Over the past year and a half, life moved forward as it always does. There had been numerous demons and vampires that the crew on Angel Investigations had killed, destroyed or defeated. Cordy had been able to go out and assist in numerous killings once a week. That was the agreement that she and Angel had come to. Fred and Wes had gotten married in a simple ceremony preformed in the lobby of the hotel. They were headed towards their six-month anniversary. Gunn and Justine were still dating and had no interest in marriage. They were perfectly content with the way things were. The biggest surprise was that of Connor and Ciara. They were getting married in one month. They both were barely twenty-one and Angel was concerned that they were too young for marriage but Cordy convinced him that they would be fine.
Catherine was growing so quickly. She was nineteen months now. She was walking or running everywhere. That child did not lack for attention of any kind. She had all of her aunts and uncles wrapped around her little finger. She adored her older brother who adored her just as much and true to his word, Connor spoiled her rotten but not in a bad way. She also had her parents wrapped around her finger, especially her father. She just had to smile at him and he gave her whatever she demanded. Cordy had to become the disciplinarian but fortunately, she didn't need much discipline. She really was a good little girl.
"Ner. Ball." Catherine said to Connor as she handed her brother her ball.
"Ok, sweetie. Catch." Connor said smiling as he rolled the ball to his sister. She squealed in delight as she caught it. Gunn walked in at that moment.
"Gunn. You play ball." Catherine demanded and of course he sat right down on the floor and joined in the game. As usual, like most children her age her attention span for playing with the ball didn't last long so as soon as Gunn got comfortable on the floor Catherine decided that she was done playing with the ball and she went and started playing with one of her many dolls. She had just started playing with the doll when Angel and Cordy walked into the lobby.
"Daddy." Catherine screeched as she dropped the doll and toward to her father.
"How's daddy's big girl?" She giggled as he threw her into the air. Cordy cringed.
"I hate it when you throw her up like that.' Cordy said
"Oh she's fine." He tossed her up again and Catherine squealed.
"Please be careful. She can't heal like you can." Angel laughed.
"Your mama is nervous." Angel said to Catherine
"Mama." Catherine held out her arms to Cordy.
Cordy took Catherine in her arms and hugged her tightly. "I missed you."
"Up mama, up."
"Now look what you started." Cordy said to Angel as she handed their daughter him.
"Up daddy, up."
"Whatever you want chipmunk." He began tossing her up in the air again.
"Oh I can't watch this." Cordy said as she started to make dinner for Catherine.
An hour later Cordy, Angel, Connor, Ciara and Catherine sat down for dinner. Cordy and Ciara made spaghetti. Of course Angel didn't eat but he never missed a meal with his family. Catherine was stripped down to her diaper because whenever she ate spaghetti, it ended up all over her. They were laughing as Catherine picked up her sauce-covered noodles and put them all over her head.
"Quick, the camera." Cordy said. Connor handed the camera to her and she began snapping pictures of her spaghetti-covered daughter. After the pictures were taken Catherine picked up the remaining noodles on her plate and threw them at her brother, which caused them to laugh even harder.
Catherine was encouraged with all the laughter so she continued throwing her noodles. They were all laughing so loud they never heard the door to the lobby open. In fact, they had no idea that anyone had joined them until they heard her voice.
"Angel, Cordelia." They both turned around at the sound of their names being called.
"Buffy." Angel said softly
"What are you doing here?" Cordy asked
"Didn't Angel tell you?" Cordy whipped her head around to took at Angel
"No he didn't." She said staring him down.
"Sorry I forgot."
"Yeah, I'm sure you did." Cordy mumbled
"I got word that there is a group of vampires turning humans and training them to be soldiers to take over the world." Buffy said
"How come we haven't heard anything about that?" Connor asked
"I have a vamp under cover. That's the only reason that I know about it."
"That's why Buffy is here. She is planning on bringing them down and she needs our help." Angel said. Buffy walked over to Ciara.
"You must be Connor's fiancé Ciara. I'm Buffy an old friend of Cordy and Angel."
"Nice to meet you." Ciara said softly
"Daddy. Up." Catherine yelled. She was done eating.
"Oh my God. She is adorable. Angel you said she was beautiful, but not this gorgeous." Buffy said. She walked over to the baby. "Hello there Catherine. I have heard so much about you."
How many conversations has he had with her and why didn't I know about it. Cordy thought. She walked over and picked up her spaghetti-covered daughter.
"Come on baby girl, how about a bath?"
"Wow Cordy, I never thought that I would see you picking up a dirty kid and not worry about your own clothes."
"People change Buffy."
"I can see that."
Cordy walked over with Catherine in her arms and kissed Angel hard on the mouth.
"I love you." She said
"I love you too."
"We'll be back down after her bath." Angel nodded and watched her head upstairs.
Ciara and Connor had managed to sneak out leaving Buffy and Angel alone.
"So Cordelia had really changed." Buffy said
"She has grown up a lot in these past few years. The visions did that. They made her care about others more than herself."
"Is she a good mother?"
"She is a great mom."
"That surprises me."
"It shouldn't. She really is an amazing woman." Angel said as he stared at the stairs that Cordy and Catherine just walked up.
--
"No mommy no." Catherine yelled as Cordy lifted up a wet and kicking Catherine. She loved her bath and it was always a fight to get her out of the tub.
"Catherine stop it right now." Cordy said sternly as she got hit in the face. Catherine's eyes immediately filled with tears at the sound of Cordy's stern voice. "Now sit still and let me dress you."
Fifteen minutes later Catherine was in her pajamas and they were headed back downstairs to the lobby, Angel and Buffy were still seated at the table talking. Cordy put Catherine on the floor and she ran over to them screaming Angel's name.
"Daddy, daddy, daddy." She threw herself into Angel's arms.
"Hey chipmunk. Were you a good girl for mommy?" Catherine just grinned at her father.
"No, she wasn't." Cordy said as she sat on Angel's lap.
"Didn't want to get out of the tub huh?" Angel said to Catherine.
This is ridiculous. I feel like an animal staking my territory, and in this case Angel is the territory. Cordy thought
Thirty minutes later, Catherine began yawning and twirling her hair, the signal that she was ready for bed.
"Come on, let's put our girl to bed." Cordy said
"Would you mind doing it on your own tonight Cor? Buffy and I have a lot of plans to go over."
"Ok, yeah sure."
"Good night Chipmunk. I love you."
"Ove you Daddy." She said as she kissed him.
Cordy took a very tired Catherine upstairs to her bed.
"Moon mama."
"Ok baby girl. I love you."
"Ove you mama." Catherine said as she closed her eyes and laid her head on her pillow. Cordy stretched out on the floor next to her toddler bed and began to read Goodnight Moon, Catherine's favorite bedtime story. By the end of the story Cordy was also asleep.
She awoke a few hours later stiff and sore with no idea how long she had been sleeping. She went into her bedroom and was surprised to find it was after midnight. She was somewhat surprised that Angel wasn't in bed. He sometimes fell asleep at his desk and that's what she figured happened. Not wanting to wake Catherine, she snuck quietly out of the room. She was halfway down the stairs when she saw Buffy and Angel in the middle of the lobby standing very close together. She was about to yell for Angel when she noticed what they were doing. Her heart dropped into her stomach. They were kissing and it wasn't just a friendly kiss. Buffy's hands were caressing Angel's ass. His hands were running through her blonde hair. They broke apart for a second and then his lips attacked hers. Cordy ran back up to her room with the tears streaming down her face. She threw herself on her bed and sobbed.
Oh, God, this can't be happening. I'm dreaming. I must be dreaming. He loves me. Angel loves me. Cordy thought as the tears continued to fall. What about Catherine? How could he do this to her? How could he break up our family? This is all Buffy's fault, that tramp. She just can't deal with Angel not wanting her anymore. She forced him to kiss her. But if he was forced, why did he kiss her back like he did? She sobbed harder.
She had finally calmed down when she heard Angel and Buffy coming down the hall. They were talking but she couldn't make out their words. Cordy threw herself under the blankets and put the pillow over her head. She didn't want Angel to see her crying right away. She had every confidence that he would explain himself. She heard the door open. She didn't move. He went to Catherine's room. He came back a few minutes later and climbed into bed beside Cordy. He always kisses her goodnight, but this time he didn't. He just lay on his side of the bed, making no move to touch her. Cordy's tears fell silently.