CHAPTER TWENTY

Abigail found Lorne in their bedroom, sitting on their bed looking deep in thought.

" Morning," she greeted him with a smile.

" Oh, hi," he replied as she put his arms around his neck.

" Aren't you glad to have Angel back?" Abigail asked him brightly, " Now we don't have to fall asleep worrying he's going to come into our room and rip our throats out."

" He wouldn't have bitten me…vampires don't drink demon blood," Lorne replied.

" No, but he would have killed you nonetheless," Abigail said, " Listen, the sun is out and it's a beautiful day. Well, almost as beautiful as LA can get. Why don't we pack a picnic and spend the day by ourselves? No clients, no fighting of nasty things and no cell phones."

" Sounds really good." Lorne murmured longingly.

" All right. I'll pack the picnic basket and you find some towels. I'll be right back." She kissed him before leaving the room.

Lorne watched her go and sighed. This could the very last picnic they'll ever go on. In fact, could be the very last alone time they'd spend together.

I just wish I never found out, Lorne thought morosely. He got up and went to find some towels and make a good stiff drink.


The picnic turned out to be a good idea. Abigail made sure she left her cell phone and weapon at home. She and Lorne found the secluded spot on the beach, between two caves at a far end of the beach.

After stuffing themselves with cold macaroni salads and hamburgers, they stretched out on a big towel and just talked. After awhile Abigail was through with talking and rolled over on to Lorne.

" I love you Lorne," she told him unbuttoning her blouse.

" I love you too," he replied his voice breaking. They kissed deeply and made love on the sand.


After two hours, they packed up and went home to find Angel was talking to Wesley.

" So, we're back." He was saying.

" It would seem." Wesley agreed.

" Sorry, Angel. But if this is the speech about how the worst is behind us, you may want to save it for later." Cordy told the group.

Cordelia took off her coat to reveal her pregnancy.

" Wha...? Put me on the short bus, and send me off to clueless school. A mystical pregnancy right under my beak and not even a tingle. Huh." Lorne shrugged and went over to the counter.

Later on, after discussing Cordy's sudden pregnancy. Abigail went to see her. Wesley had explained Cordy had been pregnant before and came to term overnight. This was another mystical pregnancy and Connor was undoubtedly the father. It seemed wrong somehow to have an affair with Angel's son but she didn't want to judge.

She headed for Cordy's room, thinking about the day she had. It had been great, one of the best she and Lorne had. But it seemed to her Lorne wasn't all there. His mind was somewhere else. When they made love, it was very half-hearted. She tried to spice things up a bit but Lorne didn't seem into it. It worried her.

She went to Cordy's room. She figured she could ask Cordy some advice, why would a boyfriend not be into making love but the girl was. She knocked on the door and heard the toilet flush. She went in.

" Cordy?" she called. The room was dark except for a lamp on the bedside table. As she got closer to the bed, she could see some things on the bed. She peered closer and gasped. There was a knife that had blood stains on it.

" What are you doing here?" Cordy demanded her.

" I uh…wanted to talk to you. But I can see you're busy."

" Do you always come into someone's room without entering?" Cordy asked as Abigail backed away. She glanced at the knife again and the realization hit her.

Cordy had killed Lilah.

No, that was impossible. Cordy wasn't evil. But as she looked into her friend's face, she saw something in Cordy's eyes that chilled her. It was pure evil.

Cordy reached down for the knife and snatched it up. Abigail turned and ran for the door but Cordy grabbed her hair and yanked her head back.

" This won't do. You've found me out." Cordy said.

" Cordy…you killed Lilah. Why?" Abigail asked as the knife was pressed against her throat.

" Shut up," Cordy hissed as the blade dug in deeper. There were footsteps and a voice called out," Abigail? Where are you?" it was Lorne.

" You are not to say a word. Got it? Act like everything is normal I won't kill you." Cordy hissed. Abigail nodded slowly wondering what made Cordy think she was going to get away with this. Cordy hid the knife and pushed Abigail towards the door. She opened it and smiled at Lorne.

" I'm here. Cordy and I got to talking."

Cordy and Lorne went downstairs together and Cordy looked over her shoulder at Abigail, her eyes staring right into Abigail's.

Evil and pregnant. Abigail thought with a shiver.