A.N.: Now, a whole bunch of people read this through for me, so I terribly hope there are no mistakes in it. Thanks Kati, Kriszti, Zoé.,

Still no idea if I want Wes in this fic. Well, I know I want him –I mean, öh you know…- but I don't know if I can write him in.

Thank you Eternal Dragon101 , Kierens, Laine7727, silvi-hc, buffangel23, Karakin for rewieving, it was really helpful. :)

„Has Cordelia helped in the…?" Buffy asked warily as Cordy and Angel reentered the library.

„Yes, she was very helpful, she…" Angel glanced at Cordy for support, who continued without a beat.

„He asked for some fashion advice; like should he always wear black or put on so much hair gel or having a big, ugly avantgard picture in his home is a good idea?" she sat down at the far end of the table as she answered.

„It is …!" Angel started to defend his pride heatedly, but after seeing the stunned faces of the Scoobies he stopped. „Yes, she helped." He sighted finally as he stood in the middle of the library.

„Okay. Fashion advice." Xander rolled his eyes.

„As I was a saying, this Hram-pac demon is …" Giles started to speak again, continuing what he was saying before the interruption, but was cut off again.

„Weren't you looking for a book before Dead boy rushed in and grabbed you away?" Xander eyed Cordy suspiciously, who was indeed listening to Giles' little speech.

For a few seconds Cordy just stared at Xander, than slowly nodded, got up and went to a bookcase. She understood it was weird for her to be there; she was not dating Xander any more, but was not yet into helping the helpless willingly. She realized, her presence was uncomfortable for them, especially for Willow, who avoided her eyes and didn't utter a word since Cordy entered.

„I would like to check this out" Cordy handed the book she just took from the shelf to Giles.

„Candied? It is a very good choice." Giles had a dreamy smile on while handing back the book, and she just had to roll her eyes. What is it with the British and their books?

„Well, now that I have my book, and my a great social life is waiting for me, I am going. Have fun, all of you." Cordy smiled brightly, thinking about all the ways she could spend her afternoon. „And I think, I will go to the Bronze tonight" she added after a moment of thinking, so Angel would be able to find her, then left.

„Why did she tell us she would be at the Bronze?" Xander asked as he stared at the still flipping library doors after Cordelia walked out.

„Perhaps she wanted to make sure we wouldn't go?" Willow suggested with a small frown on her face.

„Well, then we are definitely going, aren't we?" Xander turned to the girls, but they weren't really enthusiastic about the idea, Willow just shrugged her shoulders. „Buffy?" he asked pleadingly.

„I don't know. I will go on a patrol with Faith, perhaps after that." she mused „Will you be coming too?" she asked Angel, who was still standing in the middle of the library, but deeply in his thoughts, not really listening.

„Probably" Angel murmured. „Look, Giles can I borrow a few books? Nothing important, just want to look up a few things" He decided, taking a few books would be the best thing to do, this way he would be able to go through them at home, without funny questions from the others.

„As you wish" Giles' answer as way to polite, then he turned back to the Scoobies, ignoring Angel.

Angel went up to the bookshelves and started to look for books on time travelling, portals and other possible explanations for their situation. Cordelia was right. This will take them forever. And of course she went home, excusing herself from all the work.

He had an easy job with searching for the right books; no one paid him any attention, except Buffy, who glanced at his direction sometimes.

Deciding that five books will be enough for now, and more would awake suspicion anyway, he gathered his thing and was about to leave, when realized, he didn't know on what terms they were with Buffy. Were they not seeing each other, because they will never be just friends, or were they dating or not dating again?

He was a little preoccupied with other things before, so had no time to think about these things. But his questions were answered as Buffy came up to him and her smile melted his heart.

„I will probably go to the Bronze after patrol." She said with her sweet smile.

„I will be there too." Damn, he was too easy; he was all over her again. Cordy would be annoyed if she saw him. And Spike, well he would be pissed. Angel had to smile at this.

Then she leaned a bit closer to him and asked in a small voice. „What was this with Corelia?"

„Well" Angel said slowly, his mind racing „She thought there was a ghost in her home and wanted help with it, but didn't want to brother you with it." He said finally, hoping Cordy won't kill him when she found out what he said.

„Still not speaking with Xander and Willow. I can't say I don't understand, but still…" Buffy sighted. „You wanna help her with them?" she asked, referring to the books in Angel's hand, who just nodded. At least this way he didn't have to came up with an explanation.

Their little exchange was interrupted by Giles' throat clearing. „Found all the books you were looking for?" he asked coldly.

„Yes. I believe it will take some time, a few days to go through them, then I will bring them back." He told Giles, and after one last smile to Buffy he walked out from the library.

Now he only had to go back to the mansion, look through his fridge, read all these books and find something to wear for the evening. Cross out the last part, he only had black clothes.

Codelia's afternoon was fantastic, she haven't felt like this in a long time. Probably because she spent the last one and a half year possessed, then in coma, but never mind that.

She was in the Bronze, standing next to a table, orange juice in hand, waiting for Angel to show up. She was a little bored, so she was watching Harmony chit chatting with her friends. Cordy had a strong urge to walk up to her, and tell her, that in a few years time, she is gonna be an absolutely non-scary undead, hyper secretary, who would annoy the hell out of her boss.

„What are you thinking about?" came the familiar voice from behind her. She was so used to Angel's coming-out-of-nowhere tricks, that she didn't even flinch.

„About ruining Harm's evening." Cordy told him without turning towards him, still eyeing the blond.

„I thought you are above these things." Angel smirked and now she turned around, to give him a stern look. „And she wouldn't understand the half of what you would be saying."

„You are right." She turned back towards Harmony, just in time to see her give a piece of her mind to a nerd looking boy, who accidently clashed into her.

„We could stake her in the name of prevention." Angel suggested, froming in the blond's direction.

„Nah, she is still human" Cordelia said with a disappointed sigh.

„Too bad" Angel said with a small smile.

After this good-hearted exchange about Harmony, Cordelia turned back to Angel and lowered her voice. „Have you found anything?"

„I have found way too many things. But nothing useful. Just to make things easier, I sticked to time travelling, excluding the other possibilities. But still, by all means it could have been something we ate last week." He rubbed his temple, clearly frustrated by their lack of luck.

„I am pretty sure it can't be that" at Angel's questioning look she explained „I was still in coma last week, and you only eat blood." She smiled brightly, annoying the hell out of Angel.

„What did you say about being a smartass? Oh, yeh! It won't help."

„I was just trying to help," she murmured like she was insulted, but with a glimpse of mischief in her eyes. „and with time travelling and portals together?"

„No, nothing yet." Angel shook his head „If only Wes was here."

„You would dash all the work at him?" Cordy asked innocently while taking a sip from her drink.

„Like you did?"

„And again, we have to play our old selves, how would it look if I helped you with your research?" she said it like this was the most obvious thing in the whole world.

„Nice" Angel was amused how professionally she could explain why she wasn't doing anything.

„Thanks" they were in silence for a few minutes, not doing anything, just looking at the crowd of dancing people.

„Is Buffy coming?"

„She said she would drop in after patrol. With Faith" Angel added the last part slowly, deep in his thoughts about Faith and her future. If he can make her trust him, or stop that horrible accident from happening or even protect her from the Scoobies' and Wesley's stupid reaction, then he could save her from the guilt and all the pain she had to endure.

„Don't even think about it Mr." Cordelia said sharply, knowing full well what he was thinking about.

Now a new, tense silence settled between them, and they were both shifting uneasily.

„I don't like the music. And the place is crowded " Angel said, wanting to break the silence „I can't really imagine I came here at my own will."

„You came here because of Buffy." Cordy rolled her eyes, but was eager to change the topic „And you don't like any type of clubs."

„Caritas was nice. If I didn't have to sing," he added wincing at the memories.

„Yeh, before you destroyed it two times? As Lorne oh-so-nicely always points out?" she smiled, then turned her head toward him so fast, that it made a cracking sound and said in full excitement. „Lorne! He could help us if we sang to him. Or at least point us to the right direction."

„No good." Angel said after a few minutes of thinking.

„Why?" Cordelia asked outrageously „Because it was my bright idea and not yours?"

„Of course not." he rolled his eyes „ We are not supposed to meet until our second year in L.A. Plus he would be able to see that we are from the future." he stated.

„Shit, you are right." Cordy was highly disappointed. „I just hoped we found something useful."

„Don't worry we will find something. Eventually." Angel sounded a little tired as he tried to reassure her. „Oh and I told Buffy you had ghost problems and wanted help with them, when we rushed out from the library earlier today." He sad sheepishly.

„No problem. I knew they wont buy 'the fashion advice' explanation. It would be a lost case with you." Cordy grimed wickedly, but Angel was just glad she didn't go ballistic on him for making her the damsel in distress.

„And what were you doing this afternoon? Enjoying your old life?"

„Yep, pretty much. All those shoes, clothes, bags, make up and everything. I spent half an hour searching for the right nail polish." She looked at her sky blue nails „but perhaps I should have chosen the brownish one." Cordy mused.

„Uhum"

„The right nail colour is very important. If it doesn't mach with your clothes and make up, you can look absolutely ridiculous. So now I'm thinking about dyeing my hair pink, because that would go great with my nails."

„Great" Angel nodded, but his eyes were not focused on her but behind her.

„I know Buffy has just walked in, and you haven't hear a world of what I was saying, so go and greet her before your eyes fall out." Cordy snapped at him.

„I was listening," Angel said huffishly „we were having a conversation about… nail polish?" he looked at her uncertainly while Cordelia turned her eyes heaven ward.

„Go greet her, I am sure she is looking for you." And motioned with her hands for him to go.

„Won't you be alone?" he was reluctant to go, and leave her all alone.

„Nah, I have my orange juice, and pretty nail polish. Go."

Cordy watched as Angel left their table and strolled toward Buffy, who was already searching for him with her eyes. He walked up to her, smiled his half smile, and Buffy's whole face lit up from this. They looked nice together.

Cordelia sighted. There was no point in glooming over Angel, she knew, but it was still hard. They have grown so close during their years in L.A., changed each other in so many ways.

Angel glanced and smiled toward her, as he and Buffy searched for a table. Cordy smiled back.

God, we are in such a mess. But still, this way at least she won some more time with Angel.

While sitting there, drinking her drink and watching him, it was hard to belive it will be soon over for her.