Over the next couple of months life continued on for everyone employed at Angel Investigations. Fred and Wesley announced that they were expecting a baby in the next seven months, so that left Fred out of the field and in total research mode. Justine and Gunn had gotten married. They had been dating for over a year with no commitment. Justine told Gunn that she was tired of just dating and wanted a commitment. Three hours later they were married at the city courthouse by a Justice of the Peace. Their friends didn't even know that a wedding had taken place until they saw the simple matching gold bands on each of their fingers. Lorne was continuing to see clients to read their destiny on a daily basis. He had come to truly love helping people and demons and occasionally there was always a dumb demon that sang away his destiny to kill or mame someone or something and that would ultimately end his life by the staff of AI.

Connor and Ciara had gone to Ireland for their honeymoon. Ciara wanted Connor to see the country that she had grown up in and Connor had wanted to see and experience part of his legacy. They had actually found the grave markers of Liam and his family, whom Angelus killed. They had taken pictures but Angel had politely refused to see them. Just because it was Angelus that killed them it didn't make the guilt that his soul provided any less, especially when he thought about Kathy, his precious little sister. She was just a child, an innocent child, who did nothing but adore and trust that her big brother could do no wrong. It was her trust in him, her trust and childlike belief that he was an angel who had come back to her. He had come back to her all right but not in the way that she had hoped. He had come back to kill her. Every time that he looked at his precious daughter, he felt that he was looking at a small part of Kathy. While doing research Connor discovered that his aunt's name was spelled with a K and his sister was spelled with a C so Angel had to explain that Cordy thought that it would be cute to spell her name with a C because she would have the same first initial as her brother and mother.

Angel and Cordy had no romantic progress over these past few months. Cordy was pissed at him for kissing her at the wedding but she let it go relatively quickly. At one point she demanded an apology from him for crossing the line that she had drawn but he refused to apologize for something that he was not sorry for doing. Cordy was now talking about finding a new place to live. A one-bedroom apartment was not really the best place in the world to be with an almost two year old that was always running all over the place.

Angel walked into Cordy's office as she was cussing out the classified ads that were sitting on her desk. "What did the paper do to piss you off?"

"Have you looked at the prices that this town charges for rent on a two bedroom? No of course you haven't. Well let me tell you, it's highway robbery. Oh sure, there are two bedrooms that I can afford on what you call a salary that you pay me, but I am not in the mood to move back into something as bad if not worse than the cockroach infested place I called my first apartment." She rambled.

"Cor, you can always move back here. You won't have to pay anything."

"No Angel I can't. I don't want to confuse Catherine."

"It won't confuse her. We obviously wouldn't share a room. There are so many suites here in this hotel. You and Catherine could have one of them on a different floor."

"I appreciate the offer Angel, but no thanks. I need to be able to do this on my own."

"You don't have to do this on your own Cor. For one reason, I'm Catherine's farther and I will do everything to make sure that she and her mother are provided for. And besides we're friends and friends support each other." Cordy had to admit, he did make a good point but before she could respond, Ciara knocked at her office door.

"What's up Ce?'

"The realtor is here in the lobby."

"Realtor?" Angel asked her softly.

"I'm going to go look at a few apartments. When we spoke on the phone, he insisted that I could afford them. I highly doubt it, but it never hurts to look." She grabbed her purse and headed out the door, but before she left she stopped and looked back at Angel. "I'll think about what you said ok?"

Angel followed her out to the lobby. He had meant every word that he had told her about supporting her and Catherine, but he hoped like hell that she wouldn't find another apartment. He really wanted his whole family back under one roof. He stood back and watched this realtor that Cordy was meeting. He immediately had a severe dislike of this blond haired ogre. He actually had the nerve to oogle her backside when she bent down to pick Catherine up. When Cordy introduced her daughter to Drew he physically backed away from Catherine. It took every ounce of self-control not to send this asshole flying across the room.

"Daddy." Catherine yelled from her mother's arms when she saw her father standing there. Angel quickly headed down the stairs and took his daughter in his arms.

"This is Catherine's father Angel. Angel this is Drew." Both men shook hands.

"Nice to meet you." Angel said politely.

"Okay, Drew, take me to go see those apartments." Cordy quickly said sensing that things were about to get awkward between the two men in the lobby. "We'll be back soon."

Soon turned out to be two hours later. Angel and Catherine were coloring at his desk when Drew and Cordy walked into the lobby, arms linked and laughing.

"Hey you guys." Cordy said as she walked into his office.

"Mommy, color."

"I see that baby. You are doing a great job." Catherine smiled at her mom. "Angel, I know that it's my night with Catherine, but something came up and I was wondering if you could keep her tonight?"

"Cor you don't have to ask me to keep my own daughter. Of course she'll stay. This is her home."

"Thank you, you're a doll." She kissed him on the cheek.

"What's going on?"

"Drew asked me out to dinner, and we may be late and I don't want to wake Catherine to take her home."

"Dinner with Drew? Are you sure about that?"

"Angel, don't start. Its just dinner."

"I know that it's none of my business, but I don't like him. I don't like the way he looks at you or how he acts around Catherine."

"You're right. It's none of your business." She was pissed. "We are just friends. It may end up turning into something more, but for tonight its just dinner with a friend. So back off."

Angel knew that he probably pushed her too far so he quickly changed the subject. "So, how did the apartment hunt go?"

"No go. Way out of my price range." She walked over to Catherine and kissed her. "Be a good girl. I'll see you in the morning. I love you."

"Love ya."

--

"So you and the boss man huh?" Drew asked Cordy as their dessert arrived. That question had been burning in his mind since he was introduced to Catherine.

"What makes you think that he is the boss?"

"The name, Angel Investigations. Catherine's father is Angel. It was a pretty easy conclusion to jump to."

"Well we were at one point but now we are just two friends raising a child together."

"Friends" Drew almost spit out his drink. "How is that possible?"

"We were best friends before we became romantically involved. After we split we remained friends."

"So what kind of business that you guys run?" Drew asked, not wanting to discuss his date's past lover.

"Oh trust me, you wouldn't believe me if I told you." She said smiling

"Try me." He really didn't care what kind of work she did. He was just thinking about the job she could do on him in bed.

"Let's just say we deal with the supernatural."

"Like aliens and stuff?"

"More emphasis on the stuff." She said smiling.

Drew began rambling on about his boring job but Cordy tuned him out. This date had been a very bad idea and as much as she hated to admit it, she should have listened to Angel. Besides the fact that he couldn't remove his eyes from her breasts, he was very shallow, superficial and seemed only to think of himself. He reminded her of herself before her visions. He also didn't warm up to Catherine very well. He basically blew her off. She had hoped that if this date had turned out better than it had so far, then he would warm up to her little girl but so far Cordy was not seeing a second date in her future. Thankfully, it was over soon enough.

"So Cordy, I had a great time." He said smiling at her breasts.

"Thanks so did I." She said through clenched teeth,

"So maybe we can do this again sometime?"

HELL NO "You know, I 'm going to be real busy at work. I've got some major projects coming up that will take up a lot of time."

Before she knew what was happening Drew leaned in and kissed her. His tongue was forced its way into her mouth. She had already unlocked her door and he pushed her into her apartment. His hands ripped open her shirt and ripped her bra down, exposing her breasts. His filthy hands were all over them, pinching and squeezing them. Tears sprung into her eyes. When the surprise finally faded seconds later, she reacted. She lifted her knee and nailed him in his already hard penis. He backed away gasping in pain.

"Bitch." He hissed. Before he could react she quickly punched him as hard as she could in the face, feeling bone crushing beneath her fist.

"Get the fuck out of my apartment NOW." She screamed and he ran out the door.

Cordy wiped the tears from her cheek, went into her bedroom, changed her clothes, packed an overnight bag, got into her car and drove to the one person that she could always count on, her best friend.

--

Angel was very engrossed in a novel when he heard a soft taping on his bedroom door. Sighing, because he was right in the middle of a fight to the death scene, he went to answer the door, book in hand. As soon as he saw Cordy's tear stained face, the book fell to the floor. He quickly pulled her into the room.

""Catherine?" She asked.

"Sound asleep. She has been out for a couple of hours." She nodded as the tears snuck out of her eyes. He led her to a chair so she could sit. "Cor, what's wrong? What happened?"

"Drew…You were right about him."

"Did he hurt you?" He would kill the son of a bitch if he laid a hand on her.

"Not as much as I hurt him." She began to sob.

"Cordelia?" He soothed. She finally began talking after a minute.

"He kissed me hard… He pushed me into my apartment… Ripped my shirt and bra…his hands…everywhere."

"I'll kill him."

"Angel, no you won't. He's human.

"Cordy, he hurt you."

"I'm not hurt. Just shaken up. Besides, it's not necessary. I kneed him pretty hard and I think I broke some part of his face when I punched him. He probably wishes he was dead right about now." She smiled sadly.

"I'm so sorry Cor, I should have been there to protect you."

"I am used to being afraid of demons and vampires, but not of humans. Why the hell do we risk our lives to save losers like him?"

"Not all humans are as rotten as Drew is."

Cordy didn't respond. Instead she went in to kiss her daughter and just be in the presence of innocence. Ten minutes later she joined Angel back in his room.

"Look, if your offer still stands, I would like to move back in."

"Of course it still stands."

"How about right now? I just don't want to go back in my apartment tonight."

"Right now is perfect. We just happen to have a few vacancies right at the moment." He smiled his wonderful Angel smile and Cordy threw herself into his strong and safe arms. She always felt safe in his arms.

"I love you Angel. Thank you for being my friend."

"I will always be your friend." He whispered, as they pulled apart. "Look it's late so you sleep in here tonight close to Catherine and I'll grab a room across the hall. Then tomorrow you can pick out one of the suites."

"Are you sure? I don't want to put you out of your own room."

"It's no problem. You get ready for bed and I'll make you a cup of tea to help you relax." She nodded and headed to the bathroom and he headed to the kitchen. A few minutes later he was back in his room with a mug of hot tea and she was curled up already fast asleep, or so he thought. He set the cup down on the nightstand next to the bed and gently kissed her forehead.

"Sleep tight." He whispered. When he reached the door he heard her soft voice.

"Don't go."

"What?" He couldn't have heard her right. Hope soared through his body.

"I just don't want to be alone. Not tonight. I think that I will sleep better knowing that you're in the same room with me."

Damn, same room, not same bed. "Of course Cordy, I'll stay." Being the always-reliable friend that he was, he pulled a chair next to his bed. He stretched out his long legs and reached over and took one of Cordy's hands and thankful that despite all of the hurt and pain that he caused her, he still had his best friend. Granted he wanted more than a friendship but he knew that he would probably never get that back. Sighing he closed his eyes and fell asleep with memories of the two of them when they were a couple.