from most of the whitelighters only a select few had been and out to see the elders, their faces pale as soon as they left. It looked like they had to be prepared for whatever maybe coming.

A feminine cough brought him back to the present and he saw Cordelia standing they're staring at him, tapping her foot impatiently on the ground. He realised he had stopped and they he had gotten lost in his own thoughts.

"Can we actually like you know move. I have a family to get back to?" She told him her foot tapping getting louder and her fingers drumming on her hip.

"Oh yes, of course this way." He said Cordy walked softly behind him.

He stopped in front of a large door and indicated for her to go through. She stopped looked nervously at him, taking a deep breath she walked forward the door opened automatically for her she walked into a bright light, she prayed that this was not going to kill her again, well end her undead life. The door slammed closed behind her.

Buffy paced the office from one side to the other. Spike watched her warily, he was not sure what the hell was going on in her mind but he could see that she was very angry and getting more and more so as each second past.

"Oh god I can't believe this." She screeched kicking the chair as she walked past it. "First I come to see Angel to try and help him, then I find out he's in love with Cordelia. I mean Cordelia 'god damn' Chase, the bitch of Sunnydale High. What the hell is special about her?"

Spike's face fell as he heard the slayer rant about Angel and how he fell in love with someone else. It was always about Angel, no wonder none of her relationships worked she doomed them, she always measured them against her first love and no one could ever compete with that and now he realised watching her that Buffy knew that it was over and she would never have Angel love her like that again.

Buffy never saw Spike's face change for nervous to sad as she carried on with her tirade. "But no not only is 'Cordy' Angel's seer, but she became part demon for him and then she died but NOOO could she stayed, she became a whitelighter to help witches and become the whitelighter to my best friend who without a second thought ditched me to team up with her."

Spike now had enough, it wasn't the cheerleader's fault she did everything because she believed it was the right thing and never seemed to hold a grudge or blame someone else she took it on the chin and carried on going no matter what it cost her. "Stop right there Buffy." Spike growled at her.

Buffy stopped her mouth open as she turned to him.

"Get over yourself. Angel feel in love with his best friend, a woman who took everything life threw at her and dealt with it. She was there for the people she loved and cared about. Angel was lucky to find a woman who loved him for the man and the vampire. She would warm his blood up in the microwave, everyone out there doesn't mind watching him drink blood in front to them." Spike saw Buffy's face scrunch up in disgust. "To them it is normal because it is something he has to do. You just upset because you found out Angel is no longer in love with you. He will always love you Buffy but he has moved on, he had grown and changed and that man out there found a woman who loved all of him." Spike shook his head and turned away from her. "You just don't like that it's Cordelia and you can't see how she's changed. But just be warned you badmouth her outside in that room and you'll be making enemies very quickly."

Tears rolled down Buffy's face she was tired and alone. "Why didn't you tell me you were alive Spike, I thought we were friends."

"Buffy we are, but I love you and you don't love me back." He whispered pain laced his voice.

"I do." She whispered touching his shoulder. She could feel the muscles under her fingers clenching.

"No you don't, you feel alone. I'll be your friend Buffy and I still haven't given up hope that you will grow to love me." He opened the door and walked out Buffy close on his heels.

They both looked up at the familiar light this lit the room and as if like magic stood Cordelia with the biggest smile that anyone had seen on her face. Angel and the others stood quickly and he managed to brace himself as she flung herself into his arms. Everyone looked at her in confusion. Cordelia reached up and pulled his head towards hers as she kissed him passionately not taking any notice of the people staring at her. They both pulled back and stared deeply into each other's eyes.

"Not that I am complaining but what…" Angel waved a hand between them trying to find out the reason that she kissed him like that.

"The elders, they told me." She said.

"About the demon?" "Wesley asked as he took as step forward.

"Well yes they did but they told me something else." The brunette said everyone could see the excitement emanating from her body.

"Well bloody hell tell us what it is?" Spike asked impatiently.

Cordy turned and glared at him for a brief moment before turning back to her vampire. "Your soul, the curse, they've taken out the happiness thing we can be together we can be blissfully happy." Angel smiled and lifted the woman who held is heart in the air and spun her around both laughing, he slid her body down against his until her feet touched the ground, he held her tightly against him and kissed her smiling lips.

Buffy stood there watching the two of them in love and being able to be together. It should have been her and Angel all that hurt and pain the two of them went through, they should have been together and happy. With a sob Buffy turned and ran outside, tears streaming down her face.

Angel pulled away from Cordy and looked towards the garden. He turned back to her and she nodded at him he followed the girl he once loved into the garden. Cordelia walked over to Spike and laid a hand on his arm and pulling him back into the office.

TBC