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: Angel and Spike get a chance to get back the people that meant the most to them after the battle against Wolfram and Hart. But can they keep the real past a secret from the only people they want to share it with? A/C S/B
CHAPTER 3
Angel and Xander made their way through the locker room. Football had ended and they had already showered. Practice had not been as hard as Angel expected it to be; clearly he was in shape, although it would have been a lot easier if he still had his vampire strength.
"So we are heading over to the Bronze tonight?" Xander asked as he threw on his tee shirt.
Angel looked at him, and then nodded. "I guess."
"Well, the girls sounded like they wanted to." Xander said. "And we wouldn't want to disappoint Buffy and Cordelia, now would we?"
Angel kept a straight face at the mention of Cordelia as he threw his own black tee shirt on. "No. I guess not."
"Well, don't sound over enthused." Xander said sarcastically. "I mean, I am just going to keep Cordelia happy so she doesn't suspect anything when I leave early."
"Why are you leaving early?" Angel questioned, hoping that if Xander left he could get a chance to talk to Cordelia.
"Well, I've got to get over to Faith's sometime." Xander gave a devilish grin.
"Faith?" Angel raised an eyebrow. Darla had not mentioned Faith, and why did Xander have to get to her?
"Yeah, you know." Xander wiggled his eyebrows. "She wants some action tonight."
Angel couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You're cheating on Cordelia with Faith?"
"Keep it down, man." Xander whispered. "There are a million guys who would want to get with Cordelia if they found out I was cheating on her."
"So then why are you cheating on her?" Angel whispered.
"Hey, hey, hey." Xander waved his finger in protest. "Don't act like you didn't know about this. You've known since it started two months ago, and you didn't have anything to say about it then."
"Well, I should have spoken up, because what you are doing is wrong." Angel was fuming. How could Xander cheat on Cordelia? How could anyone cheat on Cordelia? Then Angel remembered why Xander and Cordelia broke up the first time around and he shook his head. Even in this reality Xander was too dumb to realize what he had.
"You're only saying that because you don't understand where I am coming from." Xander was growing defensive.
"Where are you coming from? Where is your head at right now?" Angel asked.
"Look, you don't get it because you're with Buffy. Buffy is the perfect girl. Every guy wants her and you have her, and she gives herself to you completely. Almost every night." Xander told Angel. "Me? I don't get that. Not from Cordelia, anyway. We have been dating for almost eight months and I still can't get in her pants, so what I can't get from her I have to get elsewhere."
"From Faith." It all made sense to Angel now. Xander was angry because Cordelia wouldn't sleep with him so he was sleeping with Faith. This realization infuriated Angel to the bone and yet seemed to give him hope at the same time. He was mad that Xander would do such a thing to Cordelia, but it also made his realize that he had a chance of getting Cordelia back. Cordelia was not stupid, she would figure out what Xander was up to eventually and Angel would be there for her when she needed him.
"Exactly." Xander said, throwing his football jacket on. "Now, that stays between you and I and we are off to the Bronze."
Angel nodded, following Xander out of the locker room silently. He could not believe all the information Xander had just unveiled to him, and the ex-vampire was secretly trying to figure out a way to use it all to get Cordelia back. She was all that mattered to him.
Spike walked into the Bronze. It was still early yet, and no one was in there except a bartender, Oz, and two other boys who were standing on the stage. One was sitting at a drum set, and the other was standing with Oz, tuning his guitar. Spike made his way over to the stage.
"Hey Spike." Oz nodded toward the blonde. "Didn't think you were gonna show."
"Running late. Sorry." Spike replied, but the truth was Spike didn't even know if he was actually going to go in the first place. He knew in this new reality he was expected to, but he was still trying to take in all the information he had received about the new reality. Still, eventually, he found himself at the Bronze.
"It's cool." Oz said, throwing a mic at Spike as the blonde climbed onto the stage. "Do your mic check."
"My what?" Spike looked at the microphone in his hand.
"Mic check." Oz repeated himself in the same monotone voice he had always spoken with. "For when you sing."
"I'm the singer?" Spike raised an eyebrow as a smile broke out across his face.
"You pretty much always have been." Oz told him, going back to his guitar.
Spike nodded, checking his mic, all of his thoughts drifting back to Buffy. All he wanted to do was hold her and kiss her, but it was clear she wanted nothing to do with him. She loved Angel. The only good thing about that was the fact that Spike knew Angel did not love Buffy. Angel loved Cordelia, for now anyway. Spike knew he had to find a way to win Buffy's heart before Angel began falling in love with her all over again.
Angel wouldn't lie. He was happy about one thing, even in his new reality he had his prized Plymouth He had already picked Xander up, and now the two boys were on their way over to get Buffy and Cordelia, who were getting ready at Buffy's house, before the two couples headed over to the Bronze.
Angel shut his car off, getting out and fixing the dark blue button up shirt he had on, and the Sunnydale Varsity football jacket he had on over it. Xander had on the same jacket as Angel, although he just had a plan green tee shirt on under it.
Both Angel and Xander then made their way up to Buffy's doorstep. Xander knocked and a minute later the door flew open revealing Cordelia and Buffy, both dressed in small dresses, Cordelia's was red, Buffy's was black.
"Ready ladies?" Xander asked, kissing Cordelia before wrapping his arm around her waist.
"Ready." Cordelia smiled back.
That smile broke Angel into a thousand pieces. It always had. Even when he was angry with Cordelia, all she had to do was smile at him and he would forget what he was annoyed about.
"So, let's get moving." Buffy said, kissing Angel on the cheek a few times.
Angel nodded, digging his hands into his pockets, so Buffy was unable to hold one of them. This seemed to piss the Slayer off.
"Are you mad at me or something, Angel?" Buffy asked.
"What?" Angel was confused. "No. Why?"
"You're not acting like yourself." Buffy told him. "In fact, you haven't been all day."
"Just a lot on my mind." Angel told her, as he kept his eyes glued on Cordelia. All he wanted to do was hold her; she was so close, and yet so far away from him.
"Let's just get going." Cordelia smiled. "We don't want to miss Spike and Oz."
"No, wouldn't want that…" Angel tried not to laugh at the image of Spike on stage in his mind.
"What are you smiling about, man?" Xander asked Angel as he opened the car door for Buffy and Cordelia to climb in the backseat.
"Nothing." Angel said, sitting down in the drivers seat, and adjusting his rearview mirror so that he could see only Cordelia every time he looked back. She was the only thing he wanted to look at anymore.
Angel's car pulled up to the Bronze in awkward silence. Buffy and Cordelia had been chatting the whole ride over from Buffy's house and Xander would occasional jump in the conversation but Angel said nothing. He just drove, his eyes occasionally drifting to his rearview mirror so he could steal a glance at Cordelia. When Angel parked the car everyone shuffled out.
"We should find Willow." Buffy said.
"Yeah. She's probably here already." Xander checked his watch.
The four moved into the club. It was exactly how Angel remembered it; dimly lit with teenagers hanging in every corner. The ex-vampire glanced around until he found what he had been waiting to see all night, Spike singing his lungs out on the stage. To Angel's surprise, Spike was actually pretty good.
"Spike's not bad." Angel commented.
"Why do you think Oz let him in the band?" Cordelia smiled at Angel as Xander led her to the dance floor.
Angel watched Cordelia sway to the music with Xander groping her every chance he got. Angel could feel his fists clench as he watched Xander and then, a moment later, Willow walked up to Buffy and Angel, causing Angel's attention to drift away from Cordelia and Xander.
"Hey guys." Willow said, handing Buffy a water bottle.
"Hey Willow." Buffy smiled. "We figured you were here already."
Willow nodded. "Being the supportive girlfriend for Oz."
Angel smiled. "That's good, Willow."
Willow nodded again. "Well, you two should go get dancing. Don't let me hold you up."
Buffy looked as if she wanted to go to the dance floor, but then Angel spoke up.
"That's actually alright. I don't dance." Angel said.
"Since when?" Buffy raised an eyebrow.
Angel caught himself, realizing that in this new reality he probably did dance. He quickly backtracked. "I mean, I just don't feel like it tonight."
Buffy rolled her eyes. "You're so weird tonight." Before Angel could respond to her, she quickly turned on her heel, wrapping her arm with Willow's. "Come on, Wil, dance with me since Angel won't."
Willow nodded and allowed Buffy to escort her to the dance floor, leaving Angel alone at the table the group had clung around when they walked in the club. He watched Cordelia and Xander dance for a few more minutes before Xander grabbed Cordelia's waist, yanking her back toward the table. As Cordelia walked up to the table, Angel couldn't help the smile that crossed his lips.
"So what? No dancing for you tonight?" Xander asked Angel as he let go of Cordelia's waist, and grabbed a water bottle off the table.
Angel thought about what he was going to say. He wouldn't make the same mistake twice and come off weird like he had earlier with Buffy. He had to try and fit in as if this was his life, because it was now. "No. Not feeling great. I hurt myself at practice, I think." Angel made up an excuse.
"Really?" Xander thought hard. "I don't remember you complaining about an injury before."
"Just started bothering me." Angel said, looking over at Cordelia. She had a sorrowful look on her face, as if she felt bad that Angel was hurt, and for a brief moment Angel caught a glimpse of the woman he loved in her eyes.
"That stinks." Cordelia said, and the glimpse of the caring woman Angel had grown to love faded. Cordelia did not remember her past at all.
"Really does, man." Xander patted Angel on the back. "You better be good tomorrow though. We can't have you hurt, not like you're playing the next game anyway since you threw Spike into the trophy case but still."
"Right…" Angel looked down at his feet, shuffling them.
Xander took the moment of silence to stretch out and yawn. "Well, I am tired. I think I'm going to head home."
Angel looked up, knowing Xander was not going home. Xander was going to Faith.
"Already?" Cordelia looked upset.
Xander nodded, kissing her on the head. "It was a long practice."
Cordelia nodded. "Alright, well how are you getting home?"
"I'll manage." Xander looked over at Angel, giving a small grin to the ex-vampire. "Angel will bring you home, Cordelia. Right Angel?"
Angel nodded. Of coarse he would. He would do anything to be near Cordelia, he just couldn't let her see how eager he was. "Sure." He said coolly.
"Thanks." Xander said, kissing Cordelia one more time before leaving the Bronze.
Once Xander was out of sight, Angel looked over at Cordelia. It was the first time he had been alone with her. She looked up at him and gave him a quick smile before taking a seat at the table. Angel followed her lead, sitting down.
"So are you okay?" Cordelia asked him, clearly trying to make conversation.
"Huh?" Angel didn't understand.
"You said you were hurt. Are you okay?" Cordelia asked.
Angel nodded, realizing he had just said he was hurt. "Yeah. I'll be fine."
Cordelia nodded, looking out at the dance floor and at Buffy. "Well, that's good."
"Listen." Angel cut in. "I'm tired, and Xander is gone. Do you want to just head home? I'll drop you off on my way." Angel knew it sounded stupid, but he didn't care. He just wanted to be with Cordelia.
"Well, Buffy doesn't look like she wants to go." Cordelia motioned toward Buffy who was still dancing with Willow.
Angel shrugged. "So?"
"So, she is your girlfriend." Cordelia said flatly. "You can't just leave her."
"I'm not." Angel told her. "She is with Willow."
"Still…" Cordelia seemed cautious and not at all as Angel had remembered her to be in high school. She used to jump at the opportunity to be alone with him.
"It's just a ride home, Cordelia." Angel assured her, seeing how reluctant she was. "I promise."
After a moment, Cordelia smiled slightly at him, nodding. "Alright."
Angel smiled back at her, happy that he would get to spend some time with her even if she did not know how much she meant to him, before leading her out of the club and to his car.
Spike finished up the last song just as he saw Angel lead Cordelia out of the Bronze. He was disappointed at first because he thought Buffy had left with them, but then he noticed a familiar blonde out on the dance floor with Willow. Spike couldn't help the grin that crept onto his lips as he realized it was Buffy. He quickly hopped off the stage, making his way over to Buffy and Willow.
"Hey there." Spike wrapped his arms around Willow and Buffy, but both girls moved away from him.
"Nice job up there tonight, Spike." Willow said sincerely.
"Thanks." Spike smiled at her, and then looked at Buffy. "What did you think of it, love?"
"I'm not your love." Buffy told Spike as she rolled her eyes, crossing her arms across her chest. "And it wasn't bad, I guess."
"You guess?" Oz came up to the group. "Spike was insane up there. I didn't know you could sing like that." Oz looked at Spike.
Spiked shrugged. "Me either." And that was the truth; he didn't know he could sing that well either.
"Well, whatever." Buffy looked around, clearly bored with the conversation. "I'm ready to go. Where is Angel?"
"He left." Spike told her.
Buffy turned to him, her eyes wide with disbelief. "He what?"
"He left." Spiked repeated himself. "About two minutes ago, with Cordelia."
"With Cordelia?" Buffy seemed irritated. "Well, she will hear it tomorrow! Who does she think she is leaving with my boyfriend?"
"Buffy, she is one of your best friends." Willow reminded the blonde. "I doubt she wants anything to do with Angel, she has Xander. Plus, Angel has you."
Buffy just shook her head. "Still…now how am I going to get home?" Buffy looked to Oz.
"Sorry, Buffy. I've got my van packed to the hill with the band's equipment." Oz told her. "I can only fit, Willow."
"I can take you home." Spike told Buffy.
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Fine."
"Alright then." Spike motioned for Buffy to lead the way out to his car. She snorted, rolling her eyes once more at him before making her way to the exit of the club, Spike close behind her with a grin on his face a mile wide. He was so happy to just be near the Slayer.
Angel and Cordelia sat in silence while Angel made his way toward Cordelia's house. It was awkward and Angel hated it. Silence had never usually bothered him, in fact he was usually a fan of it, but silence with Cordelia was killing him slowly. All he wanted to do was hear her voice.
"So…" Angel said as he stopped at a red light, looking over at Cordelia.
"Yeah…" Cordelia nodded, holding herself as she wrapped her jacket around her legs.
Angel noticed this action. "Are you cold?" He realized she probably was. He had the top down.
Cordelia shrugged. "It's fine."
"No, it's not." Angel pulled his seatbelt off, shrugging his varsity football jacket off. "Here." He handed his jacket to Cordelia. "Put this on."
"Really, Angel, it's fine." Cordelia insisted.
"Cordelia, put the jacket on." Angel told her. She was still thickheaded, no matter what reality they were in, Angel decided.
Finally, however, the cold got to Cordelia and she took the jacket from him, slipping it around her shoulders. "Thanks."
"No problem." Angel smiled at her before continuing to drive toward her house. He wanted to keep the conversation going so silence did not fill the space between them. He needed something to talk about, anything. "So how is Xander?" He couldn't believe he had asked her that. He didn't care about Xander. If anything he wanted to beat Xander's face in.
"You're his friend. You tell me." Cordelia told him.
"Well, I mean, I know how Xander is, but I meant how are you two?" Angel said. "You know, as a…couple?" The last word made the ex-vampire cringe.
"I'm sure you know all about it." Cordelia said coldly as Angel pulled up to her house. She quickly opened the door before he could even get out of his seat. "And if this was Xander's way of getting me to sleep with him, you know, have you talk me into it, tell him I'm sorry but its not happening."
"What?" Angel was confused.
"I know Xander probably complains about it all the time." Cordelia said. "How I won't sleep with him, and I know you probably think I'm being a bitch, but I don't care what you think, Angel. I'm not ready for that step with Xander."
Angel kept a stern look on his face, but he couldn't help the relief that flew through his body. Maybe Cordelia's feelings for Xander were not that strong after all. "Cordy, I would never pressure you into that. I am proud of you that you made a decision and are standing by it."
Cordelia snorted, folding her arms and looking down at the ground. "Yeah right."
"I am." Angel told her, sincerely.
Cordelia looked back up at him and realized he was telling her the truth. "Really?"
Angel nodded again.
Cordelia smiled slightly. "Better not let the rest of the football team hear you talking like this. What would they think?" She joked.
Angel laughed a little. That was the Cordelia he remembered, the one who always had a way to break the seriousness of a conversation with a snippy remark.
"I'll see you later, Angel." Cordelia said.
Angel nodded. "Yeah." He then watched her make her way up to her house and go inside. When he was sure she was all right, he turned his car on, glancing back up in the direction of her house to see her bedroom light was now on. "I love you…" He whispered before pulling away from the curb.
Spike pulled up to the front of Buffy's house and realized that Buffy was still rambling about how angry she was that Angel had left with Cordelia. It was all the Slayer had talked about the whole ride home and Spike was sick of hearing about it.
"I can't believe he just left with her." Buffy said.
"Come on now, Buf." Spike said as he shut his car off. "It isn't a big deal."
"How is it not a big deal?" Buffy was appalled Spike would say that. "My boyfriend left with my best friend."
"He drove her home." Spike said.
"And left me at the club!" Buffy shot back.
She did have a point there, Spike wouldn't lie. "True…"
Buffy got out of Spike's car. "Damn right it's true, and Angel and Cordelia are going to hear it tomorrow." And with that Buffy slammed the door.
Spike sat in his car for a moment. Buffy was definitely more stuck up and bitchy in this reality, but she still had that spunk, that drive, and that was what Spike had always loved about her.