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 25
Angel sighed as Cordelia fixed the collar of his shirt. It had been almost a month since Buffy had come back. The original plan was to go see her right after Willow called, but then they got word that Buffy was a little disorientated. The last thing Angel wanted to do was crowd the slayer, so he decided to give her some space. He had gotten a call two days ago from Buffy, saying she wanted to come out and visit Angel and his family, thus the cause of Cordelia tugging at Angel's neck.
"Cordy..." Angel tried to pull out of her grasp. "Buffy's seen me with a messed up collar. It's not a big deal."
"Angel." Cordelia didn't have to say another word. She had won the argument. When she was finished with his collar she moved over and scooped up Jessica from her crib. The six month old squirmed in her mother's grasp.
"I guess she doesn't want to get all dressed up either, do you Jess?" Angel smiled at his daughter who swatted a fist at him and giggled.
Cordelia placed her daughter on the bed and tickled the baby's stomach. "Jess, tell Daddy you can't wait to put on your new outfit for your Aunt Buffy."
Jessica did not move. She just starred up, menacingly, at her mother, and then quickly rolled onto her back in an attempt to crawl away. She got up on her front hands, but she was still learning on how to dragged herself along.
Cordelia grabbed her daughter and rolled her back over, squashing any hope for the baby that she might get out of putting on another outfit. "Where do you think you're going?" Cordelia cooed at the child. "Mommy's got to get you ready."
"And Daddy's going to go downstairs." Angel said, leaning over Cordelia's shoulder and watching as Jessica chomped down her two K-9 teeth that were almost in. He kissed Cordelia.
"We'll be right down." Cordelia smiled at him as he made his way out the door. She then turned her attention to Jessica. "Now let's get you dressed."
Angel paced the lobby, while Gunn, Fred, and Lorne watched him.
"What the hell are you doing?" Gunn finally asked.
"Nothing." Angel shrugged, but continued to pace. "Just waiting."
"Wesley will be back with her as soon as he can. He said there was traffic on the way to Sunnydale." Fred reminded him.
"I know." Angel said, still pacing.
"Well, I'd rather see him pace than brood." Cordelia smiled as she entered the room with Jessica in her arms. She kissed Angel lightly on the lips.
Lorne stood. "Can Uncle Lorne see his favorite niece?" He made his way over to Cordelia to take Jessica from her, but instead, when he reached for her, Jessica grabbed his horn and pulled it toward her mouth. "Ouch!"
"Jessica!" Cordelia pulled Lorne's horn out of her daughter's hand. "Stop that."
Lorne rubbed his head. "Well, that is one strong little girl you've got their, Angel."
Angel smiled. "I know."
"Well, I'd rather see the kid get her strength from her father, rather then her skin tone." Buffy joked as she entered the lobby, followed by Wesley.
"Buffy." Angel smiled and pulled the slayer close for a hug. "You're back."
Buffy nodded at him with a half smile as they broke apart. "I am."
"It's good to see you." Cordelia said as she embraced Buffy as well as she could with Jessica in one arm.
"You too, Cordelia." Buffy smiled and then her eyes fell on Jessica. "And look at this one. She is adorable."
"Thank you." Angel said proudly, wrapping an arm around Cordelia.
"Well, come in, Buffy." Cordelia motioned. "Lunch is almost ready."
"Yeah." Gunn stood, looking at his watch. "I'm about to go pick it up now. Anyone else wanna come?"
"Oh! I do!" Fred stood from her seat on the couch. "I love going out and getting food because in Pylea, you know, there was no place to get it. I used to sometimes go into the forest and find some...but one time..." She stopped when she saw everyone starring at her. She shrugged and then made her way up to Buffy. "I'm Fred, by the way."
"Nice to meet you..." Buffy smiled but looked at Angel and Cordelia with a raised eyebrow.
"And I'm Lorne." Lorne waved from the couch. "I see Mr. Soul, here isn't going to introduce any of us."
"I was going to-" Angel started.
Lorne stood. "It's fine, Angelcakes. I'm actually going to be on my way. I've got to open the club in a few hours. It was nice meeting you, Buffy."
"You too." Buffy smiled as Lorne exited.
"So back to lunch?" Gunn butted in.
"I'm coming." Fred said.
"Wesley?" Gunn asked.
Wesley looked up from a scroll he had in his hand. He clearly hadn't been listening to anything going on. "Uh...no. No, I'll be in my office." With that the Englishman exited.
Gunn shrugged. "Guess it's you and me, Fred."
Fred smiled and followed Gunn out.
"So, what's with Wes?" Cordelia asked as she placed Jessica in her playpen and then led both Angel and Buffy to the couch.
Buffy shrugged. "Part of the reason I came. Giles found some scrolls, he thought they could be helpful to Wesley."
"What are they about?" Angel asked from his seat next to Cordelia.
"Not sure. Just the delivery girl." Buffy sighed.
"Maybe I should go take a look." Angel stood. "Do you mind?"
Buffy and Cordelia shook their head's at the same time. "Not at all." They both responded.
"Okay." Angel said as he went into Wesley's office
"So..." Cordelia smiled up at Buffy. "I'm really glad you came to visit."
Buffy nodded. "Me too."
"I'm sure everybody in Sunnydale is glad you're back."
"Yeah." Buffy sighed. "They are. Willow...she brought me back."
"Yeah. I talked to her on the phone." Cordelia told her. "She sounded a lot better. They missed you."
"I know." Buffy nodded, with half a smile. Cordelia could tell it was fake though.
"What's wrong, Buffy?" Cordelia asked.
Buffy shook her head. "Nothing..."
"I don't believe that."
"You wouldn't understand."
"Really?" Cordelia raised an eyebrow. "Try me."
"A lot of stuff's happened since you left Sunnydale, Cordelia. We aren't the same people we were in high school. We did things-"
"You think I don't know we've changed?" Cordelia motioned around to Jessica and Angel in the office. "You don't have to tell me twice."
Buffy smiled, thinking about how much she realized Cordelia had changed as she watched her with Angel and Jessica from the higher plane. "I guess you're right."
"So are you going to tell me what's bothering you?"
Buffy sighed. She couldn't believe she was going to actually tell Cordelia Chase what had happened to her. How her friends had ripped her out of the most peaceful place she had ever been because they thought she was in hell. She opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by Jessica's screams.
"Jess..." Cordelia stood quickly and picked her daughter up, trying to sooth the child, she held her close to her chest and bounced her gently. "Shh...Sweetie...Mommy's got you...shhh...what's the matter?" She kissed the top of her daughter's head and continued to bounce the whimpering child in her arms.
Angel flew into the room almost immediately. "What happened? What's wrong?"
Cordelia shrugged, still bouncing Jessica. "I think she needs her nap."
Angel nodded and ran a hand through Jessica's hair. "Probably. She hasn't been sleeping well since her teeth came in."
"Let me take her upstairs." Cordelia smiled at Angel, but did not kiss him, because she didn't want to make Buffy feel awkward. She then made her way up the stairs.
Buffy had been shocked at the display of concern and maternal instincts Cordelia had just shown. She had watched Cordelia from the higher plane, and seen the significant change in the former Ice Queen, but to be in the same room and witness it first hand was completely different.
"Wesley's still working on translating those scrolls." Angel said, taking a seat next to Buffy.
"Oh." Buffy looked at him. "Well at least he's got something to do."
Without saying a word Angel pulled Buffy in for a hug. "I wanted to thank you."
"Me?" Buffy asked.
Angel nodded. "You...I...what you did for me, for me and Cordy. Getting me my permanent soul...I don't know how to thank you."
Buffy slapped him in the arm, playfully. "Are you treating her right?"
Angel smiled. "Of course."
"Well good. I don't want to have to come and hunt you down if you break her heart."
"Won't happen." Angel smiled again. "So, how do you like being back?"
Buffy looked at the ground to avoid Angel's eyes. "It's...well..."
"Wrong?" Angel asked, as if he could read Buffy's mind.
Tears swelled in the Slayer's eyes. "I was happy...I felt everyone I loved was safe...I was happy there, Angel."
Angel pulled Buffy close to his chest. "I'm sorry."
"They didn't know. They thought I was in hell. But after being in that place, that beautiful place." Buffy looked up. "Coming back here. Well, it makes this place feel like-"
"Hell on earth." Angel finished her sentence.
Buffy nodded. "But they didn't know. They didn't know I was happy."
"Did you tell them?"
Buffy shook her head violently. "I couldn't. I would never."
Angel nodded. "I understand."
Cordelia felt her eyes fill up with tears as she watched the scene between Buffy and Angel unfold from her spot on the stairs. Buffy had gone to heaven and been ripped out of it by people she loved and trusted. The Slayer would never tell them for fear of hurting them, even though it was tearing her apart.
Buffy had gotten Angel his soul. She had been the one to give him it so he could be with Cordelia. Cordelia couldn't find the words to thank Buffy. Buffy had done so much for Cordelia, even when they didn't get along. Even when Cordelia was pretty sure Buffy had hated her, it was clear now that the Slayer's feelings toward the ex-cheerleader far from what Cordelia had thought. Buffy didn't hate her. Buffy had given her the chance to be with the man she loved. To be with Angel. Cordelia owed Buffy not only her life, but her family and future as well. Cordelia felt her heart break for the Slayer as she watched her cry in Angel's arms.
Wesley sighed, rubbing his temple. So far the Nyazian Scroll that Giles had sent him wasn't making much sense. It said something about the Tro-clan, but he was unable to despiser that word at the time. He heard the front door open and Fred and Gunn's voices in the lobby. Lunch had arrived.
"Wesley?" Fred stuck her head in the door. "Lunch is up. Are you eating?"
Wesley nodded. "Yeah." He stood. "I'm coming."
"How's everything with the scrolls going?" Fred asked.
Wesley shrugged. "I may need your help later with them. Is that alright?"
Fred nodded, eagerly. "I'd love to help. I always feel like I don't really contribute to the team so whenever you need a hand just give me a holler."
"That's not true, Fred. You help a lot."
Fred blushed. "Well, thank you. Come on, let's eat."
Wesley followed Fred out of the office, smiling. She always seemed to brighten his day. He assumed it was only natural that he was attracted to her, seeing as they shared so many common interests. He only hoped she felt the same way.
"Lunch everybody!" Gunn called from the counter. Fred, Wesley, Angel, and Buffy rose to meet him and get some food.
"Gunn!" Cordelia whispered harshly from the top of the stairs. "I just got Jessica down for a nap, and if you want to wake her then you can spend the rest of the afternoon getting her to fall back to sleep!"
"Sorry, Cordy." Gunn looked down as Cordelia made her way down the stairs.
The group sat and ate for a while.
"So, Wes, what are those scrolls about?" Gunn asked, curiously.
Wesley shrugged. "Something about a Tro-clan. I'm unable to despiser it's meaning now but..."
"It's not good." Cordelia said, as her eyes seemed to glow white.
"What the hell?" Buffy asked.
Angel was at Cordelia's side in a minute. "Vision." When Cordelia snapped out of it he held her hand. "Cordy, what did you see?"
Cordelia looked around confused for a minute. "A tomb? Does that make sense? I have a feeling that whatever this Tro-clan thing is, well it's inside of it."
Angel nodded. "Wesley, I want you to figure out what the hell a Tro-clan is."
Wesley nodded and made his way into the office.
Buffy stood. "Maybe I should go."
"No, Buffy. Why would you do that?" Angel asked.
Buffy shrugged. "Incase this is bad. Maybe Giles can help or Willow or something."
Cordelia shook her head. "No. Whatever this thing is, it's here in L.A. I could feel it."
Angel nodded. "Then maybe you should go, Buffy." He took a step closer to the Slayer so the others couldn't hear her. "This is my war. You fought yours."
Buffy nodded. She understood. "Thank you." She pulled Angel close to her.
Angel sighed into Buffy's blonde hair. He felt for her. She was too good to be back here, she deserved the peace that had been so wrongfully taken from her. But she would continue to fight the good fight. He knew her too well to think she would do anything else. And she would never tell her friends what they had done to her; she would just carry on like nothing happened, like they did really save her from hell. He also knew he would not make her fight his battle. She had suffered enough and deserved a break from things that could lead to apocalypses. He pulled away from her and smiled. "Would you like Gunn to bring you home?"
Buffy shook her head. "I'll get a taxi or something. Not a big deal." She made her way over to Cordelia and hugged the former cheerleader. "It was good seeing you, Cordelia."
"You too." Cordelia pulled Buffy closer to her; silently thanking her for the gift she had given Angel.
Buffy waved to the rest of the group and exited. They all stood there for a moment, starring at the spot the Slayer had been in. Then Wesley broke the silence.
"I found it." Wesley said, reentering from the office with a book in his hand.
"Found what?" Fred asked, curiously.
"What the Tro-clan is." Wesley began reading from his book. "It's the person or being that is basically supposed to bring an end to mankind."
"Great…" Gunn muttered sarcastically.
"So this is bad then?" Cordelia asked.
Wesley nodded. "Seems it."
Angel stepped in. "We need to figure out what this is or who it is and when it's coming."
"I agree." Wesley said. "Fred, do you think you can run some numbers for me?"
Fred nodded. "Sure." She took a paper from Wesley and made her way over to her computer. "It shouldn't take long."
"Gunn, can you head down to the club and let Lorne know everything that's going on? Maybe he heard something." Angel said.
"On it." Gunn said, turning out the door.
"I think I'm going to go check on Jess." Cordelia told Angel.
He could tell her nerves were being rocked by the sudden news and threat to all of their lives if this prophecy was true. "I'll come with you." Angel said, taking her hand as they made their way into their bedroom.
Cordelia quietly made her way over to Jessica's crib with Angel in tow. She looked down at her sleeping daughter and sighed, feeling Angel's hand rest on her shoulder. "This is going to get bad, isn't it?" Cordelia asked, turning to him.
Angel shrugged. "We don't know anything yet, Cordy. We've fought bad things off before, it's not like we won't do it again."
Cordelia shook her head as a tear feel from her eye. "I felt it in my vision." She looked down at the ground. "Whatever is coming, it's not good."
Angel lifted her chin. "But we'll get through it."
Cordelia's gaze fell back on her daughter. "I want to see her grow up, Angel. I want to give her the world. I want to protect her. I'm so afraid to lose her."
"You're not going to lose her." Angel assured her. "Whatever is coming we'll stop it. I won't let it hurt Jessica or you."
Cordelia turned back to him. "What if this the end, Angel?" She said in almost a whisper.
"It's not." He whispered back, caressing her cheek with his hand. "I promise." He kissed her gently on her lips. He could smell the fear coming off of her and he realized what he had to do. Whatever this Tro-clan thing was, it had to be stopped. He had to stop it, because he had to keep his family safe. He turned away from her and went to the door.
"Where are you going?" Cordelia asked.
"Downstairs. Get everyone focused on finding and destroying this thing." Angel told her as he opened the door, all of his energy from this point on would be in finding this thing and killing it. He staggered back, however, when he saw Fred standing outside the door smiling.
"I've got some good news for you." Fred told him.
"What is it?" Angel asked.
Cordelia was at Angel's side in a moment. "Is the prophecy not real? Are we not all going to die?"
Fred shook her head. "No, the prophecy is real alright."
Cordelia's hopes were shattered in a second. "Then what's the good news?"
"Well, I ran all the numbers, and this bad thing, whatever it is. It should be here like right around now, but do y'all see anything bad happening around here?" Fred stuck her arms out. "I don't think this Tro-clan thing is so bad."
Cordelia smiled uneasily as she looked up at Angel.
The tomb broke open into a million pieces and Holtz collapsed on the floor, taking in heavy breaths. He looked up to see Sahjhan standing over him with a smile on his face.
Holtz slowly got to his feet looking the dark cave. "Where am I?" His voice changed, and became enraged in a moment. "You said you would take me to Angelus. Where am I?"
"Los Angeles." Sahjhan told him, simply.
"A dimension of hell?" Holtz accused.
"No. A city in America." Sahjhan patted Holtz on the back. "It might sound weird, but you're not in the exactly familiar with this time period."
"What do you speak of?" Holtz asked. "I was only asleep for a few seconds."
"Or decades." The demon mumbled.
"What?"
"Relax. Take a breather."
"Angelus."
"You'll get him soon enough." Sahjhan told him. "Right now you need to rest. Trust me." He shook Holtz's hand. "Welcome back, old man."