February 6, 1999
Cordelia rushed into Angel's mansion carrying a duffel bag. It was awkward when she found Gus and Buffy on the couch making out. Gus jumped away from Buffy making her feel rejected.
"Can't you knock instead of just barging into Angel's home?" Buffy snapped.
"Well since everyone has been barging into Angel's house, I don't see why I have to knock," Cordelia said defiantly.
Cordelia frowned, and Gus noticed that she looked upset.
Cordelia looked at him and said, "We need to talk."
"What's wrong?" he asked instantly concerned.
"Were the airlines booked up?" Buffy asked.
"Something like that," Cordelia said looking at Gus intently. "I really need to talk to you."
"So talk," Buffy said annoyed. She could tell Cordelia wanted to speak with Gus privately, and she couldn't let that happen.
Cordelia sighed and said, "Bufffy, it won't take long. Just give us a moment."
Cordelia turned and walked into the kitchen as if she were confident Gus would follow. She wasn't confident, but she wouldn't lower her guard around Buffy.
Gus turned to Buffy and said, "Something wrong. I've got to talk to her."
"Angel," Buffy said nearly pleading.
"I'll be back in a minute," he said walking into the kitchen.
When he entered the kitchen, he found Cordelia pacing while on her cell phone. She angrily hung up when she noticed Gus.
"I couldn't book the flights," Cordelia said. "I need your help."
"If the airlines are booked up, there isn't much I could do," Gus said clearly confused. "We could put them on a train or bus out of Sunnydale. Or they could just drive."
Cordelia took a deep breath as if what she was going to say was difficult for her. "It's not that the airline is booked. It's just my credit card wasn't accepted. None of my cards worked."
"Did you go over your balance?" Gus asked.
"No, I'm always careful about that," Cordelia said. "I have some cash, but it's not nearly enough. I was hoping you'd cover paying for the tickets."
"I'll take care of that," Gus said. "Cordelia..."
"Thanks," Cordelia interrupted, "I'll just get these clothes to Cordy. Is she upstairs?"
"Yes, but wait. Tell me what's going on."
"I wish I knew, but we don't need to talk about that," Cordelia said. "I'm going to get these clothes to Cordy and then when I get downstairs you'll have the money. Then I'll drive over to the airport and pick up the tickets."
She tried to pass him and exit the kitchen, but he blocked her path.
"Angel," She said with warning.
The fact that she called him Angel instead of the horrible nickname told him how upset she was.
"Cordelia, we're going to talk about this," he said.
"There's no time for that," Cordelia said desperate to avoid the conversation. "Buffy's waiting for you, right?"
Gus took her hand gently and lead her to the kitchen table. She frowned at him but sat down.
"You said the credit cards were refused?" Gus began.
"Why are we talking about this?" Cordy said her eyes pleading with him to stop.
But he continued, "I assume your parents arranged a bank account for you. Why couldn't you draw some cash from that?"
Cordy let out a long sigh. She desperately wanted to discuss her situation with someone but at the same time she wanted to pretend there wasn't a problem. She wanted to pretend she wasn't terrified.
"When I tried the bank, I was told that my account was frozen," Cordelia said then hesitated. "I gave them a hard time at the bank, but no one would give me a straight answer."
"Your parents?" Gus prompted.
"Out of town," Cordelia said. "I haven't been able to get them on the phone. The desk clerk told me they checked out of their hotel yesterday."
"And they haven't contacted you," Gus said.
"No," she said. To her surprise tears were coming out of her eyes.
She wiped them away angrily and said, "That's not unusual. My parents and I don't usual keep in contact when they're away. I don't always know where they are."
Gus reached over and took her hand and asked, "What do you think is going on?"
"I tried to track down my dad's assistant at the office, but the number was disconnected," she said. "I called her at home and she told me..."
Cordy hesitated a moment and said, "My dad's being investigated by the IRS. She wouldn't give me any details beyond that, but it doesn't really look good for my dad."
"How much cash do you have on hand?" Gus asked.
"150," she said and then stood up. "Just let me go upstairs to Cordy."
Gus realized it wasn't just about loaning Cordy clothes for the journey. Cordelia and Cordy needed to talk.
"Cordelia..." Gus began.
Anticipating his question Cordy answered, "I don't think my parents are coming back, but they might send for me."
She doubted they would send for her, but she didn't want to admit that. Gus went towards her and took her in his arms.
"I'm here for whatever you need," he said.
"No, you're not," she said pulling out of his arms. "I don't think it'd be good for either of us if I got used to leaning on you."
Before he could reply, she left him alone in the kitchen. He followed behind her into the living room, but he didn't try to stop her from walking away from him. He watched her run up the stairs. Buffy watched him and saw his distress.
"What's going on?" Buffy asked.
"Problem with the plane tickets, but we worked something out," Gus said feeling guilty. He reassured himself that it wasn't lying even if he didn't tell her everything.
"Something more than that is going on, Angel," Buffy said. "She looked really upset, and you look worried."
"You would never tell me Xander's secrets," Gus said. "Don't ask me for Cordelia's."
"You can't compare my relationship with Xander to you and Cordelia," Buffy said angrily.
"She's my friend," Gus said simply.
He could tell that those words hurt Buffy, and he couldn't quite understand why.
"You've gotten close to her because of everything that's happened?" Buffy asked. She cursed herself because she hadn't realized it before. Knowing what she did about the future, the idea of her Angel and Cordelia being friends terrified her. "Is this how it's going to happen, Angel? You're already choosing her over me."
"This isn't me choosing Cordelia over you. This is me being a friend," Angel said. "This doesn't have to be you versus Cordelia."
"There's too much at stake for it not to be," Buffy said.
The phone rang making both Gus and Buffy feel relieved at the interruption.
"I'll get it," Buffy said and Angel nodded.
"There's something I need to check on," he said, leaving her alone in the room. He went into his study. He had a safe in there with cash.
"Hello," Buffy answered the phone.
'It's Giles. We have a major problem," he began.
--
February 6, 2002
Lorne watched as Anna paced back and forth holding Connor in her arms. She was going to sing to the baby, but she hesitated. It was important to her that Lorne not read her aura again. Anna thought it was better not to know what might happen next.
"You're good with him," Lorne told her.
She smiled at him and said, "I think it soothes him that I look like his mother."
"His mother?" Buffy asked walking into the room. "Cordelia doesn't look anything like Darla."
"But Cordy..." Anna began but stopped when Lorne gave her a warning look.
Lorne knew it was up to Angel to tell Buffy what Cordy was to him.
"I never knew Darla," Anna said instead.
She placed Connor in his basinet.
"He's already asleep?" Buffy asked disappointed. She's been hoping for some baby snuggle time.
"Yeah, he's at that age when sleeping is his favorite pastime," Lorne said softly.
"It's hard to imagine Angel with a baby," Buffy began. "Is he happy?"
Lorne nodded, "Connor has been a gift."
Buffy had wanted to ask Lorne to give her reading but standing there with him she couldn't go through with it.
"I'll check on him later," Buffy said leaving the room.
"She has no idea about Angel and Cordy?" Anna asked.
"No, Buffy and Angel are going to have one hell of a talk when he gets back," Lorne said.
Anna smiled at Lorne and said, "You know you'd make a great dad."
Lorne smiled back and said, "I always thought I was more of a favorite Uncle type."
"No, you'd be a Dad with flare," Anna said. "I can imagine it."
"You know when you come visit me in the future," Lorne began. "I think I just might have to greet you with a more than friendly kiss. That is if you don't mind."
She blushed and said, "I wouldn't mind at all."
She hesitated and blushed some more before she said, "If I weren't still in Cordelia's body, I probably would have kissed you by now."
"Really?" Lorne said stepping towards her.
Anna nodded and Lorne took her hand and kissed it.
"Oh Lorne..." Anna began, but she didn't finish the sentence. She fell to the ground.
"Anna!" Lorne sat beside her on the ground. "Willow, Buffy I need help!"
--
1999
Cordelia knocked and let herself into Cordy's room. She saw Cordy asleep on the bed and Angel sitting by her waiting.
"I've got some clothes for Cordy," she whispered.
"She'll appreciate it," Angel said, taking the duffel bag from Cordelia.
"I know a lot's going on, but I really need some girl talk time with Cordy," she said walking towards the bed.
"I um...Now's not a great time," Angel said.
Cordelia lightly tapped Cordy on the shoulder and realized how deeply she was sleeping.
"What did you do?" Cordelia asked narrowing her eyes.
"She gave in too easily about getting out of town," Angel began and then fumbled. "Willow gave me some herbs."
"You knew she might be up to something?" Cordelia said smiling at him. "You really do know her."
"I had to make sure she'd be safe," Angel said.
"She's going to raise all kinds of hell when she wakes up on that plane, Angel," Cordelia warned him. "But I bet you knew that. She isn't going to thank you for this, but I will."
She hugged him, and he hugged her back.
"Thank you for saving her life, my life," she said pulling away.
She started walking out of the bedroom when Angel called her name.
"You wanted to talk to Cordy?" he said. "Something's wrong isn't it."
"There was, but it's okay now," she said and meant it. It was a relief to see that whatever trouble she was in now that in the future she would turn out all right. She would have a man willing to risk everything to make sure she was okay. She was going to be a mother. She was going to have true friends. She was going to have a family. And knowing all that Cordelia didn't need to talk to Cordy for reassurance. And she realized whatever happened now was probably going to lead her to this amazing future.
"Are you really okay?" Angel asked concerned.
Cordy smiled at him brightly and said, "Yeah, I know she probably makes it difficult to take care of her. But we never had anyone really love and take care of us before. Even if she doesn't show it, it means everything to her to have people who love her and will be there for her. I don't know if she'd ever admit it, but I had to tell you for her."
He smiled at her then as she walked out of the bedroom. As she walked down the stairs, she could feel the tension in the living room coming from Gus and Buffy.
"Giles called," Buffy said. "Someone broke into the library and stole Anna's book and all of Giles notes."
"We've got to get Cordy out of here as soon as possible," Gus said handing Cordelia an envelope with the money.
Cordelia took the envelope and gave Gus' hand a little squeeze.
"Thanks," Cordlia said walking towards the door. "I'll get them on the first flight after sunset."
Gus wanted to go after her and make her talk, but it wasn't the right time. Plus she was out in the sunlight where he couldn't follow. Buffy watched him as he frowned at Cordelia's exit.
"The others should be here soon," Buffy said.
Gus nodded and said, "I'll go fill Angel in."
He walked into the bedroom and found Angel sitting by Cordy's bed brushing some hair away from her face.
Angel noted the grim expression on Gus's face and asked, "What's gone wrong?"
"The book Willow found has been stolen," Gus said.
"Jacob Smith?" Angel asked spitting out the name.
Gus nodded and said, "Most likely."
"We have to get her out of here," Angel said. "If he knew enough to go after that book, he may already know where Cordy is."
"Cordelia's gone ahead to get the plane tickets," Gus said. "We'll get you on the first plane out of here."
"I have to call Willow," Angel said. " I a..."
"You drugged her," Gus said. "I figured. It's what I would have done."
"I can't leave her vulnerable with Jacob somewhere around," Angel said reaching for the phone. "Willow has to have something I can give her to wake her."
But then she stirred on the bed and opened her eyes.
"Cordy," Gus said relieved.
Angel locked eyes with the waking girl and shook his head, "She isn't Cordy."
"Angel?" Anna said, sitting up.
