Disclaimer: All characters and things 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 18

Lilah's trail was still fresh as Angel made his way up the stairs of the apartment building. The building was small, but well kept. It looked like Angel would have expected any other apartment building that was located uptown to look. It was expensive, and Angel wasn't surprised. Lilah seemed like the kind of person who would get what she wanted.

When Angel reached Lilah's door he contemplated knocking, but decided it would just be easier to kick the door down. He did so, and the door landed in a heap. Lilah looked up from her seat on the couch when her front door fell in.

"Well, look who finally decided to show up." Lilah smirked as she made her way to the door. She stopped just before the doorframe. "Looks like someone can't come in..."

"But it doesn't mean someone can't yell." Angel clenched his jaw. "Now listen, because I'll only say this once: Stay the hell away from my family."

Lilah snorted. "Won't happen. The Senior Partners won't allow it."

"Really?" Angel asked sarcastically from his spot by the doorway. "I don't care."

"Even if we did stop, why do you think the threats against Jessica would stop too?" Lilah asked. "Hate to break it to you, but word's out, and everyone wants a piece of your daughter. The kid's not supposed to be here, she's clearly not human, and anything and everything evil want her."

"Well, then get my word out. Anybody comes near Jessica and I'll twist their heads like lemons."

"Fine." Lilah turned back to her couch and focused on her TV again. "Pick up the door on your way out."

Angel staggered into the hotel. It had been a long night, and he was tired. Everyone else seemed to still be asleep, so he slowly made his way up the stairs and into Cordelia's room.

He stood against the frame of the door watching both Cordelia and Jessica sleep. His eyes fell on his daughter and he immediately felt his heart fall apart. He had almost lost her, again. He had promised Cordelia he would never leave Jess alone and he had almost lost her. He sighed and it seemed to stir the woman sleeping in the bed.

Cordelia opened her eyes slowly and focused on Angel standing at her door. "You're back."

"Yeah." Angel nodded. "I talked to Lilah. I don't think she'll be doing anymore damage, not for awhile anyway."

Cordelia nodded with a sigh and sat up, patting the bed for Angel to come and sit. "We need to talk."

Angel slowly made his way over to the bed and sat down next to Cordelia. "Yeah?" He asked quietly, not wanted to wake up Jessica.

"You taking off after Lilah like you did last night it not exactly banking you points with gaining anybodies trust back." Cordelia told him.

"I know..." He looked down at his hands.

"I know you meant well by it, and that you were only doing it to keep us safe, but-" She was cut off by his lips. She quickly broke them apart and studied his face.

"Sorry..." He looked down again. "I just had to..." He looked back up with an uneasy laugh. "I missed that."

"Angel, I'm not ready for...you hurt me." Cordelia said simply.

"I know." Angel told her. "And that's why I'm sorry, but I do want to start to work on us again, if you're ready for that."

Cordelia thought for a moment. Of course she was ready for that! She hadn't really minded the kiss either, but she couldn't let him know that. Not just yet. "We could start somewhere."

"Great." Angel stood. "Dinner? Tonight? I'll find a babysitter."

Cordelia nodded with a smile and watched as Angel quickly left the room. She then made her way over to Jessica's crib to find her daughter wide-awake. "You were listening to Mommy and Daddy weren't you?" Cordelia picked up Jessica. "You noisy little girl, you are just like your Mommy." She said carrying Jessica into the bathroom.

Gunn and Wesley were both surprised when Angel entered the lobby later that day whistling to himself.

"Okay, either someone spiked ya blood or you killed the crazy lawyer lady." Gunn said. "I could go with either one."

Angel smiled at him. "Neither, actually."

"So what's with the good mood? Not that we mind." Wesley said from his desk.

"I'm taking Cordelia out tonight." Angel told them.

"For a date." Gunn stated.

"For dinner." Angel corrected.

"For dinner but not a date?" Gunn seemed to be a little confused.

"Right." Angel folded his arms and leaned against the counter. "We are taking things slow."

"Where are you taking her?" Wesley asked.

Angel shrugged. "Some place nice."

Gunn shook his head. "Nice we can't afford. Not with Jessica's doctors bills and Wesley's hospital bills, not to mention the basic necessities of life."

Angel held up a car magazine that was lying on Gunn's desk. "Not a necessity."

"Maybe not to you." Gunn took his magazine from Angel.

"He's right, Angel." Wesley told him. "Cases aren't rolling in right now. We just don't have the money."

"Well then what am I supposed to do?" Angel asked. "I can't take her to McDonalds."

"Why not? Everybody loves hamburgers." Gunn looked around seeing that he was being taken seriously. "I'm only joking." Then Gunn got a grin on his face. "But I do got an idea."

"What?" Angel asked, hopefully.

"Tell Cordy to get dressed up. I'll watch Jess tonight, and me and Wesley will help you out." Gunn told him.

"How?" Angel asked again.

"Welcome to The Hyperion Restaurant." Gunn bowed. "Wesley Wyndym-Pryce will be your server tonight, and I, Mr. Charles Gunn, am on baby duty."

Angel laughed. "You're joking right?"

"Nah man." Gunn told him. "We can hook you up."

Wesley nodded. "We can cook, and I'm sure there is a table downstairs we can throw a table cloth on."

"Yeah. It'll be cheap, and you can still have a nice night with Cordy. Tell her to be ready about seven o'clock." Gunn told him.

Angel nodded with a smile. "Thanks guys. I owe you."

Cordelia was sitting on the floor, playing with Jessica who had just learned to roll over when Angel entered.

"Cordy?" Angel asked.

"Angel! Jess is rolling over!" She grabbed Angel's hand and led him to Jessica. She knelt beside her daughter and cheered her on. "Come on, baby, show Daddy."

Jessica just looked up at her mother and giggled, waving her arms around in the air.

Cordelia looked hurt, and Angel could tell, so he tried. "Jess, come on, show Daddy what you showed Mommy."

Jessica studied her father and with what almost seemed like a sigh rolled over twice. She then lay on her back with a tired look and began sucking her thumb.

"See?" Cordelia's face lit up. Angel could tell she was proud of Jessica.

Angel nodded. "I just wanted to talk to you real fast."

"Okay." Cordelia said as she sat back on her bed.

"It's about tonight."

"Mister, if you are bailing out on me-"

"No." Angel said quickly. "Not that at all. It's just that, well, you should be dressed nice tonight."

"Nice?" Cordelia asked. "Angel, we can't afford-"

"I've got it covered." Angel smiled at her as he made his way to the door. "Just make sure you're dressed up."

Cordelia smiled as Angel left, and then scooped up Jessica. "Well, let's go see what Mommy has in her closet to ware."

Gunn entered Cordelia's room to find her dressed in a strapless black dress, and her hair up in a bun. She was carrying Jessica to her crib, and Gunn wasn't going to deny that she looked fine, in fact, he thought she looked even hotter with the baby in her arms.

"Hey Gunn." She whispered. "Jess is asleep, she shouldn't be much trouble."

Gunn nodded. "No biggy." He held up his headphones and his car magazine. "I'm good."

Cordelia nodded and hugged him. "Thanks for this. I owe you."

Gunn waited for her to exit. "Like you have no idea, girl." He laughed to himself and then got comfortable in a chair in the corner.

"Angel?" Cordelia called out as she looked through her purse and made her way down the stairs. "Are you read-" She looked up and was taken back by Angel, with his hand extended, in a black suit.

"I'm ready." He smiled and took her hand. "Shall we?"

Cordelia smiled and followed him down the stairs. When they reached the bottom she gasped, taking a step back. The entire lobby was dimly lit and there was a trail of rose peddles leading from the stairs to a table set for two in the middle of the lobby. All the furniture had been pushed aside.

"Do you have reservations, sir?" Wesley said in the most proper voice he could come up with as he appeared in a tuxedo.

"Uh yeah. Angel for two." Angel told him.

Wesley nodded. "Right this way." He led them to the table and poured them both drinks. "I'll be back with your dinners in a moment." He then made his way into the kitchen.

"Angel..." Cordelia smiled across the table. "This is too much-"

"Cordy, just enjoy it." Angel told her. "You deserve it."

So Cordelia did enjoy it. They ate a magnificent dinner that Gunn and Wesley had prepared, even though Angel wasn't big on the food thing, and they talked for hours. It was like old times, and Cordelia loved it. She loved being around him, and she could tell he felt the same way. Maybe things were going to work out after all. And then Wesley entered with the phone in his hand. His face looked blank as he walked over to the table.

"Angel? It's...it's for you." Wesley told him.

"Not now, Wes." Angel said. "Can't you see I'm in the middle of dinner with the most important person-"

"You want to take this." Wesley told him.

Angel looked at Cordelia and then frowned, taking the phone from Wesley. "Hello?...Yeah...yeah..." His voice grew concerned. "Yes...no Willow! I'll be there. I promise." He quickly hung up the phone and then shot looks back and forth at Cordelia and Wesley.

"What is it?" Cordelia grew suspicious at the mention of Willow's name.

"Mrs. Summers...she..." Angel took a deep unneeded breath. "Buffy found her dead, yesterday."

Cordelia looked down. Mrs. Summers had been one of the only mothers Cordelia had ever liked. Even if she had been the mother of Buffy Summers.

"I have to go." Angel stood. "Buffy...she needs me." He knew his words would hurt Cordelia so he didn't even bother to look at her after he said them. He just made his way up the stairs to get changed.

Cordelia sat at the table for a long time after Angel had left. He hadn't even turned around to look at her as he made his way out the door. He couldn't, he knew how much it would hurt them both. Wesley came out of the kitchen after he had finished cleaning up and sat at the chair across from Cordelia.

"He'll be back as soon as he can." Wesley tried to assure her.

"Will he?" Her voice cracked as she played with her napkin. "He's hers. No matter what I do, they will always have a thing. That's what soul mates are, right?"

Wesley's heart broke as he watched the tear slide down her cheek. "Cordy, I can assure you, that's not why Angel is going. He cares for Buffy, but not like that, not anymore. He has feelings for you. Trust in that."

"I can't." She stood. "I've just got to accept I will never get between Buffy and him. I don't even know I bother." She said bitterly before making her way up the stairs.

Angel arrived in Sunnydale right after the funeral took place. He thought it would be better, and he had an idea where he could find Buffy. He slowly made his way through the familiar graveyard to find the familiar blonde sitting next to an unfamiliar grave.

"I know you're there." Buffy said after a beat. She turned to face Angel with a tearstained face. "Never change your hair gel do you? It's got a smell to it that I'll never forget."

Angel scooped Buffy up into his arms without saying a word. She let him hold her and she cried into his jacket for what felt like forever. When the tears had stopped he sat her down next to a tree and quickly took a seat beside her. "I'm sorry, Buffy."

Buffy nodded. "I just never thought it would happen. You know? I mean, death, sure I deal with that everyday, but your own moms..."

Angel wrapped an arm around her. "It's hard, but you're strong. You'll get through this."

"What if I don't?" She asked weakly.

"You will, Buf. I know you." He smiled down at her. "Trust me."

She wiped up her tears and gave him a small smile. "Thank you, for that. I needed it."

Angel nodded. "It's only the truth."

"And thank you for coming." Buffy told him. "It was probably short notice and you probably had other things to do."

Angel shook his head. "They weren't important."

Buffy nodded and stood. "I should get home, Dawn's probably looking for me."

"Yeah, me too, except Cordy's probably the one looking for me."

Buffy smiled at the mention of Cordelia. "How is Cordy?"

"Good." Angel told her.

"And Jess?"

Angel nodded. "Getting big."

"I'd imagine." Buffy smiled. "Tell Cordelia I said hello and maybe I'll swing by soon. See that daughter of yours."

Angel nodded. "I'd like that." He turned to walk away, but then turned back to Buffy. "Are you sure you'll be okay?"

Buffy nodded. "You've always got to keep going, right? I'll miss her, but I'll get by. You taught me that, Angel."

"What?"

"To keep going, to never give up. To be a champion."

Angel smiled and watched as Buffy turned and walked away from him.