Part 2
When Angel was woken up later that day, it was Cordelia's face leaning over him.
"Hey, there sleepy-head. Good to see you're getting some rest. I just came to bid you adieu. I'm off to Sunnydale!" she said at him, as Angel slowly sat up in his bed. He yawned, "Okay, good luck with everything. Make sure she doesn't know I sent you... It'll just make her upset..." Cordy put her hands on her hips, "You don't think she already is?" He looked down quickly, then back up, "You're probably right-" "Of course I am! She's probably miserable without you! And if not miserable, she's hurting inside. I might not like her much, but I know you two well enough to know that she's not going to be over it in only 7 months, and probably never will be. I can only hope she's dealing better than you, or in a more healthy way! Mr. I-Brood-All-Day-And-Fight-All-Night," She gave him a disapproving look.
He shrugged innocently, "I don't do that all the time," but when she just looked at him knowing that he knew he did, "Yeah, well so I do it some- OKAY OKAY! Like all the time." Cordelia laughed at this, then bent down to give him a little kiss on the cheek, "I'll see you in a few days, you guys take care of the place all right? And you need to start getting rid of your brooding nature, cuz when I come back I intend on having a very sad, but happy Slayer with me... or waiting for you back there in Sunnyhell." He took her hand, "Thanks Cordelia. Don't know what I'd-we'd do without you."
Cordy rolled her eyes, "I have a feeling you'd be a drunken Irish once again, just so you wouldn't have to be alone all the time." This time Angel laughed,
"You're probably right." She smiled and removed her hand from his, "I'd better get going if I want to get there before she gets married." Angel's mouth dropped open, but Cordy just kept smiling, "Gotcha." He glared at her back, then smiled realizing that he'd just about believed that Buffy was getting married!
He sighed, hoping that she hadn't gotten to far into a relationship with anyone, "Especially that Riley freak." Cordelia turned right before she got into the elevator, "Angel! I never thought I'd hear something like that come out of your mouth!" but then she started to laugh, as she opened the door. Angel just laid back and pulled the covers over his head, trying to get some more rest before nightfall.
"Oh Angel!" Cordelia yelled from upstairs. "Yeah!" he yelled as loud as he could, hoping to show some irritation. "I'm borrowing your car!" Angel's eyes popped open and he jumped out of bed running up the stairs hollering, "But what if some big demon comes.. and-and we like have to drive after him. If I don't have a-a car then we couldn't do that. Someone could die." Cordelia burst out laughing, she was practically rolling on the floor! "Oh man Angel, you are SO gullible!" she said once her laughing had calmed down to smiling like a hysterical lunatic.
Angel just glared at her, "You do realize that you got me out of bed, don't you. And a cranky vampire, I have a feeling, isn't a very nice vampire." Cordy put on her best serious face, "Oh.. I'm scared of the big bad vampire with a soul! Help me!" All of a sudden Doyle sprints into the room, seeing the fake but believable look on Cordelia's face, and the glare coming from Angel. He flew at Angel's face, fists flying. "DOYLE! Doyle stop! Okay, let me rephrase that, Doyle get off the floor," she said as Angel pushed Doyle off and he landed with a small thump on the tile.
"Buh-buh-but you was screamin' an' he was all vampy lookin'!" he stuttered, still with the cute accent, at his 'Delia. She just smiled trying not to laugh at the little Irish man. "First of all, if Angel was evil don't you think I would have yelled a little more than I did? Second of all, we were just faking," then she looked at Angel, whom was still slightly glaring, "Well one of us was. Angel's just upset cuz I woke him up." Doyle just nodded his head as he took Angel's hand, and stood up. "Okay I'm really leaving now, I'll need your keys though if I'm gonna get anywhere... I'm just kidding!" Cordy exclaimed as Angel stepped a little bit closer to her.
Angel threw his hands in his air, "You know what, I'll drive you!" Doyle looked at him quizzically, "Aye, do you really think dat's a good idea?" Angel looked him in the eye, "I'm just gonna get her to town I won't stay... long." Doyle and Cordy both rolled their eyes, and Doyle spoke again, "You do remember what happened last time you did that don't you? It didn't turn out too well..." They both saw that look on his face, full of so many emotions they couldn't decide what he was thinking, and wondered how Buffy ever could. "I didn't mean to-" Doyle started. "No it's okay... I won't stay, just maybe say, 'Hi' or something if the opportunity arises, like she sees me or something... or if I see her," Angel said, "I'll just go grab my coat."
"Oh don't mean to ruin your plan, but it's still good out for tanning, if ya know what I mean," Cor commented. "I'll let you drive until the sun goes down," he said jogging down the stairs. "Hey why don't you just let me drive the whole way..." "No, Cordelia," he said from down in his room. A few seconds later he flew back up the stairs,
"Let's go." Once Cordelia and Doyle had gone downstairs and towards the garage that held his car, he snuck quickly into his office.
He snatched the CD out of the player and turned around to Cordy with her arms crossed, and eyebrows raised. "And what would you be about to do to that CD?" He looked around then straightened up to his full height, "Nothing."
She scratched her nose, "Right... Now give it here."
"No."
"Angel..."
"No."
"I don't remember you being this stubborn, hand it over!" Cordelia said sternly. He squinted at her with a scowl on his face, trying to be mad at her, and kept the CD at his side. "Now, Angel you don't want to make me use force... do you? Cuz you know I'd whoop your butt," she asked raising her eyebrows, with a little smile on her lips.
Angel closed his eyes, laughed, just a little, and handed her the CD, "Fine take it, cuz God knows what would happen to me if I was left defenseless with you and your Prada bag full of dangerous materials, such at Calvin-Klein perfume, and Maybelliene 3 in 1 makeup."
Cordelia looked at him strangely, "Angel did you like make a joke there? Cuz that would be a monumental achievement for you, I'd make sure to get you like a certificate or something."
Angel was taken aback, "What? You mean to say that I'm not allowed to make a joke?" She just shook her head and walked back down the stairs towards the garage.
"And don't you think it's more of the, 'I'll take you for dinner' type of reward?" he asked following her.
She laughed, "Yeah, cuz I mean, I'd love our little trip to the butchers for their, 'two bags of blood for the price of one sale'."
Angel thought for a second, "You have a point there."
She nodded her head as she went to the driver's side of his car, that had a convertible top(that would do nothing for her hair), "I also have another, LET'S GET GOING!"
Angel took a few steps back, "Okay, okay."
Doyle cautiously walked up behind her, "Aye, 'Delia? Do I get a kiss go' bye?"
She looked down at him and let out a laugh, "Hum... Let me think about it..." Doyle got a little hope... "No. Bye Doyle." He looked liked he'd just been slapped in the face.
Angel just rolled his eyes, "C'ya Doyle."
He didn't respond, just watched them both get in the car, then yelled, "Can I come!"
Angel stuck his head out the window, "No, Doyle. You have to stay and watch the place..." looking at the ground, "I'll be back tomorrow night."
"Sure ya' will buddy," Doyle said walking back up the stairs.
"I will," Angel said to himself, but Cordy heard him.
She looked at him disbelieving, "Do you really think that's true?" He stared at her for a second, and then she looked away from him, putting the car into drive. Angel crawled into the back for more protection, and they were off to Sunnydale.
About a half hour later
"Cordelia! We've listened to it once already, and I'm depressed, don't you think it would be best for us to just put on the radio?" Angel pleaded with his head in his hands.
She had played the Savage Garden CD straight through, and he wanted to roll over and die. "Angel, I think it'll help you..." she said with an extremely sympathetic, and sweet tone he was hearing from her more and more often, but one that the old Cordelia never used. He hoped that he had had a big part in helping her change into the really great friend she was now. He sighed,
"If you really think it's gonna help... But I'm driving soon... and that's not going to be playing while I drive. Unless you want to put yourself at risk of death of head on collision."
She smiled at him for a second before putting her eyes back on the road. He had to admit she was doing a good job driving his car, but he was still driving the rest of the way, even if they only had 40 miles left when the sun finally went down. It should be going down early it wasn't really even Spring, yet!
He sighed again as he laid back, resting he really didn't know what he was going to do once he got back to Sunnydale. To see her.. or to not see her, that was the question here, and he didn't know which would be worse.
He ultimately decided what he would do after much brooding Angel-thought. I'll stay around town, check out the Mansion, which will always give me an excuse. I could say that I forgot something there, which I did, and that I just stopped here first, and was going to come say, "Hi," after I'd gotten some stuff together. And if no one like sees me or something, then I'll come see her after Cordelia talks with... her. Or I won't.. it depends on what happens, Angel thought as he drove the final stretch into Sunnydale.
"Hey... where am I going to stay?" Cordelia asked, once he pulled over to the side of the rode, so they could do some planning.
"I made you a reservation at the Radisson, I hope that's okay. They had a ton of rooms, since not a whole lot of people come here to visit... and can pay. I'm really not sure how they've stayed here..." Angel said, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel, his eyes wandering around getting his barring, and spotting a couple down the street.
"I hear they've been here about a month, and that they're moving out like next week. I'm surprised they are still open. And that's great Angel, it's a good hotel," she then followed his gaze, and fiercely tried to turn his head.
But Angel didn't move, he couldn't find it in him to... Buffy had been across the street holding a guy's hand and walking along... then they had started to kiss. And they still were, Angel felt tears in his eyes, but he blinked them away.
"Angel..." Cordelia pleaded with him to turn away. The kiss had grown, and she had her hands roaming over his back, and he had his hands on her back pulling her to him.
He could almost place himself where that guy was... but he almost couldn't see him with her anymore, plus they didn't kiss in public like that. They're love was for each other, the very rarely kissed when many others were around. It seemed much better that way, much more passionate, this way was... strange. But from where he was they were both enjoying the kiss.
"Forget it... Let's go home..." Angel said putting the car into reverse quickly, making the tires squeal, but they didn't even notice.
"NO! Angel, don't! We can't leave now! I guess you couldn't see her face, but from here, she didn't look like she wanted to be kissing him at all! Turn back around," she demanded, but Angel wasn't really listening, and he sped forward, trying to make a U-turn, but nearly missing a phone poll. He screeched to a stop, going backwards again, practically on the sidewalk.
The car then lurched forward, then abruptly stopped, sending Cordelia inches from the dashboard, "ANGEL!"
He pressed on the gas, but when he heard her scream, put his foot on the break, slower this time. He threw his head down into his hands, and mumbled things to himself.
Cordy carefully put a hand on his shoulder, and when he didn't yell at her, pulled him up into a tight embrace. He instinctively put his arms around her, and laid his head on her shoulder. "I'm so sorry, I-I could've k-killed you," he said his voice, and body trembling. "Hey... shhhh. It's okay," Cordy was pretty worried though, he went way out of control, and he doesn't do that. At least he hadn't been until the other day... It seemed like something had happened, to make him that emotional.
"Angel?" she questioned lifting his head.
He sniffled a little bit, "Yeah?"
He sat back up in his seat away from her. "Is there anything you want to tell me?" Cordy asked looking in his eyes, searching for an answer in case he didn't supply one.
He looked down, "Yeah... there is... I'm sorry I didn't tell you before.. I was just kind of scared it would go away..." "What is it? Angel? You know you can tell me anything..." Cordelia told him in a low voice.
"Do you remember that demon that was going to go on that big rampage thing, and kill all those people, and how I stopped it, killed it, so he didn't hurt anyone?" Cordy nodded, urging him on. "Well, I was summoned by the Oracles the next night.. and they told me I had saved hundreds of people by doing that." She didn't want to push, so she let him sit there for a while. "They said I had partially redeemed myself... that I deserved to get something. They took the clause out of the curse, and sunlight... it's really not a problem anymore... but I didn't want to tell you. I was scared it would be like last time, something would happen and they'd take it back..."
Cordelia was shocked, "Oh my gosh! Angel!" She flung her arms around him, "This is good! If we tell Buffy-"
"No! We're not telling her anything..." he looked away from her to the steering wheel, "We're leaving." He put the car in drive, and got out on the street, driving much better this time, very slow.
"Angel... please just stay one night. Let me talk with her, and the others, I really want to see them. Come on, drop me off at the hotel, and promise me you'll go to the Mansion." Cordelia reasoned with him. He pulled over to the side of the road again, "Did they stop kissing, yet?" She grimaced, and turned around, they were there, but they weren't kissing anymore, just walking. "Phew.." she said under her breath, "Yes, they stopped."
He surrendered, "All right, one night."
She smiled a little at her accomplishment, "Okay, promise me you'll stay."
"Promise."
"Good," she sighed, and leaned back for the ride.
"I'll leave the car at the hotel with you, so you can use it tomorrow if you want. I'll just walk home-I mean to the Mansion," he recovered.
"No, just take it with you. Come pick me up tomorrow morning, and take me to Buffy's."
"Think about it Cordelia. Unless you want to wake up before dawn... Oh, okay. It's going to take some getting used to I guess," Angel pondered.
"Yeah, it will. Thanks, how's 9:00?"
"That's fine."
Angel pulled the car up in front of the Radisson, "I'll see you then."
"Yup, get some sleep, okay?" she said pulling her little suitcase out of the back seat.
"I will," he smiled at her, as she went into the hotel. Angel stayed for a few minutes to make sure everything checked out okay, then left to go to the, technically still his, Mansion.
He never saw her on the streets on the way there, which was good. He drove on autopilot, and then pulled it into the underground garage, and parked. He got out, slowly walked to the door, and got his key out, though strangely he found it unlocked. Angel cautiously cracked the door open, nothing seemed out of place, and he couldn't hear anyone moving around inside. The door opened with a small creek, and he shut and locked it behind him. Peeling his duster off and tossing it on the couch, he went towards the bedroom.
Rubbing his eyes he walked into the room, finding himself to be pretty tired. The Oracles had told him that he would have some more human-like characteristics now, also.
Still rubbing his eyes, he fell down onto the bed, and lay down, but was in a split second thrown off the bed onto the floor, and saw his most dangerous opponent... the Slayer that currently resided in Sunnydale, at 1630 Revel Drive, Buffy Anne Summers.
But she never knew who it was, she just flew out the door at lightning speed. All he could see was her back, and her golden blonde hair flowing behind her as she sprinted out the door.