Angel woke up early the next morning and looked over at the amazing woman lying next to him. He still couldn't believe that she had forgiven him and she still loved him. He had done a lot of thinking about the woman who had flirted with him and he decided to do something that would end it or at least somewhat discourage it. He had a plan and as much as he wanted to stay in bed and watch her sleep, he had too much to do, so he reluctantly pulled himself out of bed. He quickly showered, dressed then went to check on Catherine who was still sleeping. He kissed both of his girl's heads and slowly slipped out of the room.
Once in the privacy of his office he called the hotel to make a reservation. Even though they won't be able to make love, like the last time they were at this hotel, but he planned to make tonight as special as their first time just without the sex.
"Hey dad, you ready?" Connor asked as he walked into his father's office.
"Not yet, I need to call Wes and Lorne to make sure that they are up to speed."
"Dad, relax. Everything is going to be fine."
"What about Ciara? Does she know what to do?"
"Ciara knows what needs to happen, and it will happen. Now can we go?"
"Almost, let me go let her know that I'm leaving." Angel walked into the lobby and headed up the stairs, passing Ciara on the way.
"Oh my God Connor, he is so damn cute when he is nervous." Ciara said to Connor as he wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her neck.
"He only gets nervous when Cordy is involved."
"I'm so excited." She said happily.
Cordy was just waking up when Angel walked back into their room. He heard Catherine talking through the monitor. He kissed her gently on the lips.
"Morning." She said smiling.
"Good morning. Ciara is downstairs and was hoping that you would want to go shopping."
"I love shopping." She noticed that Angel was avoiding making eye contact with her. "What's wrong with you? Why are you nervous? What did you do?"
"Nothing baby, I just excited about tonight. Look, I need to go pick up some stuff so you go shopping and have fun OK?"
"I don't buy it Angel"
"Look, I'm planning a small surprise for you so can you just let it go?" Her eyes light up.
"A surprise for me? Really? I love surprises. Can I have a hint?"
"Just one." Angel leaned forward until his mouth was right next to her ear. "It's for you."
"Bastard." She muttered as he headed for the door.
"Love you too babe."
--
"Dad this is a pretty high end place. Are you sure that you can afford it?"
"I took care of a demon problem for the owner so he owes me a favor."
"Nice to know that there is a method to your madness for not charging some clients."
"I'm not mad. I'm smart. Cordy loves jewelry." Angel said grinning as they walked into the jewelry store.
"Angel. Good to see you. What brings you in?" Al said
"I'm here to collect on my bill from that little problem of yours that I took care of."
"Whatever you want, it's yours. Do you have anything in particular in mind?"
"Engagement and wedding rings."
"That's a big step Angel. Taking the plunge. Being legally attached to woman for the rest of your life, which from what I understand would be a very, very, very long time."
"Rings now." Angel growled.
Al led them over to a case that held what Angel was looking for. He didn't want anything huge or gaudy because it wasn't who she was and but she deserved something bigger then the smallest ring that was in the case. Angel examined every ring in the case twice, wanting to make sure he chose the perfect ring for her perfect finger.
"I'll take this one, I think. Connor what do you think?' Angel asked his son.
"Dad, it's not my choice. You know her better than anyone and you know what she'll like."
Angel stared at the ring in his hand. It was a white gold ring with a square shaped diamond and then three smaller square shaped diamonds on either side of the larger one. He finally decided to purchase that ring along with two matching white gold wedding bands with diamonds encircling the band, one male and female ring.
Angel clutched his purchases tightly in his hand as he and Connor left the store. Connor left Angel standing in shade and went to go pick up his truck.
"Angel." He turned at the sound of his name and came face to face with Nathan.
"What is going on? Is this about the visions that were sent to me when I was sick because I did everything that I could to do to have my father forgive me."
"Relax Angel. The Powers sent you your victims for you, to help you forgive yourself Angel. Have you done that?"
"I'm not ready to."
"You will be in time."
"So what are you doing here Nathan?" He held out a familiar looking bottle.
"This is a wedding present from the Powers."
"How did…"
"The Powers know everything Angel. We originally planned on presenting this to Cordelia because of all of the hard work during the time that you were healing. She went over and above her call of duty during that time. But now that you are getting married, they thought that this would be the perfect way of extending our thanks to her."
"What if she says no?" He wasn't convinced that she would agree to this idea of his.
"Then use it anyway. The same rules as before apply. Do you recall them?"
"Two hours from the first sip, and one second past the time Angelus returns."
"Enjoy yourself." Nathan turned and walked away leaving Angel standing on the sidewalk holding the potion.
"Dad" Angel put his coat in over his head and ran to Connor's truck.
"Who was that?"
"An old friend." He said softly holding the precious bottle tightly.
--
"All right girls, what are we doing here?" Cordy asked as Fred and Ciara drug her into the park. They have been acting strange all day while shopping; basically forcing her to buy a fancy white dress that she has no use for.
"There is someone here that wants to see you." Fred said
"Who could possibly want to meet me here in the park?"
"Look over there." Ciara pointed to a large shaded area under the trees. Cordy's eyes followed Ciara's finger and settled on Angel standing in the middle of the trees. Now, thoroughly confused, she jogged over to him.
"Angel?" She asked questioningly. He answered her with a sweet kiss. "What is going on?" She asked when they broke apart. She stared at him in amazement as he dropped to one knee and took her hand. "Angel?"
"When I had Catherine at the museum yesterday, all of these women were flirting with me. They had no idea that I was in love with the most wonderful woman ever put on this earth so I thought that if I wore a ring on my hand it would tell the whole world that you have my heart. But then I thought that because you are so beautiful, that you needed a ring also to stop all of the men that would try and pick you up. So that train of thought led me here, to this moment. I know that I am dead and we can't technically be married but I love you Cordy and I want to be with you for the rest of my life, which we both know is a very long time. I don't need the whole legality of a marriage certificate I just want to make a promise in front of our family and friends that I will love you, for better or worse, in sickness and health, until death we part. Will you make that promise with me? In other words, will you marry me Cordelia Chase?' He had tears in his eyes, threatening to fall.
"You already have my promise Angel, but if you want I will make it in front of our family and friends." Tears were falling from her eyes he stood up and pulled the ring out of his pocket and placed it on the ring finger of her left hand. "Oh my God, you bought me a ring?"
"Do you like it?" She nodded and threw her arms around his neck, covering his face with kisses. There friends seeing this happy moment gathered around them.
"When are we going to do this?' She asked wiping the tears from her eyes.
"Tonight." Everything finally clicked in her brain.
"You all knew didn't you?" They nodded. "The dress you forced me to buy today." Fred and Ciara giggled. "Catherine needs a new dress. We have to go shopping."
"All ready done. Remember when Ciara's phone wouldn't get a signal?" Cordy nodded. "She went and bought Catherine a dress."
"My God, there is so much to do." She began to panic.
"Hey, it's all done. All you have to do is get ready."
"I love you." She kissed him. "I'll see you soon." She whispered lovingly.
"Looking forward to it."
"Ladies, we have to move NOW." Angel, Wes, Gunn and Connor laughed as they watched the woman they loved headed off on a mission.
--
The sun had set and Angel stood nervously at the front of the lobby, wearing a suit that Cordy loved. Angel decided that he didn't want an official wedding ceremony because in fact, it wasn't a real ceremony. He was technically dead and you can't marry a dead person. There were no bridesmaids, or groomsman. All of their friends were standing in the lobby waiting for the woman of the hour. Lorne was standing in front of the check-in desk because he would be the one performing the non-ceremony.
"Daddy." Catherine screeched and Angel looked up and saw his children walking hand and hand down the steps towards him. Connor looking very handsome in his suit and Catherine looking absolutely adorable with her hair full of curls wearing a frilly pink dress. "Hi daddy." Angel bent down and picked Catherine up with one arm and slung the other around his son.
"You look very pretty chipmunk."
"Thank you. Daddy pretty too." Catherine replied and everyone laughed. Suddenly Lorne began to sing 'Wonderful Tonight'. All eyes rotated to the top of the staircase and Angel saw his own angel descending towards him, dressed all in white.
"Pretty." Catherine whispered looking at her mother.
"No chipmunk, beautiful."
"Boo-fel." Cordy was wearing a sleeveless dress with a tight fitting satin bust. Underneath her breasts the dress flowed out into multiple folds, ending right at her knees. She was carrying a simple bouquet of red roses. As she walked over to him, they never took their eyes off of each other. It was as if everyone else in the room had disappeared and it was only the two of them.
"Cordelia and Angel, your love is the reason that we have gathered to here today. A celebration of true love. During the course of your relationship, I have seen you climb mountains and walk across a field of flowers to be with each other. Throughout the good times and bad your love has proven to be unbreakable. I have never seen two people more meant for each other then you two. I wish you all of the happiness in the world. Now let's get down to business. Please join hands." The couple did as asked. "Angel, do you promise to love honor and cherish Cordelia, in sickness and health, weakness and strength, in wealth and despair, forsaking all others until death parts you."
"I will." Angel said softly.
"Do you Cordelia Chase do you promise to love honor and cherish Angel, in sickness and health, weakness and strength, in wealth and despair, forsaking all others until death parts you."
"I will." She whispered tearfully.
"Then by the power vested in me, which is none, I now pronounce you husband and wife, although one of you is dead and the other is part demon and none of this will stand up in a court of law."
"LORNE." Everyone shouted.
"OK, OK. Angel, you may now kiss the beautiful woman standing in front of you." Angel's hands cupped her cheeks and he pulled her close to him.
"Thank you for making me the happiest man or vampire ever. I love you."
"Thank you for making me the happiest woman ever. I love you." She wrapped her arms around his neck and they kissed passionately. They broke apart when Catherine grabbed their legs.
"Up, daddy, up." Her daddy willing obliged his girl and lifted her into his arms.
"Does anyone have my camera?" Fred handed it to her. "Angel, Catherine look at me and smile. Catherine say cheese" and thus began the picture taking session.
Three hours later they all parted ways at the restaurant and Cordy and Angel were making out in the back of the limo that Angel had rented for the evening.
"Hmmmm." She sighed as Angel ran his tongue down her neck.
"You taste so good." He mumbled through closed eyes as her hands ran through his hair.
"There are other parts of my body that taste much better then my neck."
"All in good time princess. Good things come to those who wait." She unbuttoned the first couple of buttons on his shirt and slid her hand onto his finely sculpted chest.
"I missed this so much. I've missed your hands and lips all over my body."
"I missed putting them all over you." The car stopped and shut off. They were at the hotel.
"Thank God, because I can't wait much longer." Cordy said as she yanked Angel out of the limo. "Luggage is in the trunk." She said to the bellboy as she drug Angel into the hotel.
"That was rude." He said to her.
"I'm horny and I want to get you out of your clothes as quickly as possible." She whispered in his ear. "Now check us in." Angel grinned as he checked them in, thinking she was in for a big surprise.
"Can someone take the bags to our room please, we are going for a walk."
"Of course Mr. Angel. Enjoy your stay."
"Walk, I don't want to go for a walk." Cordy whined as Angel walked her to the back door.
"Just for a few minutes hon."
"So Patrick Angel, where are we headed?" Cordy loved using his alias because it drove him crazy.
"Right here." They were walking hand and hand on the sand towards the ocean. Unfortunately it was too dark to see the water. They took off their shoes, Angel rolled up his pants and they walked into the water. "I know that you bring Catherine here every weekend and how much you love the ocean. Even if it's too cold to swim, you are still out here with her. Your love for this is rubbing off on her. I wish to God that I could be standing out here with you, during the day staring out into the water. Since I can't give you that, this is the next best thing Cordy, standing here with you, staring out into the black ocean with the waves crashing at our feet."
"God, who knew you were such a softie."
"When it comes to you I am a softie."
"Angel, there are so many things that I wish that we could have. I wish that you could be out here in the sun with me, I wish that we could take Catherine on a picnic in the park on a Sunday afternoon, and I wish like hell that we could have sex but I knew what we could and couldn't do when I fell in love with you, so quit apologizing for something that you have no control over. I'm happy and so is Catherine so no worries. I love you and everything that goes along with loving you."
"I love you too Cordy" She kissed him hard, running her hand down to the front of his pants.
"Cordy…"He groaned.
"There is a lot more where that came from baby." She then walked off, leaving him staring after her. "You coming?" He quickly snapped out of his staring daze and jogged over to Cordy.
The ride in the elevator was painfully long and if there wasn't a surveillance camera in the elevator, they may have gotten down to business right there, but they restrained themselves. It had been almost a year since they had any intimate contact with each other so they were both sexually frustrated. Angel unlocked the door and Cordy started to rush in but Angel held her back.
"It's your wedding day, so you have to be carried over the threshold." She giggled like a little girl as he swooped her into his arms and stepped over through the doorway kissing her the entire time.
"I love you." She murmured as he deposited her on the bed.
"We have a wedding gift."
"Ohh I love presents." She said happily
He went over to his suitcase, grabbing the bottle and his blood to put in the fridge before it went bad. He turned to face her and held the bottle in front of her and smiled as her eyes widened with recognition.
"Is that what I think it is?'
"The Powers gave it to us as a wedding gift for all of the hard work that you have done over the past couple of months," She scrambled off of the bed and threw herself at Angel. She took the bottle out of his hands, pulled the lid off the potion bottle and held it to his lips.
"Open wide baby." He opened his mouth and she poured the potion into his mouth. They both grinned and crashed their lips together.