Disclaimer: All characters from ANGEL belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. If they aren't on the show they belong to me.
Summary: A different turn of events after Season 1 Episode 12 "Expecting". A/C pairing.
CHAPTER 10
Cordelia carried a squirming Jessica into the lobby where Wesley was sitting at his desk over a few books. He looked up when he heard the baby.
"Doesn't she look good Uncle Wes? All in her brand new clothes we bought yesterday." Cordelia smiled as she talked about her daughter.
"Lovely." Wesley said as he stood and walked over to see Jessica. "And why are we all dressed up today, ladies?"
"One month check-up." Cordelia told him. "I've got to be in Dr. Everets office in twenty minutes."
"Dr. Everets? Why are you still seeing him?" Wesley was confused.
"Well, I can't take Jess to a normal doctor. She is, after all, half demon. I don't know how that would show up on charts and tests so I don't want to take any chances." Cordelia explained.
Wesley nodded. "That makes sense. You do know how to get there right?"
"I'm pretty sure." Cordelia said as she grabbed the diaper bag off the couch.
"Well, I'm sure Angel will remember."
"Yeah, and that would help if he was coming and all." Cordelia said with a sigh.
"He isn't?"
"No. He said he had other things to do."
"Then go with you for your daughters first check-up?" Wesley was surprised.
"I guess." Cordelia tried to shrug it off but Wesley could tell her feelings had been hurt by Angel's sudden actions. "It's no biggy, I'll be back in a few hours." Cordelia smiled down at Jessica and then made her way down, into the basement, where she could gain access to the sewers.
Wesley sighed and went back to his work, but found he could not concentrate. He was mad at Angel. Mad that he would allow Cordelia to go to the doctor's office all alone for Jessica's first check up. Mad that Angel had seemed distant in every conversation they had held since the first, and so far only, vision Jessica had sent him on. Mad that-
The door swung open and Gunn entered with a big smile on his face. "Man, oh man, do I got game or what?"
"What is it?" Wesley asked.
"Case! I got us a case! One that pays. It's pretty sweet." Gunn was excited.
"Wonderful!" Wesley said. "What is it?"
Gunn shrugged. "A vampire nest downtown. Not a big deal, but the dude was willing to pay pretty good for it."
"Well that's good. We should get started right away."
"Yeah, where's Angel?"
"Right here." Angel said as he descended the stairs. "Why?"
"Got us a case." Gunn said proudly.
Angel nodded and continued into the kitchen.
Gunn followed him. "It's good money. Just a vampire nest. Shouldn't take us very long."
"Great." Angel looked up at him. "You two get on that then."
"You ain't coming?" Gunn asked.
Angel shook his head. "I can't. I've got things to do."
"Well, you certainly can't be busy helping Cordelia bring Jessica to the doctors." Wesley raised an eyebrow.
"What do you want me to do, Wes?" Angel asked.
"You should have gone."
"I'm busy."
"Doing what?"
Angel moved around the counter to get into Wesley's face. "Busy running this place. Now, you two go do your job."
"Fine." Gunn said. "But the money we get, it's ours. You ain't helping, then you ain't getting paid."
"Fine." Angel growled. "I don't care. I don't need it."
"I beg to differ. Having a child cost money. Money that you and Cordelia are not exactly rolling in, but it's your call." Wesley said picking up some stakes and throwing them in a bag. "We should be back later. Come on, Gunn."
Gunn nodded and followed Wesley out the door, leaving an angry Angel standing with his arms crossed in the lobby. After a beat, however, Angel grabbed his coat and sat down on the couch, waiting for the sun to set so he could go out and do those things he had talked about earlier.
Cordelia hovered over Dr. Everets as he checked out Jessica.
"Well, Jessica is a very healthy little girl." Dr. Everets told Cordelia. "Everything seems to be just fine. She will be a strong hero one day, just like her father."
"Yeah..." Cordelia sighed as she picked Jessica up. "Just like her dad..."
"Where is Angel today?" Dr. Everets asked.
"He was busy." Cordelia said trying not to show how hurt she was by Angel.
"Oh, I see..." There was a pause, and then Dr. Everets spoke again. "Cordelia, it is not my place to ask, but is everything alright with you and Angel?"
Cordelia shrugged. "He's been distant lately. Maybe the realization of being a father is setting in, or maybe he just doesn't want to be with me. I mean, we did kind of jump into this, maybe he doesn't want to be stuck with me..." her voice trailed off.
"Cordelia, I'm sure the fact that he is stuck with you has nothing to do with it." Dr. Everets said, trying to comfort a clearly hurt Cordelia. "He's very lucky to have you. Maybe he is just a little nervous about being a father. Most men are."
Cordelia nodded and gave a little smile. "Thank you doctor."
"No problem. Now, get that little one home. She looks tired." Dr. Everets pointed to Jessica who was asleep in Cordelia's arms.
Angel had sworn to himself he would never go there. He had heard all about the club, some demon owned it, claimed it was a sanctuary for demons. No violence was allowed in there, demon violence anyway. Angel looked at the club door with a sigh, he could hear the karaoke machine playing and it took every muscle in his body to make him not turn and continue on his way down the dark street. However, he knew what he had to do. It is what he had come for. Answers. Help. Help from others because he couldn't go to his family for this matter. Not now, maybe not ever. Angel sighed once more and opened the door.
Upon entering the club Angel found demons, humans, and vampires all spread out around the place. Drinking, talking, and just having a good time. He was taken back by the scene, and had almost forgotten why he was there in the first place, but then he saw him. The green demon that owned the club, he was known as the host. Angel had heard a few things about this particular demon and realized he might be the only person who was able to help him, so Angel made his way up to the host.
"Uh...hi." Angel said flatly.
The host nodded at Angel. "How you doing, big guy?"
"Well, I need to talk to you."
"I can tell. You're sending off some serious vibes here. Can I get you a drink? Maybe you're aura will lighten up."
"No. I need to talk."
"Well ok. Business it is." The host stuck out a hand. "My name's Lorne."
"Angel." Angel shook the demon's hand.
"Ah yes, the vampire with a soul. I've heard a lot about you."
"Really?" Angel smiled. "Anything good?"
"Well, mostly that you've got this curse thing, otherwise you'd be an uncontrollable killer."
Angel's brow dropped. "Oh."
"Lighten up there, buddy." Lorne smiled. "Now, let's get down to business."
Angel nodded. "Sounds good."
"What song will it be?"
"What?"
"Song. You've got to sing for me to read you." Lorne explained.
"Oh, no. I was actually wondering if you've seen a girl around here. Blonde, human, kind of seems out of her place."
"Well, I see a lot of those, honey."
"I'm sure. This one is special though. She...she used to be a vampire."
Lorne smiled. "Oh, of course."
"You know her?"
"That one?" Lorne pointed to a blonde girl talking to a vampire.
"Thanks." Angel said and made his way over to the blonde. "Excuse me." He said butting his way into the conversation.
Darla turned around. "Do you mind? I'm a little bus-Angel!"
"Darla." He said simply. "Can we talk?"
"Well, I'm kind of in the middle of something here." Darla explained.
"Good." Angel grabbed her by the arm. "Let's go." And with that he led her out of the club and onto the street.
The pair of old lovers walked silently for a few blocks, then Darla spoke.
"What the hell is this about?" Darla spat.
"You." Angel told her, simply. "Wolfram and Hart, they brought you back."
"Yeah, can't say I'm loving them."
"You're human."
"Wow, you do catch on quick." Darla said sarcastically. "Now, if you don't mind I've got things to do."
"Darla, it might not hurt now, but soon all those things you did-we did, they catch up to you. You have a soul now, it's not going to be easy-"
"I'll manage." Darla said as she picked up her pace.
Angel caught up to her quickly. "Where are you in such a rush to? Going back to Wolfram and Hart? Because they can't do a thing for you, trust me."
"I'm dieing!" Darla spat out.
Angel was taken back. "You're what?"
"Dieing. Yes, I'm human, and my body is in the same state it was before I was turned. I was dieing then and I'm dieing now, which means I don't have a whole lot of options so if you'll excuse me I need to go find a vampire who is man enough to turn me again."
"Darla, you think becoming a vampire again will make this better?"
"Well, at least I know I won't be dead...well you get what I mean." Darla told him as she tried to walk away again.
Again, Angel caught up with her. "Darla, this isn't the way. Whatever it is, I'll help you through it, but please don't do this."
"Why do you care what happens to me anyway? What did I ever do for you?" Darla rolled her eyes. "Wouldn't it be easier for you to just hate me?"
"Maybe." Angel told her. "But I don't, and I want to help you."
"That's right, you help the helpless. Well, I'm not helpless!" Darla told him as a tear rolled down her cheek.
Angel pulled her in for a hug. "Let me help you."
Darla nodded and Angel took her hand as they began walking down the street.
Gunn and Wesley walked down the street after their clean out of the vampire nest. Both were slightly cut up, but nothing that wouldn't heal in a few days.
"Well, that was worth the money." Gunn smiled, holding up a wade of bills.
"Clearly." Wesley nodded in agreement.
"Angel will feel like a big ass now, when we get home and show him what he missed out on." Gunn said.
"I don't believe he will. He's been rather odd lately."
"You think something's wrong with him and Cordy?"
"I couldn't say, but he does seem to be pushing her away."
"Yeah, definitely something wrong there." Gunn told him. "Who in their right mind would ever push a woman like Cordelia away?"
Wesley laughed. "I'm sure he has his reasons..."
"Like slutty blondes?" Gunn pointed ahead.
"Buffy is not-" Wesley followed Gunn's hand to see him pointing at Angel helping a girl with blonde hair into a motel room.
Before Angel entered, he checked the street to see no one was watching, but Wesley and Gunn were not in clear view for the vampire.
"Oh dear..." Wesley sighed.
Cordelia entered the lobby of the hotel to find it empty and dark. "Well, Jess..." She said to her daughter in her arms. "Looks like it's just me and you." She flicked the lights on to see about a dozen zombies dressed in Wolfram and Hart gear step out with their swords and guns held high. "Or it's a party?"
Cordelia tried to turn and run, but the zombies that came from behind cut her off. She held Jessica as close to her chest as she could and kicked two zombies down before being hit down herself. The last thing Cordelia remembered was Jessica's whimpering cries. Then everything went black.
Then Cordelia awoke to find herself comfortably in her bed. She sat up slowly but held her head in pain.
"It's just a bump. Should heal up nicely." Wesley told her from the chair he was sitting in.
Cordelia searched the room and found Jessica safe in Gunn's arms. Cooing softly as Gunn played with her small hands.
"What happened?" Cordelia asked.
"Zombies." Wesley told her. "Wolfram and Hart sent them."
"And we killed them." Gunn smiled up at Cordelia.
"We think they were after Jessica." Wesley said.
"I'd say so." Cordelia sighed and leaned against the headboard. "Can Mommy see her little girl?" She asked Gunn with outstretched arms.
"She sure can." Gunn said, placing Jessica in Cordelia's arms.
"When Angel gets back we can tell him what happened and then he can deal with the evil lawyers." Cordelia said as she traced over a small cut on Jessica's cheek with her finger.
Gunn and Wesley just looked at each other at the mention of Angel's name.
"Uh, Cordy?" Gunn was the first to speak. "You still have the lease on your apartment, right?"
"Yeah. Until the end of this month." Cordelia told him. "Why?"
Gunn handed her the wade of cash he and Wesley had earned earlier that evening. "Take it."
"What's this?" Cordelia asked as the money was placed in her hand.
"Money." Wesley told her. "For you and Jessica. Take it and renew the lease on your apartment."
Cordelia's eyes filled with tears. "Are you guys telling me to leave? Did Angel ask you to do this for him?"
"No." Gunn said. "We haven't seen Angel since...well we saw him tonight, but we didn't talk to him."
"So why are you doing this then?" Cordelia asked.
Wesley sighed. He knew this was not going to be the easiest thing he would ever have to say to Cordelia, but he had to tell her. He owed that much to her. "Cordy...Gunn and I, well, tonight we saw Angel..."
"Ok..." Cordelia said as she bounced Jessica in her arms.
"With another women." Gunn blurted out.
Cordelia was taken back by Gunn's words. "With what?"
"A women." Gunn repeated. "Some blonde girl. He was at the motel a few blocks over."
Cordelia nodded as the tears flowed freely. "Buffy...of course."
"Well, we don't know if it was Buffy." Wesley said.
"Oh come on Wes! Who else would it be?" Cordelia cried.
Jessica let out a soft cry to match her mothers.