Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

Spoilers: See Chapter 1

To Hell With The World

Chapter 4: Meetings, Revelations, and Decisions

The arrival of Cordelia caused the many voices that were belittling and denying Wesley to apologize "We are sorry, oh messenger, we did not realize you had sent for this mortal, if it is your pleasure we shall remove ourselves so you may serve your master, for we are but the Powers, and would dare not interfere with your duties."

Cordelia smiled "Thanks, now leave me and my friend alone." At this the voices of the Powers receded and Wesley felt them leave the area. With shock and a faint smile he inquired "Cordelia, did you just tell off the Powers that Be?"

The aforementioned women smirked "Pfft, 'the Powers' what a joke, I mean aside from a few mind-numbing visions, they don't do much at all. As you just saw, boy they were so helpful, huh?"

Wesley chuckled a bit, still the same Cordy, ever tactful "Yes, they seemed to be very eager to get me out of here. So, you sent me the message earlier?"

Cordy move closer to where he was standing, "Sheesh, you know, for a watcher you sure missed a big one there. Didn't mentioning Sunnydale ring any bells. I couldn't just put my name down, the "people" you work for wouldn't have let you see the message if I'd done that."

Wesley couldn't help but feel comfortable, it was good to hear her voice again, Fred was right. Cordy was still the heart of the team. "I suppose you're right, I wanted to thank you. I know you didn't promise anything but a chance, but that's better than nothing. I hated being unable to do anything, especially because it's Fred."

Cordy's smile slipped a bit "Wes, do you know why I sent you the message?

He looked at her a bit confused "I remember something about me being too loud."

She laughed "Yeah, and it wasn't you crying in your office. it was that your soul was wailing like an air raid siren here, and it was because of her. Boy Wes, when you fall, you fall hard and all the way."

Still confused Wesley asked, "What do you mean? I love Fred, I have for a long time, I don't see anything unusual or special about it, why would my love be any different?"

Cordelia got an annoyed expression on her face, resisted the urge to smack Wesley, and sighed "Wesley, ever since she showed up, you've changed. Before you went to Pylea, you were mostly a nerdy research-guy. Even going to Pylea was about rescuing me. But when you saw her, something changed, you became this ruthless leader, willing to sacrifice anyone to make sure you got her out of there."

Recognition flitted across Wes's face "What changed? I know I sometimes act differently around her, but I thought that it was just out of love."

The annoyance softened a bit "Wes, what do you know about soul mates?"

Wesley was surprised by the question "I always thought it was a quaint, romantic notion, you're saying Fred and...I...are..."

Cordy cut him off "No, jeez, dramatic much, that kinda thing is very rare, what happened with you is that part of your soul latched onto Fred and your actions since then have been guided by that attachment. I mean you thought blowing your father away was because of your love for Fred, it runs deeper than that, she became your reason for fighting the good fight, it really became clear when you took Connor..."

Wesley cut her off in turn, "Who?"

Cordelia let out a groan and said "Oh crap, Angel and his stupid mind-wipe. Okay Wes, Angel has a son named Connor and he altered all of your memories to help Connor live a normal life."

Wesley was shocked "He did what! Why do you remember?"

Cordelia got a haughty look, "Hello, Higher being here, like some two-bit memory spell could touch me, anyway, do you want those memories back? I should warn you some of them are pretty awful?

Wesley nodded "Please restore them, Cordelia, at the very least if it comes to pass that Fred is unable to be saved, I will have more experiences, lovely or terrible, of her.

Cordelia sniffled a bit "Alright, Wesley, before I do this you have to promise me that you will work through all of this later, after we deal with Fred. That time-freezing mojo I sent is good but it won't last forever."

Wesley responded with an agitated "I promise, do it"

At that Cordelia simply touched Wesley on the cheek and with the barest hint of power and not a word spoken the memory spell, that had been painstakingly created by Wolfram & Hart at enormous cost, was torn asunder.

Wesley was assaulted by memories of a baby, and Angel happier than ever. He remembered the prophecy that Angel would kill the baby, Connor, and he felt the anguish of his decision to protect them both by taking Connor away. He saw his failure when Connor was taken by Justine while he was left to die. He heard Angel promise his real death later in the hospital room. The deepest pain didn't come until later when Fred had appeared in the same room and told him that the prophecy was false and that he should never come back to the group for his own safety.

He recalled the next year that was dominated by the presence of Connor as a teenager and as an embodiment of vengeance for the man who had sworn it upon Angel. He had other memories that were within this time as well that were not altered, chiefly those of his exile and his relationship with Lilah, but they had been like snippets from a movie, images and sounds without the surrounding context. He went on to recall his eventual acceptance back into the group with the drama surrounding the Beast, Angelus, and the fight against a rogue Power, Jasmine.

Wesley stared at Cordelia after the avalanche of new information "Well, I can see why Angel would want keep those things hidden, thanks Cordy, I'm sorry about what happened to you with your body being used as a vessel for that malevolent higher being wearing the mask of peace, you didn't deserve that."

Cordy smiled "You're right Wes, I was just supposed to be vision-girl. Fred doesn't deserve what's happening to her either."

Wesley became grim "No, her least of all, now to the purpose of your message to me, can I save Fred?"

Cordy sighed "Yes, there is a chance, the bad news is the price will be incredibly high."

"What is it? Is it my life? If that is so, take it, her worth far outweighs my own." Wesley responded while he stared at Cordelia without fear.

Cordy stared back and laughed "No not your life, Wes, your principles, oaths, and possibly Fred's love, but not your life. We're not that cruel. My boss values love, especially the kind of soul-shattering adoration that you have. The first part of the price involves the Deeper Well and drawing Illyria out of Fred.

Wesley started "Angel and Spike are already pursuing that, why would it be under your purview?"

"Wesley, they can save her, but they won't because if you take Illyria out and throw her back to the Well, thousands of people will die, as Illyria won't go quietly." Cordy has said this last with some nervousness as this was a crucial point for Wesley and Fred.

Wesley became angry "What's the point of all of this then! How can you possibly help!?"

Cordy became equally testy, "Hey, Wesley, Shut up, did I mention my boss, well, he makes the Powers look like weaklings. He can force Angel and Spike and the Guardian of the Well to extract Illyria. You just have to agree to it..."

Again, as if a switch had been thrown, another part of himself had taken over. Like with the lawyer earlier, with his cyborg father, and the countless other times a situation arose where Fred was threatened. The best and worst of himself came out and he cut Cordy off with a terse "Do it."

Cordy was a bit startled "Wow, I was right about you and Fred. Back in Sunnydale you were all set to sacrifice Willow to make sure that a demon didn't arise and destroy the town."

Wes replied with gritted teeth "I am not a watcher any longer. That greater good nonsense works only in fairy tales. The world is dark and brutal, Fred is the light. Now please, Cordelia, send Illyria back to where the old ones belong. You said that this was just the first part of the price, what's the rest of it?"

Cordy gave him a familiar smile "Okay then, my boss needs you to act as his tool on earth. There are other souls like yours that need to be mended, for their sake and the worlds. You will be able to see who they are, and I will help you when needed. Love is the common cause here, or something greater than that."

Wesley said simply "Alright."

Cordy replied in a softer voice "Wesley, the last part is the hardest, Fred has to agree to be saved, she has to come here when you leave."

Wesley hung his head "Will I get to talk to her before she decides?

"No, Wesley, you can't."

"Cordelia, could you give her memories back before she decides? And tell her..."

She cut him off in turn "How you feel about her. Wes, she knows, and is going to know more. And the memories are important to her decision. Of course I will restore them."

"Well, what happens now? And thank you Cordelia."

"You're welcome, Wesley, it's time for you to go back, I'll see you and all the rest later. Tell Angel, when you see him, that he is still a champion. He will be Mr. Broody after what is going to happen at the Well."

After this Wesley felt a lurch and saw nothing until he could use his own physical eyes again, which were still staring at the dead but not dead face of his love.

He saw the light of her soul leave her eyes and her entire soul leave her body, pass through his own body and soul, and it was then pulled out and sent like a bullet to the place where she would meet with Cordelia.

When Fred's soul was in transit through him, he felt all the fear and pain she had gone through. As well as the warmth and comfort she had tried to show earlier. He tried to respond with the same and more. He wouldn't know until later that he had wholly succeeded in his reassurance.

Despite this, Fred was alone now.