Disclaimer: All characters from ANGEL and BUFFY 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 17

Cordelia sat on her bed in her room of the hotel to catch her breath. She hadn't been able to do that in weeks. She looked around her bedroom. Everything looked the same as it did last time. Angel and Gunn had done a good job of moving her stuff from the apartment back to the hotel. She was glad to be in the Hyperion again, but she had also talked Angel into keeping the lease on her apartment, just in case.

Wesley had been out of the hospital for three weeks now and was doing well. He had recently gotten out of the wheelchair and was now moving freely on his own, though not as fast as he used to. He was downstairs with Gunn and the moment and Cordelia could hear the two men arguing over a video game.

Angel had left a few hours ago to take Jessica to Dr. Everets for another checkup and Cordelia was waiting for them to return. Things between Angel and her had gotten better. It had been slow at first, but they slowly began talking more and more, and Angel was trying his hardest to gain Cordelia's trust back. She really did have feelings for him, but she would not admit it just yet. She was afraid of getting hurt again.

Cordelia sat taking in a rare moment of silence when there was a knock on her door. "Figures..." She sighed and opened the door to see Gunn. "What's up?"

"There's somebody downstairs to see you." Gunn told her. "Somebody from your high school?"

"From Sunnydale?" Cordelia asked, confused.

Gunn shrugged. "I guess..." He moved aside and allowed Cordelia to lead the way down the stairs.

Cordelia saw the long blonde hair from the top of the stairs and sighed. Why hadn't Gunn just told her Buffy had come? The blonde was talking to Wesley, but turned around immediately when Cordelia entered the lobby. To Cordelia's shock it wasn't Buffy.

"Harmony!" Cordelia smiled.

"Oh my God! Cordy!" Harmony squealed and threw her arms around her high school best friend. "I can't believe it's you!"

"Me either!" Cordelia was equally excited. "We have so much to catch up on."

"Totally." Harmony smiled. "Like you seriously have no idea."

Cordelia pulled Harmony to the couch and Wesley and Gunn took their cue to leave.

"So?" Harmony asked. "What's been up with you? You never came back to Sunnydale after graduation, we were all totally starting to worry."

Cordelia laughed. "Oh please! Like I'd ever come back to SunnyHell. Plus, even if I wanted to I've been just so busy."

"Doing what?"

"Well, I now work for Angel."

"Angel the vampire?" Harmony asked.

"That very one. Not to mention him and I are now proud parents of a baby girl."

"You're a mother?" Harmony's eyes widened at the news.

"Long story...but yeah, Miss Cordelia Chase is now a mother. My daughter, Jess, she's 4 months old now. Angel has her at the doctors at the moment." Cordelia told her.

"Wow..." Harmony said.

Cordelia nodded. "So, what about you?"

"Same old." Harmony rolled her eyes. "Not much happens in Sunnydale."

"I'll bet..." Cordelia said sarcastically, under her breath

"So..." Harmony changed the subject. "When do I get to meet your daughter?"

Lilah smiled to herself. She had been looking for someone for weeks who would put Angel down and take his daughter. She had pretty much given up reason to believe anyone would go up against the vampire with a soul, and then walked in Harmony.

Harmony had been around the L.A. underground looking for work because she had split from her vampire boyfriend. Lilah found out Harmony was from Sunnydale and the two began talking and after a few pints of blood, Lilah had Harmony signing a contract to get Angel's child. She had been perfect for the job, because none of them would ever expect Harmony to be a vampire, let alone one who was working for Wolfram and Hart.

Cordelia and Harmony sat in Cordelia's room, going through old yearbooks and painting their nails. Cordelia loved the fact that she finally had someone to do some girlie things with. She would never admit it, because she loved Angel, Gunn, and Wesley so much, but sometimes she got sick of being the only girl in the house besides her daughter.

"I can't believe how much everything's totally changed." Harmony said. "Like you with a baby? Like anyone saw that coming."

Cordelia smiled at the thought of Jessica. "Yeah, well me either."

"And you're like not even fat from it. I mean yeah, you put on some weight but..."

Cordelia was taken back a moment by this statement. She looked at herself. Sure, she had put a little weight on, but it was nothing significant...

"And your hair!" Harmony squeaked. "Never thought you'd cut it that short."

"It's just easier with the baby..." Cordelia said as she felt her hair.

Harmony nodded. "I totally get that."

Just then Cordelia's door swung open and Angel entered with Jessica in his arms. "Look who came to see Mommy."

"You're back!" Cordelia jumped up and took Jessica into her arms.

"Yeah..." Angel was a little shocked to see Harmony. "And when did Harmony get here?"

"Like an hour ago." Harmony told him, then switched her attention to Jessica. "Oh, Cordy, she's adorable."

"Thanks..." Cordelia smiled at Jessica who was focusing on her mother's necklace. "Angel, what did the doctor say?"

"Everything looks good. He said Jess is going to be strong as hell." Angel said proudly.

"Figured that one." Cordelia smiled.

"Right, well, I'll just leave you girls alone then." Angel said making his way to the door. Then he looked back at Cordelia's bed to see the nail polish and yearbooks and realized what Cordelia and Harmony had been doing before he arrived. He then saw the look in Cordelia's eyes. His young seer looked worn and tired. Cordelia was an excellent mother, but it was clear to Angel that she needed a night out, and more then anything he wanted to give her what she needed. He wanted her to care about him again. "Or better yet, let me take Jessica. In fact, you two girls stay at Cordy's old apartment tonight. There are sleeping bags in the closet. Go have a girls night out."

"It's okay." Harmony said quickly. "We can watch the baby."

"No." Angel said as he took Jessica away from Cordelia. "She can stay with her daddy tonight. You girls go have fun."

Cordelia stood and patted Angel's arm. "You know where all her stuff is?"

"Yup." Angel nodded.

"Thanks..." Cordelia smiled at him and he thought his un-beating heart was about to break. He wanted to touch her, to hold her, to be with her more then anything in the world.

Harmony lay on the floor in the spare room of Cordelia's apartment thinking. She and Cordelia had a wonderful night out. They went to dinner and then to a club and Harmony had almost forgotten the real reason she had visited Cordelia. However, now the thought of the contract and money Wolfram and Hart would give her for Jessica and crypt into her brain. She became uneasy. There was no way Cordelia would just give up her child. It was clear to Harmony that Cordelia had changed very much since the last time she had seen her. Harmony also knew she could not take Angel in a fight. Getting Jessica would not be easy.

Harmony sighed. There was no use worrying about it now. She would have to deal with it in the morning. Assuming Cordelia didn't open up the shades and let the sunshine pour in. Then Harmony would have bigger problem, like burning up. She sighed again and rolled over, then she heard it.

Cordelia's heartbeat was faint in the next room, but with her vampire senses finely tuned, Harmony picked it up almost immediately. She thought about Cordelia's heartbeat. What was once the heart rhythm of Sunnydale's Ice Queen had now changed to the beat of a caring mother. Harmony hated the change. Not that she didn't like the new Cordelia, because she most certainly enjoyed her company over the Cordelia that Harmony had known in high school. The reason Harmony hated Cordelia's heartbeat was because she herself no longer had one to match. For as long as Harmony knew Cordelia she was always able to copy Queen C's wardrobe and taste. Cordelia's heartbeat was the first thing Harmony could not copy and she hated it for that exact reason.

But what if they could be the same again? The thought finally hit Harmony. Of course, she'd have to ask Cordelia if she could turn her. She wouldn't want to do anything Cordy didn't approve of. Unable to sleep, Harmony quickly got up and made her way to Cordelia's room prepared to tell her high school friend about her idea.

Harmony slowly entered Cordelia's room to find Cordelia sleeping steadily on her side. She sat down next to Cordelia's sleeping bag and saw the flesh of Cordelia's neck. Suddenly all thoughts of asking Cordelia's permission vanished as Harmony leaned closer.

"What are you doing, Harmony?" Cordelia asked tiredly as she sat up and turned the light on. "It's three o'clock in the morning."

Harmony nodded. "I know, but I just couldn't get any sleep."

"Why?" Cordelia asked.

"I was totally thinking, back in high school you and I were like one person."

"A lot has changed." Cordelia said with a sigh.

"Well, it doesn't have to. We can be the same again." Harmony said, leaning closer.

"What are you talking about?"

"Relax, it'll only hurt for a second." Harmony said as she vamped out.

Cordelia was taken back by Harmony's sudden change, but not enough to not react. she quickly shoved Harmony away from her and found her new demon strength to be helpful.

"How did you..." Harmony was confused at how strong Cordelia had become.

"Looks like you're not the only demon in here." Cordelia told her as she stood. "Now what the hell do you want?"

Harmony sighed, realizing she'd have to tell Cordelia.

Angel slammed his fist hard against the counter of the Hyperion Hotel. "I can't believe Wolfram and Hart got desperate enough to send you after Jess..."

"I know-HEY!" Harmony said from her seat on the couch next to Cordelia, who was holding Jessica. "I'm not that stupid."

"Right..." Gunn rolled his eyes as he and Wesley entered from the kitchen. "Because telling us their evil plan when it was your job to carry it out doesn't sound stupid."

Harmony shrugged. "The way I see it, I did you guys a favor."

"As much as I hate to admit it, she is right. She did help us." Cordelia said.

"And she is going to continue to do so." Angel told them. "Harmony, you are going to take me to where you were supposed to meet Lilah."

"You mean she is going to take us." Cordelia said as she stood.

"Cordy, I-" Angel went to argue.

"She's right, Angel." Wesley cut him off. "In this instance we might be better in numbers."

"I don't want to risk anything I don't have to." Angel told them.

"And splitting us up doesn't do that or anything..." Gunn said sarcastically.

"Angel sighed. "Fine, let's go."

Harmony stood and led the group out the door.

"Are you sure this is it?" Cordelia asked as Angel pulled the car up to the corner Harmony had pointed out.

"Yeah." Harmony nodded.

"Great." Cordelia said as she bounced Jessica in her arms. "So what's the plan?"

"The plan is I threaten the crap out of Lilah until she promises not to go after Jess again." Angel told them.

Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Oh, and I'm sure that plans just bulletproof."

"Here she comes!" Harmony pointed to a well-dressed woman walking down the street.

"Alright." Angel said. "Gunn, Wesley, any sign of trouble and you guys get the hell out of here."

Gunn and Wesley nodded as Angel made his way out of the car and up to Lilah.

Lilah noticed Angel first. "Angel, I can't say I was expecting you."

Angel shrugged. "I guess I'm just the big surprise."

"Harmony told you everything." Lilah smiled as she crossed her arms. "I figured she would. Girl was dumb as a box of rocks."

Just then about two dozen Wolfram and Hart employees had crossbows pointed at Angel. Angel immediately turned his attention to his car to see Cordelia, with Jessica clenched tightly to her chest, Gunn, Wesley, and Harmony being pushed around to the front of the car by the Wolfram and Hart men.

"Let them go." Angel turned his attention back to Lilah, his voice full of concern about his family's safety.

"No." Lilah smiled. "I want to give you the joy of watching them die."

Harmony took a step forward. "Technically I did lead them to you. So am I still getting paid?

Lilah laughed in the vampire's face. "Not a chance."

Harmony's hands immediately went to her hips. "But you promised-"

"Your job was to get the kid, not the whole damn family." Lilah told her.

"You bitch!" Harmony lunged at Lilah.

The shock of Harmony's sudden attack on Lilah gave Angel and Gunn enough time to take down a few Wolfram and Hart men, and gather enough crossbows that the remaining men would not fire. Slowly, the Wolfram and Hart employees made their way into the darkness, all except Lilah who was struggling under Harmony's grasp.

"Harmony?" Cordelia called out.

When Harmony turned to Cordelia her eyes were cold. She stood quickly and jumped at Cordelia, almost knocking both her and Jessica to the ground, luckily Angel was there to catch them. Lilah took that opportunity to take off running down the street.

"Damn it!" Gunn said as he and Wesley began chasing the lawyer.

Angel slowly helped Cordelia up and then pulled a stack out and raised it to Harmony. "You don't touch my family!" He was ready to dust her when he suddenly felt a warm hand touch his arm.

"Angel?" Cordelia's voice was calm. "She did help us, and at one point she was my best friend. Don't do this."

Angel sighed and lowered the stake. The thing he would do for Cordelia. He looked down at her and Jessica, and when he looked back up Harmony had left and Gunn and Wesley were running toward them.

"We tried." Wesley said, holding the place the gunshot had been. "We couldn't find her."

"Yeah, evil lawyers can run fast when they want to." Gunn said.

Angel shook his head. "She isn't getting away."

"Angel, just let it go-" Cordelia tried to calm him.

"No!" Angel vamped out. "I'll kill her if it's the last thing I do. All of you get home."

"Angel..." Cordelia became panicked.

"Cordy, go." Angel said. He knew the sudden coldness he was showing her would push them farther apart again, but he was not going to let Lilah get away with what she was planning on doing. He quickly took off leaving his family behind.