Title: Right Before Your Eyes

Author: Wereleopard
Rating: PG
Email: Angst
Summary: Up to pregnant Darla it is AU, Angel's thoughts and questions about himself, his friends, his redemption and the love he has for Cordy.

Disclaimer: The characters in the Angel verse were created by Joss Whedon & David Greenwalt. No infringement is intended, no profit is made I am just poor and the song doesn't belong to me either.
Distribution: FSB!

Feedback: Yes please!

Thanks hotstuff for beta'ing once again

Chapter 16

Cordy screamed and Lilah laughed at the fear on the young woman's face, this is what the lawyer loved, the power, and the control. Life and death at her fingertips even though Cordelia had no choice, she was going to die. Lilah had a point to prove.

The door buckled at the hinges with the first bang, and the second one sent it flying across the room hitting the wall opposite. Lilah ducked behind the table and looked over to the tied up Cordelia and standing there in the doorway was Angel, his face was vamped out, hate and anger shone through his eyes.

Lilah for the first time since she had known Angel was truly terrified, the fear spread through her body like a tidal wave, she had definitely pushed him too far this time.

Angel ran to Cordy's side and untied her hands, his whole being was focused on her, that he didn't see Lilah quietly move away to her desk and pull out a gun, but Lindsey did, before she could fire the weapon Lindsey punched her and knocked her to the ground, he then picked up the gun and smirked at her.

"Stay away from us Lilah, you can't win, you never will." He told her honestly.

When the ex-lawyer stood, he turned to see Cordy and Angel watching him both with smiles on their faces.

"Let's go, I want to see my baby." Cordy told them one hand was clutched tightly in Angel's and the other one she held out to Lindsey.

Buffy sat on one of the sofa's in the lobby her head buried in her hands, the memories of what she had done and what she had been forced to do kept repeating in her mind over and over again, how she had tried to kill Angel and Cordy, the loneliness and anger at the thought of them being able to have a life together to have a family. She just hoped that the two of them could forgive her, she had to let go and move on and accept what had happened to her, yes she died but she was back again now and she was going have to talk over her feelings and her memories of where she had been. That was going to be the hardest telling them they had taken her from heaven, that she had finally been at peace and they had dragged her back to the hell of her life, the constant battles.

Fred paced around the room, with baby Connor in her arms trying to settle him down, her heart in her throat the waiting becoming almost unbearable. She spun around quickly as she heard the lobby door swing open, Connor giggled in her arms. The petit Texan's face lit up as she saw Cordy, Angel, Lindsey and the newborn baby standing in the doorway.

Xander and Willow reached over and touched Buffy's shoulder, showing their support, letting her know that they were there to help her no matter what.

Buffy stood up and walked over to Cordy and Angel.

"I'm sorry for everything Angel, Cordelia. When I came back I was so lost, I just wanted for things to go back to how they used to be. I know that is no excuse but I…" Buffy stuttered not knowing how to express what she was feeling.

"It's ok Buffy, you have friends that are here to help you, let them back in." Cordy said as she nodded towards Xander and Willow.

"Well as fun as this has been I think it's time to head back to home, we have vampires to dust and monsters to fight and a teenage girl to keep an eye on." Xander quipped; he just wanted to forget all about this, he actually was missing home.

Angel, Cordy and Lindsey moved away from the door to let them past. Buffy stopped in front of Angel and stared up into his handsome face.

"I am sorry for everything Angel, but just so you know I do still love you and if you ever realise that you love me let me know, I might be available." Buffy whispered.

"I'm sorry Buffy but I love Cordy, I love her so much. You have to let me go; you have to let what we had go. There is someone out there for you and you can't let them be second to a young girl's dream. I had to let you go, I had to let someone in." Angel stopped and he looked and smiled at Cordelia. "Actually I don't think I had a chance, she was someone who just wouldn't take no for an answer."

Buffy felt her heartbreak she had truly lost him, but he was right she had to let him go but had no idea how to do it. The tears fell from her eyes as she looked at him one more time, his face full of love for the woman who had stolen his heart and he wasn't looking at her. Without another word the three school friends walked out of the door.

Angel reached out his arm and pulled Cordy to him, he kissed the top of her head and stared at his family his son Connor, Fred, Wes, Gunn, Cordy, Lindsey and there daughter. He was truly happy.

6 months had passed and it had gone without incident, they still had Cordy's visions, they saved the innocents and fought various demons and vampires, but they were happy and had settled in their life together and the changes that had happened. Angel and Cordelia's love had grown deeper with each day and it had grown stronger. Lindsey had now become one of the family he had proved himself time and time again and he and Fred had started a relationship, it was still new but it was getting stronger. The two babies were growing up healthy and spoilt by parents, Aunt and Uncles.

Lilah growled at the pictures that lay across her desk pictures of all of them laughing, pictures of Gunn and Wesley talking, of Lindsey and Fred, of Angel and Cordy. You could see the love in every single one of them, she swiped her hand across the desk the pictures flew into the air and fluttered to the ground anger flooding her very being.

"Something has to be done." She muttered rising from her chair and storming out of her office, the door slamming closed behind her.

Lindsey and Cordelia were down in the lobby filing some paperwork, Wesley was in the office researching, Gunn and Fred were out getting Tacos for dinner and Angel was upstairs keeping an eye on the kids, the vampire just loved to sit there and watch them.

Lilah opened the door of the Hyperion hotel and stared at the two people in the lobby laughing. Cordelia was facing the other way sorting out some files, the lawyers eyes narrowed at the woman whom she blamed. Lilah raised her hand, a gun gripped tightly as she aimed at the brunette.

Lindsey turned and saw Lilah, his face turned white and everything seemed to go in slow motion.

"NOOOOOOO" he screamed as he rushed forward just as the bullet exploded from the gun.

Lindsey dived forward and felt the bullet invade his body, the pain exploded inside of him as he fell to the ground.

"LINDSEY!" Cordy screamed.

Wes ran out of the office crossbow in hand, and as he saw Lilah about to fire again he instinctively pulled the trigger and released the arrow. Lilah collapsed to the ground as the arrow entered her chest; she coughed up blood as everything started to fade.

Angel ran down into the lobby and saw Cordy cradling Lindsey's head in her lap, Lilah was on the ground her eyes open but not focusing as the blood pooled around her body and Wes stood their with his weapon still in his hand.

"You can't die, you can't I won't let you." Cordy sobbed.

Fred and Gunn walked in laughing but stopped as they saw Lilah's body.

"NO" Fred cried dropping the food and running to her boyfriends side.

"You and Angel take care of the kids ok, take care of each other." His gaze turned to Fred. "I love you; I've never loved anyone like this." He coughed and blood fell from his mouth. "Thank you all for being my family." He gulped trying to get air into his lungs.

Fred laid her head on his chest and listened as his heart stopped beating, the tears fell from her eyes and landed on his chest wishing that her love for him, her tears and her own heartbeat would bring him back.

Wesley put the crossbow on the table and pulled Fred into his arms as she sobbed uncontrollably, Angel wrapped his arms around Cordy.

Cordy stood at the door and watched Fred rock her daughter gently whispering to her, Angel came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Hey little Lindsey, I'm going to tell you all about your daddy." Fred whispered.

It had been a hard few months since the death of Lindsey but they were sticking together and slowly rebuilding things but they still had a long journey to make, another person had died fighting this fight. Just like Angel, Lindsey was on the wrong side but he changed and fought the good fight and in the end his life was the price he paid.

THE END