Uncursed

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 6 & Angel Season 3 A.U.

Chapter Two:

"Buffy?" Angel said, staring at her. She was weary and ragged, much thinner than the last time he has seen her—unhealthily thin. Her face was gaunt and there were dark circles under her eyes. Their eyes locked and Angel could see sadness, happiness, and relief. It wasn't until she broke the contact that he noticed the baby. The bundle was moving and a small cry could be heard. The was a duffel bag on her shoulder. "Are you o—whoa!" Buffy started to sway and Angel quickly went to her side and caught her. Using one arm, he carefully extracted the small baby from the Slayer's arms. With the other he held Buffy close to him. "Cordelia, take the baby."

She immediately stood up and took Buffy's child from Angel. Angel picked Buffy up and laid her down on the couch. He put his pointer and middle finger against the vein in her neck. "She's still breathing."

"What do you think happened?" Fred asked. Cordelia sat down and rocked the baby.

"It appears as if she collapsed from exhaustion," Wesley said.

"Which still begs the question," Cordelia said, holding the baby's little hand, "Why is she in Los Angeles? Why isn't she in Sunnydale?"

"Maybe she ran away?" Fred suggested.

"No," Angel said, "She would never leave Dawn unless she thought that Dawn would be in danger with her around."

"I agree," Cordelia nodded her head.

"Who's Dawn?" Gunn asked.

"Buffy's little sister," Cordelia explained, "Buffy's always been super-protective of Dawn."

"Yeah," Angel said, "I remember when Angelus almost killed Dawn. If it hadn't have been for Willow, Angelus would have succeeded."

"Speaking of Willow, we should call her. She may be able to tell us what happened," Cordelia said.

Angel shook his head, "I don't want them involved until it's necessary."

"Angel, she may not wake up. We need to know what's going on, why she collapsed. Yes, she's obviously worried and upset about something. But we need to know what about," Cordelia insisted.

"No!" Angel said, taking an unneeded breath. "If Buffy's not in Sunnydale then something must have happened between them. When Buffy wakes up, she'll tell us whether or not she wants us to call them." He picked her up again, "I'm taking her up to upstairs to my room so she can be more comfortable. Take care of the baby."

"Sure," Fred nodded. Angel went upstairs and disappeared on the second floor, taking Buffy and the duffel bag she'd had with him.

Cordelia laid the baby one the sofa and put pillows around the infant. She gently undid the blanket that was around the baby. A tiny baby head poked out and she whimpered, "Oh! She's so adorable!" The baby started bawling and flailing her arms and legs. "Oh, I know! I know!" she said in a baby voice, "Mommy will be alright."

"Will she though?" Fred asked quietly. The baby continued to cry in Cordelia's ear.

"Sure she will," Cordelia said, "She's already died. Twice. She's not going to let a little exhaustion do her in. She'll be our regular old 'Hurricane Buffy' by the end of the day. Sooner, probably."

"If you say so, Cordy," Gunn said, shaking his head.

"That's right, I do say so," Cordelia said stubbornly, "Meanwhile, I'm going to bring the baby up to Buffy. Maybe it'll make her feel better." And stop screaming in my ear! she thought to herself. Standing up she bounced the baby up and down and went toward the stairs.

"We'll start researching the Beast again," Wesley said behind Cordelia.

"Okay," Cordelia called back. When she reached the top of the stairs she went down the hall towards Angel's room.

From within she heard Angel shouting, "Dammit Buffy! Why didn't you come to me sooner! I could have helped you! I need you to tell me what's going on. You need to wake up! If you won't do it for me, then at least do it for your daughter." Cordelia knocked on the door, "What do you want Cordelia?"

Cordelia opened the door and went in, "Jeez, you don't have to snap. I just thought that if I brought the baby up, Buffy would feel better."

"It won't help. She's in a coma. She's just being her usual stubborn self and won't wake up." Angel rolled his eyes, frustrated.

Cordelia snickered. "I'm still going to try. I wouldn't be me if I didn't at least try." She went up to the bed and sat down on the end. The comatose Slayer looked weary as she lay with her hands folded in front of her. There was a wan smile on her face and her skin was pale.

Cordelia put the crying baby next to her mother. As soon as she set the baby down, she stopped crying. She cooed and latched onto Buffy's hair. Cordelia quickly but carefully pulled the baby's chubby fingers from the Slayer's locks.

Angel chuckled and Cordelia looked up. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing. It's just that they look so alike. Actually, the baby looks like a little model of Buffy. Am I right?" Angel sat down on a rocking chair he had once used to rock his son, Connor. Of course, that had been when Connor actually had been a baby. Now he was an angry and confused teen.

Cordelia looked at Buffy and the little girl and tilted her head. "Yep, you're right. Oh god, two Hurricane Buffy's! Uh oh, we're in trouble."

"Why do you always refer to her as 'Hurricane Buffy'?" Angel asked.

Cordelia shrugged, "I don't know. Just think of every time she's come here since we've been here. It just seems like every time she comes, trouble follows."

"That could be true. But she's also done more than her fair share of good. We've both seen that," Angel said.

"That's very true. But still, she came when Faith was trying to kill all of us. And she came after you went to Sunnydale and didn't say a word, you guys had to fight off a demon. You brooded even more after she left the last time. And now . . ." Cordelia sighed.

"And now what?" Angel said.

"Now she's dumped this kid on our laps, with no explanation, no name. And she's taking a nap for crying out loud!" Cordelia said. "We don't even know what's going on."

"I know. I don't like it either. But there's nothing we can do about it. We just have to let her wake up on her own. Like Lorne said, she must have had it rough these past couple of months. When she got here, she must have felt like she could finally rest. And until she wakes up, we just have to take things moment to moment," Angel said, now staring at Buffy. For a few seconds that's all he did, was stare at Buffy. He looked up and Cordelia gave him a look as if to say 'You still love her, don't you?' Angel unintentionally flashed her his 'Of course' look.

Cordelia sighed and stood up, her heart breaking all over again. For awhile, before Buffy had shown up, she thought that Angel really loved her. Not just loved, but loved loved her. More than the friendship they'd developed over the past couple of years. But now she knew that it wasn't possible anymore. Angel was still in love with Buffy . . . and always would be. "I'll, ah, leave you three alone for awhile," Cordelia said, "I'll help the others research the Beast."

Angel raised his eyebrow in confusion, "Am I missing something?"

"What? No, I, ah, I just want to give you guys some time. Maybe you and the baby can get Buffy to wake up," Cordelia stuttered, getting up quickly and moving toward the door.

"Cordelia!" Angel shouted. The door slammed behind her as she left the room. He groaned in frustration. The baby on the bed whimpered and started crying softly. Angel rolled his eyes and hurried to his ex's child. "Ssh, it's okay." he said, picking up the infant. "Don't cry, it's okay." He bounced the baby up and down.

To Be Continued . . .