Angel was patrolling the streets it had been three weeks since he had walked Cordelia home and he hadn't seen her since he really wanted to see stood outside the bronze Buffy had invited him there he knew she still loved him he wasn't really a woman bumped into him tears streaming down her face.

Cordelia was walking she didn't know were she just knew she had to walk she didn't want to go home and be alone but she was alone anyway. tears streaming down her face her jaw was painful she knew if she looked in the mirror she would look like hell she hoped she wouldn't see anyone she knew before she had the chance to cover the bruises even though she could feel it swelling hopefully it would just be bruised in the could she explain that her punter went crazy and she was scared she thought he was going to kill her. No she couldn't tell anyone that if anyone asked she got hit my a was so lost in thought she didn't see the man in front of her and walked into him.

"Im sorry." She started to walk on when he spoke.

"Cordelia?"

"Angel? What are you doing here?" Her face now completely lit up the light coming from the club.

"Cordelia what happened you should go to the hospital."

"I cant tell you and no I cant go to the hospital."

"Why?"

"I just cant go to the hospital."

"Fine if you wont go to the hospital will you at least come to my place."

"Why?"

"You need ice I can ice it for you please Cordelia you don't have to be alone."

"Iv'e always been alone."

"Let me help you."

"Okay."

Angel came out of the kitchen with a makeshift icepack and held it to her jaw.

"How do you feel?"

"Like hell. The ice helps though thank you." She smiled at him then winced when pain shot up her jaw again.

"Please tell me what happened."

"Lets get this over with." She started to unbutton her shirt Angel put his hand over hers stilling her movements.

"What are you doing?"

"Giving you what you want its what everyone wants."

"I dont."

"Then why are you doing this?"

"Because i care about you and want to be your friend."

"You do?"

"Yeah I need a friend and you look like you could really use one."

"I could."

"Please tell me what happened."

"Okay but remember we are friends now so you cant take it back."

"I wont now tell me."

"Okay it started a few years ago my parents got sent down something about my dad getting mixed up in the wrong stuff with his business and my mom she tried to protect him so they both got sent down for 5 years my mother knew I had no one so she made sure I stayed with my uncle to everyone he was caring and loved me so much i wasn't afraid but it turns out he had other plans than taking care of me he started to pimp me out at 12 if I refused he would lock me in a cupboard until I agreed he bought me an apartment were I live but one day a week the day you walked me home I stay at his as entertainment when he's got his boys round." She was close to tears he held her hand "And this" She pointed to her jaw. "Just an occupational hazard i guess.I hate it."

"You shouldn't have to go through that." He looked at her really looked she was young too young to go through that.

"He gives me drugs i guess thats payment they take pain away but you know what the amount of times i've turned up bruised injured and drugged up and Xander its like he doesn't even notice he's never asked."

"You don't deserve that he's a prick so i guess you haven't told him."

"No he would make it all about him I just I feel comfortable with you Angel you make me feel safe and-"

"Like your not alone."

ìYeah.î

"I guess thats what having a friend is like."

"I guess i've never had one."

"me neither.î They smiled at each other. "Stay here tonight? I just want you to be okay. Ill make you up a bed in one of the rooms and drive you to school in the morning."

"Angel vampire sunlight."

"Tinted windows."

"Angel? Thank you."

"For?"

"For being here for me as completely as you are." He cracked a smile witch made Cordelia smile.

"You should do that more often it suits you."

"What?"

"Smile."

"Okay. Ill go make you up a bed and are you hungry?"

"I am actually."

"I don't actually have any food but ill order pizza? or Chinese."

"Pizza."

"Peperoni?"

"Is there any other?" He found himself smiling at the young woman again.

He entered the room holding a pizza box in one hand and a small bag of ice in the handed her the pizza box. "I got some more ice for when you have eaten If we keep your jaw iced the swelling should go down." She started to eat.

"Talk to me."

"What do you want to talk about?"

"Tell me about you and Buffy you know about my train wreck on a relationship tell me about your relationship."

"Buffy we aren't even together anymore I first saw her I thought wow then I got to know her I thought okay I really like this girl and we got together she was commanding but I put up with it but in the end I couldn't be blind to the bad side and the bad outweighed the good the way I didn't exist around her friends how bitchy she was to you kinda hurt cause she would start on you for no reason and no one would defend you but if you said anything to Buffy they would defend her it kinda made me wanna be friends with you just so that I would feel comfortable defending you." she smiled she had eaten half the pizza but pushed it away.

"I cant eat that anymore."

"Don't worry."

"Keep talking"

Angel looked at a sleeping Cordelia they had been talking through the night about everything their past their present everything when tiredness had finally won her over. Angel yawned he realised he was tired too he scooped Cordelia in his arms careful not to wake her and laid her in the bed he had made up for her. he then slipped into his own room happy he finally had a friend he trusted completely.

7 the next morning Angel woke Cordelia.

"Do I have to get up?"

"No but you will be late and your breakfast will get cold."

"You cooked breakfast?I thought you had no food here."

"I didn't but i went shopping this morning and stocked my fridge as i'm really hoping you will be coming over more often."

"I will."

Cordelia came down the stairs at 8:45 they had 15 minutes to get to school.

"Cordy do you have to take so long?"

"Yes i'm female plus did you forget I have a bruise to cover up." She saw his features darken at the thought of that.

"Come on broody or i'll be late."

"What?!" He sighed "She is the most awkward infuriating girl I have ever met."

"I heard that." He had no idea.

Buffy Xander And willow were outside school the bell had rung and still no Cordelia.

"We should go."

"Cordelias not here yet."

"Xan are you sure she's not ill?"

"Your right lets just go." TheY turned to go when a car caught Buffy'S eye it was black and looked familiar why?

"Thats Angels car why is Angels car here?" The car came to a stop the passenger door opened a crack and Cordelia slipped out she said something to Angel he drove off then she went over to the Scooby gang. Buffy lost in her thoughts. Why was that whore in my Boyfriends car she thought.