"Surprise"
Based on the Episode Written by Marti Noxon
The following story is copyright © 2022 by Mark Moore.
In Cordelia's room, at night, she slept fitfully. She woke with a start and put her hand to her head. She reached over to her lamp, turned it on, and let out a sigh. She took her glass from her night stand for a drink but found it nearly empty. She got up to fill it.
Cordelia walked out of her room, holding the glass, and walked down the hall. She sensed something and turned. There was nothing there. Cordelia shrugged it off and moved to the bathroom door. She opened it and suddenly found herself at the Bronze.
Cordelia ventured in and looked around the room. She walked through the crowd, to the stage. It was empty, no band tonight. She turned around and smiled warmly. Angel was standing at the pool table. He smiled and started toward her. Cordelia began to walk toward him.
Drusilla suddenly appeared behind Angel. She thrust a stake into his back and pulled it out. He arched backward in pain.
"Angel!" Cordelia screamed.
They reached out for each other. Before she could touch him, he fell to the floor, dead.
Drusilla lowered the stake and took the few steps over to Cordelia. "Happy Birthday, Cordelia."
Cordelia woke from her nightmare and quickly sat up, surprised and confused.
Cordelia went to Angel's apartment and knocked on his door.
"Hold on."
Cordelia stood there with a worried look on her face.
Soon, the door opened, and Angel was standing there, shirtless.
"Hey. Is everything okay?" Angel asked her.
"That's what I was gonna ask you. You're okay, right?" Cordelia asked him.
"Sure. I-I'm fine." Angel gestured for her to come in. "What's up?"
She walked in and put her bag down. He swung the door partially closed and walked over to grab a shirt.
"Um...I-I had this...dream that Drusilla was alive."
Angel pulled on the shirt. "What happened?"
"She killed you. Right in front of me."
"It was just a dream. It wasn't real."
"But it felt so real."
Angel put his hand to her cheek. "It wasn't. I'm right here."
Cordelia sighed. "Yeah, but...what if Drusilla is alive? We never saw her body."
"She's not. But even if she was, we'd deal."
"W-W-What if she is-"
He grabbed and kissed her, and she responded. A couple of kisses later, they broke off and looked at each other.
"What if what?" Angel asked her.
"I'm sorry. Were we talking?" Cordelia whispered.
Angel leaned over to kiss her again. They put their arms around each other and held each other closely as they kissed.
Cordelia suddenly broke off and looked down. "I'm sorry. I, um...I-I have to go to school." She turned and quickly headed for the door.
"I know." Angel followed her, took her arm, turned her around, and kissed her again passionately.
They took hold of each other again. They stopped kissing a moment later but kept touching foreheads.
"Oh, God, you feel..."
"You have to go to school." Angel guided her to the door.
"Right. I know. This is me." Cordelia backed into and shut the door. "I'm going."
They began kissing passionately again. After a while, they stopped and looked at each other.
"You still haven't told me what you wanted for your birthday."
Cordelia smiled. "Surprise me."
Angel smiled. "Okay. I will."
They kissed.
Cordelia smiled. "This is nice. I like seeing you first thing in the morning."
"It's bedtime for me."
"Well, then I like seeing you at bedtime. Um..." Cordelia paused. "Um, heh..." She paused again. "Y-You know what I mean."
"I think so." Angel paused. "What do you mean?"
"I like seeing you. The part at the end of the night where we say goodbye..." Cordelia paused. "It's getting harder."
"Yeah. It is."
Harmony and Cordelia were walking across the lawn under the trees at Sunnydale High.
"'I like you at bedtime?' You actually said that?" Harmony asked in disbelief.
"I know, I know."
"God, that's like...I-I dunno, that's moxie or something."
"Totally unplanned. It just...came out."
Harmony giggled. "And he was into it? I mean...he wants to see you at bedtime, too?"
"Yeah, I-I-I think he does. Well, I-I mean he-he's cool about it."
"Well, of course he is. 'Cause he's cool. I mean...he would never...you know..."
"Push."
"Right. H-He's not the type."
"Harm, what am I gonna do?" Cordelia asked.
"What do you wanna do?" Harmony asked her.
"I don't know. I...I mean..."
They sat on a bench.
"I want us to make love. I've just never been with..." Cordelia fell silent.
"A vampire?" Harmony guessed.
"Anyone."
Harmony stared at her in wide-eyed surprise. "But...all of those phone calls where you bragged-"
"Purely oral. Nothing more."
"Wow..."
"Yeah."
The school bell rang.
"Oh..." Cordelia got up and walked away.
Harmony got up and followed her. She looked over to the side and saw Oz sitting at a bench with his guitar. She looked at Cordelia. "Uh, I'll see you in class."
"Okay." Cordelia walked off.
Oz was practicing with his guitar.
Harmony walked around the bench and stood next to him. "Hey."
Oz looked up. "Hey."
"Do you guys, uh, have a gig tomorrow night?" Harmony asked him.
"Oh, no. Practice. See, our band's kinda moving towards this new sound where...we suck, so...practice."
"Okay, cool, well, if you wanna blow it off..." Harmony took a card out of her purse and held it out to him. "It's Cordelia's birthday, and we're throwing her a surprise party."
Oz nodded. "All right. I'm in." He smiled and took the card.
Giles walked out of the lounge and saw Harmony. "Oh, good morning." He leaned close to her ear. "Is everything in order for the party?"
"Absolutely. You ready to get down, you funky party weasel?" Harmony asked him.
Giles looked at the stairs and saw Jenny and Cordelia coming down.
"Here comes Cordelia." Giles looked at Harmony. "Now remember: discretion is the better part of valor."
"You coulda just said 'Shh!' God, are all you Brits such drama queens?" Harmony asked him. She looked at Cordelia. "Hey, Cordy."
"Hey."
They all walked into the lounge.
Harmony and Cordelia sat at a table.
Giles sat also. "You all right, Cordelia? You seem a little fatigued."
"Rough night. I had a dream that Drusilla was alive, and she killed Angel. I-It just really freaked me out."
"You fear it was more of a-a...a portent?" Giles asked.
"See, I don't know. I don't wanna start a big freakout over nothing."
"Still, best to be, uh, on the alert. If Drusilla is alive, i-i-it could be a fairly...cataclysmic state of affairs."
"Again, so many words! Couldn't you just say 'We'd be in trouble'?" Harmony asked him.
Giles gave her a look. "Go to class, Harmony."
"Gone." Harmony got up and started away but stopped. "Notice the economy of phrasing: 'Gone.' Simple. Direct." She pointed at Giles and left.
"Maybe I should get 'gone', too." Cordelia stood up.
Giles stood up. "Uh, don't worry unduly, Cordelia. I-I-I'm sure it's nothing."
"I know. I should keep my cool, but...it's Angel, which automatically equals maxi-wig."
"Hmm."
"What?" Cordelia asked him.
"Well, it's usually Slayers that have prophetic dreams. Slayers and..." Giles trailed off.
"What?" Cordelia asked him, worried.
Giles stared at Cordelia. "Potential Slayers."
Cordelia stared back at him in disbelief.
Jenny cleared her throat. "Or it could be nothing. Or you could just have the gift of sight. I've had prophetic dreams, and I'm not a potential Slayer...as far as I know."
Giles briefly looked at her. "Uh, yes, of course."
That afternoon, after school, Buffy and her mother were sitting at the island in the kitchen, eating takeout cheeseburgers and fries for dinner. They each had a large cup of regular Pepsi.
"Mall trip for your birthday on Monday. Don't forget."
Buffy looked at her. "Space on a mom-sponsored shopping opportunity? Not likely."
Joyce couldn't help but smile - briefly. "Hmm. So...does, um, seventeen feel any different than sixteen?"
"Not really. Speaking of birthdays, though, the gang's throwing a surprise party for Cordy at the Bronze tomorrow night. May I go?" Buffy asked her.
"What do you think?" Joyce asked her.
"I think..." Buffy sighed. "Forget it."
"No, I want to hear your thoughts."
Buffy tried to organize her thoughts. "Well, I know I have no right to ask it, but it wouldn't be for me; it'll be a quiet celebration for Cordelia. She's done so much in picking up the slack for me. The least that I can do is show up at her party and thank her."
"And maybe get her an extra-nice gift?" Joyce suggested.
Buffy nodded in agreement.
Joyce shrugged. "We'll go out shopping after dinner."
The next day, Ms. Calendar walked into her classroom and over to her desk with an arm full of papers. She set down her mug and a couple of other things and began to go through them.
"Jenny Calendar."
Jenny spun around, startled. Standing there was a man in a dark suit and hat. She stared at him in surprise.
"You startled me."
"You look well." He stepped up to her desk.
"Yes, I'm fine." Jenny walked around her desk. "I know I haven't written as much lately. I've been busy."
"I cannot imagine what is so important to make you ignore the responsibility to your people."
"Well, I've been working and-"
"The elder woman has been reading signs. Something is different."
"Nothing has changed. The curse still holds."
"The elder woman is never wrong. She says his pain is lessening. She can feel it."
Jenny looked down. "There is..."
"There is what?"
Jenny looked up. "A girl."
He sighed in disgust. "What? How could you let this happen?"
"I promise you. Angel still suffers. And he makes amends for his evil. He even saved my life."
"So you just forget that he destroyed the most beloved daughter of your tribe?! That he killed every man, woman, and child that touched her life?! Vengeance demands that his pain be eternal as ours is! If this - this girl gives him one minute of happiness, it is one minute too much!"
"I'm sorry. I thought-"
"You thought what?! You thought you are Jenny Calendar now?! You are still Janna of the Kalderash people! A Gypsy."
Jenny sighed in disgust. "I know..." She paused. "Uncle. I know."
"Then prove it. Your time for watching is past. The girl and him, it ends now! Do what you must to take her from him!"
"I will see to it."
In the library, Cordelia was sitting at the table while Giles paced behind her.
"I had the same dream last night. It was just like my dream from the previous night. Every gesture, every word." Cordelia looked up at him. "It was so fucking creepy."
"Yes, well, I-I-I'd imagine it would be...fairly unnerving." Giles sat on the end of the table.
Harmony came bounding into the library. "Hey! It's the woman of the hour!" She jumped over to the table, hugged Cordelia's shoulders, and gave her a big smile. She let go and went around to the other side of the table.
Cordelia just looked down and pulled her hair behind her ear.
Harmony lost her smile. "What's wrong?"
"I-It's just that, um, Cordelia had the same nightmare last night."
Cordelia looked at Harmony. "Which means Drusilla might still be alive." She looked at Giles. "Giles, in my dream, I couldn't stop her. She blindsided me. A-Angel was gone before I knew what happened."
"Even if she is alive, uh, we can still protect Angel. Dreams aren't prophecies, Cordelia. B-B-B-Buffy dreamt that the Master had risen, but she stopped it from happening."
Cordelia frowned. "No, she didn't. She fulfilled it."
"Fair point. But you can still prevent this."
"Okay, so...fine. We're one step ahead, but I wanna stay that way."
"Absolutely." Giles stood up. "Let me read up on Drusilla, uh, see if she has any particular patterns." He started toward his office. "Why don't you meet me here at 7:00? We'll map out a strategy."
"What am I supposed to do until then?" Cordelia asked him.
"Go to classes, do your homework, have supper..."
"Right. Be that Cordy." Cordelia got up from the table, grabbed her bag, and headed out of the library.
Harmony pointed at the door. "Well, that's not a perky birthday bitch. So much for our surprise party. I bought little hats and everything. Oh, well. I guess I'll tell the others." She started to go.
"No, you won't."
Harmony stopped and looked at Giles.
"We're having a party tonight. Cordelia's surprise party will go ahead as we planned. Except I won't be wearing the little hat."
"But Cordy and Angel-"
"May well be in danger...as they have been before and, I imagine, will be again. One thing I've learned in my tenure here on the Hellmouth is that there is no good time to relax. And Cordelia's turning seventeen just this once, and she deserves a party."
Harmony smiled. "And anyway, Angel's coming. So she'll be able to protect him and have cake."
"Precisely. See to the preparations." Giles went into his office.
"Righty-ho, boss." Harmony left the library with a happy bounce in her step.
That night, Cordelia walked down a hall in the school.
Jenny saw her. "Cordy."
Cordelia was startled. "Oh, my fucking God, I didn't see you there."
"Sorry. Um, Giles wanted me to tell you that there's been a change of plans. Uh, he wants to meet you someplace near his house, 'cause he had to run home and get a book or something."
"'Cause heaven knows there aren't enough books in the library."
"Uh, he's...very thorough."
"Oh, which is not to bag. It's kind of manly in an obsessive-compulsive kind of way, don't you think?" Cordelia asked her.
"Mm-hm. Um, you know, my car's here. Why don't I drive you?"
"No, "I'll drive you." Cordelia started out to the parking lot.
Jenny watched her go a few steps and then followed.
Cordelia drove her Chrysler Cirrus slowly along the street, near the alley outside the Bronze. "Are we goin' to the Bronze?"
"I'm not sure. Giles gave me an address. We're just following his directions."
They rounded a corner, and Cordelia saw something going on.
"This looks funky." Cordelia hit the brake and parked her car.
A truck was parked in an adjacent loading area. A man jumped off the truck bed while another walked across the loading dock.
"No, Cordy, maybe you shouldn't."
"It'll just take a sec." Cordelia unfastened her seatbelt, unlocked and opened the door, got out of the car, and went to investigate.
Jenny sighed. "What is this?" She leaned her head on her hand.
Cordelia walked up to the truck and stopped by the cab. She saw a vampire with glasses carrying a wooden box. "Hey, that's not yours."
He growled at her.
"You really should speak with someone about this klepto issue."
The truck's engine started. Cordelia turned and reached for the door handle. The vampire made a hasty escape. The truck door swung open before Cordelia could reach it, and a vampire kicked out at her, hitting her in the arm, but not hard. She grabbed for him and pulled him out of the cab and onto the ground. The vampire with glasses lifted the box onto the back of the truck. The other vampire got up from the pavement, and Cordelia punched him, knocking him back down again. She backed up toward the truck to get around him, but a third vampire standing in the bed grabbed her by the jacket and lifted her up. He got her in a full nelson hold. She pushed him back into a large box. He was stunned and let go of her. She snapped her head back and butted him hard. The other vampire had climbed onto the truck bed also and came at her. She punched him, turned and punched the one behind her, turned and punched the other one again, then kicked him in the chest, making him fall and roll over a crate. She blocked a swing from the one behind her, grabbed his arm, and shoved his head into the crate.
Inside the Bronze, Angel peeked out from behind a pillar and looked around. "Where is she?"
The others peeked out from behind the pool table and looked up at him.
"Shhh!" Harmony told him. "I think I hear her coming."
Outside, Cordelia punched one of the wooden bed retainers and broke off a piece. She jammed it into one of the vampires' chests, killing him. The other grabbed her from behind, lifted her up, and carried her onto the loading dock. He threw her at a door. She hit it and rolled away.
Inside, the gang heard the fighting going on outside and looked toward a window. Cordelia and the vampire came crashing through and hit the floor. Almost everyone got up to look. Cordelia scrambled to her feet and kicked the vampire as he came for her. He stumbled back a few steps. The others came closer to see. Cordelia bounded onto the stage, grabbed a drumstick from a drum set, spun around with it, thrust it into the vampire's chest, and pulled it back out. The vampire fell over, dead. Oz watched in astonishment.
Harmony jumped up from behind the pool table with her arms raised high. "Surprise!"
The others all looked back at her.
Oz nodded. "That pretty much sums it up."
Cordelia hopped down from the stage. Angel went over to her. Harmony lowered her arms.
"Cordy, are you okay?" Angel asked.
"Yes. W-What happened?" Giles asked her.
Cordelia pointed behind her. "Uh, there were these vamps outs..." She looked around. "W-What's going on?"
"Oh, um...a surprise party." Giles blew on a party favor.
Harmony smiled. "Happy Birthday."
Cordelia smiled. "You guys did all this for me?" She looked at Angel. "That is so sweet."
"You sure you're okay?" Angel asked her.
"Yes, I'm fine."
Tara looked at Oz. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah. First time seeing a vampire."
Buffy walked over to Cordelia and smiled. "Wow, Cordy, you really kicked some serious ass."
Cordelia grinned. "Thanks." Then she grew somber. "You came. Are you not grounded anymore?"
"No, I still am. My mom dropped me off and will pick me back up."
"How are you doing?" Cordelia asked her.
Buffy shrugged. "I'm taking it one day at a time. That's all I can do. Thank you for pitching in, Cordy; it means a lot."
Cordelia gently rubbed Buffy's arm. "Of course."
Tara walked over to Cordelia. "Cordy, I figured maybe you'd like to sing for a certain someone. I brought my keyboard. I'd learned to play 'To Be in Love'."
Cordelia grinned. "Yes, that'd be great! Thanks! Okay, have a seat, everyone, and prepare to be moved!"
Harmony set up her video camera on her tripod and started recording. Buffy, Amy, and Katrina sat at one table. Giles, Angel, Harmony, and Oz sat at another table.
Tara and Cordelia walked onto the stage. Tara's keyboard had already been set up, and she went and stood behind it. She turned it on. Cordelia went and stood by the microphone. She turned it on. Tara started playing. Cordelia smiled at Angel and started singing:
"To be in love
Must be the sweetest feeling that a girl can feel.
To be in love,
To live a dream
With somebody you care about like no one else:
A special man,
A dearest man,
Who needs to share his life with you alone,
Who'll hold you close and feel things
That only love brings,
To know that he is all your own.
"To be my love,
My love must be much more than any other man.
To be my love,
To share my dream,
My hero, he must take me where no other can,
Where we will find
A brand-new world:
A world of things we've never seen before,
Where silver suns have golden moons,
Each year has thirteen Junes;
That's what must be for me
To be in love."
Everyone applauded for Cordelia. Cordelia smiled and took a bow. She walked off the stage. Angel stood up. They embraced and kissed.
Jenny walked into the Bronze, carrying the box. "Hey, can somebody give me a hand here?"
Giles stood up and walked over. Angel and Giles took it from her and set it on a table.
Jenny looked at them. "Those creepy assholes left this behind."
Everyone else stood up and walked over to get a look.
"What is it?" Cordelia asked.
"I have no idea. Can - Can it be opened?" Giles asked.
"Yeah. This looks like a release right here." Cordelia worked the latch and opened the box.
Inside was an arm clad in armor. Cordelia looked over at Giles in disgust. Suddenly, the arm raised up, grabbed Cordelia by the throat, and began choking her. Cordelia struggled with the arm. Angel tried to pull it off her. Between them, they got it off, and Angel stuffed it back into the box while Cordelia stepped back and tried to catch her breath. Giles slammed the lid shut. Cordelia coughed as Angel helped her aside.
"Good heavens. Cordelia, are you all right?" Giles asked.
Cordelia rubbed her throat. "Damn, that thing had major grip."
"W-What was that?" Tara asked.
Amy looked at her. "It looked like an arm."
Angel stared at the box. "It can't be. She wouldn't."
"Angel?" Cordelia asked.
"It-It's a legend...way before my time...of a demon brought forth to rid the Earth of the plague of humanity...separate the righteous from the wicked...and to burn the righteous down. They call him the Judge."
"The Judge? This is he?" Giles asked.
"Not all of him."
Cordelia raised her hand. "Um, still needing backstory here."
"Um..." Giles paused. "He - He - He couldn't be killed, yes? Um, a-an army was sent against him. Most of them died...but, uh, finally they were able to dismember him, but, uh...not kill him."
Angel nodded. "The pieces were scattered...buried in every corner of the Earth."
Jenny looked at him. "So all these parts are being brought here."
Cordelia felt a sense of dread. "By Drusilla."
Angel looked at her. "She's just crazy enough to do it."
"Do what, reassemble the Judge?" Katrina asked.
Angel nodded. "And bring forth Armageddon."
"Is anybody else gonna have cake?" Harmony went to the pool table.
Giles looked at Jenny. "We need to get this out of town."
Jenny nodded. "Angel."
"What?" Cordelia asked.
Jenny looked at Angel. "You have to do it. You're the only one that can protect this thing."
"What about me?" Cordelia asked her.
Jenny looked at her. "What, you're just gonna skip town for a few months?"
"'Months'?" Cordelia asked in surprise.
"She's right. I gotta get this to the remotest region possible." Angel went to Cordelia.
"But that's not months."
Angel gestured grandly. "I gotta catch a cargo ship to Asia, maybe trek to Nepal..."
"You know, those newfangled flying machines really are much safer than they used to be."
"I can't fly. There's no sure way to guard against the daylight. I-I-I don't like this any more than you do, Cordy. But there's no other choice."
"When?" Cordelia asked him.
"Tonight. As soon as possible."
Cordelia stared at him sadly. "But it's my birthday."
"I know. I'm so sorry."
Cordelia stood in silence for a long moment, trying to process this. She wiped away tears. "I'll drive you to the docks."
Cordelia and Angel made their way to a ship. Angel had the box on his shoulder. They walked arm in arm. Cordelia leaned into him, and he kissed her on the head. When they reached the gangplank, Angel set the box down. They took a few steps away from the box.
"I should go the rest of the way alone."
"Okay."
"But I'll be back. I will."
"When? Six months, a year? You don't know how long it's gonna take or if we'll even..." Cordelia looked down.
"Hey..." Angel raised her chin. "If we'll even what?"
Cordelia had tears in her eyes. "Well, if you haven't noticed, someone pretty much always wants us dead."
"Don't say that. We'll be fine."
"We don't know that."
"We can't know, Cordy. Nobody can. That's just the deal." Angel reached into his pocket. "I have something for you. For your birthday. I...I was gonna give it to you earlier, but..." He showed her a ring with an intricate design.
"It's beautiful."
"My people - before I was changed - they exchanged this as a sign of devotion. It's a Claddagh ring. The hands represent friendship, the crown represents loyalty...and the heart..." Angel paused. "Well, you know..." He cleared his throat. "Wear it with the heart pointing towards you. It means you belong to somebody. Like this."
He showed her his own ring on his finger. Cordelia touched his hand, leaned over, and kissed the ring.
"Put it on." Angel took the ring from her and slipped it onto her finger.
Cordelia sobbed. "I don't wanna do this."
"Me either."
"So don't go."
They kissed. She put her arms around him. After several kisses, they stopped and looked at each other.
"Cordy...I-"
Two vampires suddenly jumped at them from some cargo netting. One pulled Cordelia off Angel and threw her back. The other began to fight with Angel. Cordelia rolled to her feet. The vampire swung at her but missed. She grabbed him and started pummeling his gut. Angel flipped the other one over onto his back. He got up, and Angel swung at him three times, but he blocked all of them. Angel's next punch landed on the vampire's face. Cordelia ducked a swing, lifted herself up on the dock railing, and kicked her assailant in the chest with both feet, sending him staggering back into the gangplank. She gave chase and grabbed him by the back of the shirt and hair. He growled. The vampire with glasses dropped out of the cargo netting, ran over to the box, grabbed it, and started to run.
"Angel! The box!" Cordelia yelled.
Angel ducked a roundhouse kick, grabbed the vampire's arm, and flipped him over onto his back. He ran after the vampire with glasses and tackled him to the deck. Cordelia's attacker shook free of her and shoved her into a stack of crates. He followed up with a roundhouse kick, but she ducked it, and he just hit the crates. She made a grab for him, but he punched her in the face. Angel got ready to punch the vampire with glasses but got distracted when the vampire that he was fighting before grabbed the box and made a run for it. Cordelia's opponent grabbed her by the jacket and roared as he swung her around, over the railing, and into the water.
Angel saw her go flying. "Cordy!" He jumped over the railing and into the water after her.
In the school library, Giles, Tara, Amy, Katrina, and Harmony were researching the Judge.
Giles looked up from his books. "They should be back by now."
Harmony looked at him. "Maybe Cordy needed a few minutes to pull herself together. Poor Cordy, on her birthday and everything."
Cordelia walked into the library.
Giles stood up. "What happened?"
"Dru's guys ambushed us. They got the box."
"Where's Angel?" Giles asked her.
"Uh, he's getting clothing. I-I had some here. We got wet. Giles, what do we know?" Cordelia asked him.
"The more I study the Judge, the less I like him. His touch can literally burn the humanity out of you. A true creature of evil can survive the process. No human ever has."
"Can this guy be stopped? Without an army?" Cordelia asked him.
"Um..." Giles checked a book. "'No weapon forged can kill him.' Not very encouraging. If we could only stop them from assembling him."
"We need to find his weak spots, and we need to figure out where they'd be keeping him."
"This could take time."
"Better do a round robin." Tara looked at Amy. "Amy, you go first."
"Good call." Amy stood up and headed for the phone.
"Round robin?" Giles asked in confusion.
Katrina looked at him. "It's when everybody calls everybody else's parent and tells them they're staying at everyone's house."
Cordelia nodded. "Thus freeing us up for world saveage."
"Dad, hi. Amy. Yeah, uh, Tara and I are gonna be studying all night long, so I'm not gonna be coming home."
Much later, almost everyone was in full research mode.
Katrina walked over to Amy at the table with another open book. "I think I read this already."
Amy smiled. "They all look alike, don't they?"
Giles came out into the main room. "Angel? Any luck?"
Angel came down out of the stacks. Giles saw Cordelia asleep in his office and held up his hand to silence Angel. He followed Giles' gaze into the office. They saw Cordelia with her head down on the desk.
"Sh-sh-sh." Giles waved Angel to follow him. "Seems Cordelia needed some rest."
"Yeah. She hasn't been sleeping well. Tossing and turning."
Everyone looked at him.
"She told me. Because of her dreams?"
They all went back to their tasks.
Cordelia walked into Spike's warehouse, looking at the party decorations. All around, candles on tall sticks had burned way down. She went to the table and walked around it. On the other side, she saw Jenny walking the other way. She was confused about that but got distracted by several boxes sitting on the floor and went over to them.
"Now, now."
Cordelia spun around to see Drusilla on the upper level, holding Angel in front of her.
"Hands off my presents." Drusilla put a sharp blade to Angel's neck.
"No!" Cordelia yelled.
Cordelia woke from her nightmare with a start and found herself sitting at Giles' desk in his office. "Angel!"
"Cordy, it's okay."
She turned to him.
"I'm here."
She hugged him close.
"I'm right here."
After Cordelia composed herself, she and Angel went into the main room and into the cage. Cordelia put various weapons into her bag and then strode out of the cage. Angel followed her out.
Giles looked down at them from the stacks. "Cordelia, what's happening?"
Angel looked at him. "She had another dream."
Cordelia looked at Giles. "I think I know where Spike and Drusilla are."
Giles came down the stairs. "That's very good, however, you - you do need a plan. I-I know you're concerned, Cordelia, but you can't just go off half-cocked."
"I have a plan. Angel and I go to the factory and do recon, figure out how far they've gotten assembling the Judge. You guys check any places the boxes could be coming into town. Shipping yards, airports, anything. We need to stop them from getting all the boxes in one place."
"Yes. Yes, well, um, actually, that's quite a good plan."
Cordelia stared at him seriously. "This thing is fucking nasty, and it's real, Giles. We can't wait for it to come get us."
"Right."
Cordelia and Angel made tracks for the door.
Cordelia and Angel sneaked quietly along the upper level of Spike's warehouse. They looked down at the party going on below. They walked to the railing.
"I saw this. The party."
They saw the Judge walk into view, flanked by Spike, with Drusilla following. The Judge stopped and sensed something.
"What? What is it?" Spike asked.
The Judge looked around, then up at Cordelia and Angel and growled.
Angel looked at Cordelia. "We gotta get outta here."
They tried to make a run for it, but there were vampires heading them off on both sides. Cordelia and Angel were captured and brought before Spike, Drusilla, and the Judge.
Spike looked at them. "Well, well. Look what we have here. Crashers."
Cordelia smiled. "I'm sure our invitations just got lost in the mail."
"It's delicious." Drusilla licked her fingers and looked at Angel. "I only dreamed you'd come. Rrrr."
Angel struggled. "Leave her alone."
"Yeah, that'll work. Now say 'pretty please'." Spike smiled.
The Judge looked at Cordelia. "The girl."
"Chilling, isn't it?" Drusilla asked him. "She's so full of good intention."
Angel got himself between the Judge and Cordelia. "Take me!"
"No!" Cordelia yelled.
"Take me instead of her!" Angel yelled.
Spike raised his hand. "Uh, you're not clear on the concept, pal. There is no instead. Just first and second."
Drusilla nodded. "And if you go first, you don't get to watch the girl die."
Angel's captors pulled him back. The Judge reached for Cordelia. Angel looked up and around for a way out of this. Drusilla wrapped her arms around Spike and smiled. Angel saw the chains holding up Spike's video monitors. Then he saw Cordelia getting ready to defend herself.
"Don't touch him!" Angel warned her.
Cordelia kicked the Judge in the chest and knocked him back. Angel shook off his captors and lunged for the chains. The Judge came to a stop beneath the monitors, and Angel released them. They crashed to the floor on top of the Judge, hard enough to knock a hole in the floor.
Cordelia struggled free also and ran to Angel. She saw the hole in the floor. "This way!"
They went to the hole, and Cordelia jumped down into the sewers below. She rolled away from the hole, and Angel dropped down behind her. They got to their feet and started down the tunnels.
Cordelia and Angel pulled a door closed behind them as their two pursuers dropped through the hole and started after them. They looked around to see where they went but didn't see anyone. They started down the tunnel, checking the side tunnels as they went, and continued past the door. When they'd gone by, Cordelia opened the door and checked if the coast was clear. Seeing no one, she stepped over to a ladder and started up.
When she reached the top, she lifted a manhole cover up, pushed it aside, and quickly climbed out into the pouring rain.
Angel followed right behind. "Come on. We need to get inside."
Angel opened the door to his apartment, and they walked in. He turned on the light. Cordelia closed the door behind her. He took off his heavy coat and lay it aside. Cordelia was soaked through to her skin without a coat or jacket.
"You're shaking like a leaf."
"Cold."
"Let me get you something." Angel got some things from his armoire and handed them to her. "Put these on. Get under the covers, just to warm up."
Cordelia walked over to his bed and sat down. She looked up at him.
Angel faced away to give her privacy. "Sorry."
Cordelia took off her top shirt and winced and inhaled in pain.
"What?" Angel asked her.
"Oh, um..." Cordelia paused. "It's okay. I just have a cut or something."
"Can I...?" Angel paused. "Lemme see."
Cordelia clutched her shirt to her chest. "Okay."
Angel turned around and sat down behind her on the bed. He gently touched her back and looked at the cut. "It's already closed. You're fine."
She was still turned away from him. They were both affected by being this close. This vulnerable. She leaned back into him. His arms went around her. He breathed her in.
"You almost went away today."
"We both did."
Cordelia started sobbing. "Angel...I feel like if I lost you..." She paused. "But you're right, though. We can't be sure. Of anything..."
"Shhh. I..."
She turned. They were face to face.
"You what?" Cordelia asked him.
"I love you." Angel's voice was pained. "I try not to, but I can't stop."
"Me, too. I can't either."
They started to kiss.
After a moment, Angel broke off. "Cordy, maybe we shouldn't-"
"Don't. Just...kiss me."
He did. They kissed tenderly, full of emotion. They lay gently back on the bed. Angel kissed Cordelia passionately.
Cordelia broke the kiss. Angel lifted himself off her, uncertain. Cordelia lifted herself off the bed slightly and pulled off her shirt. She sat up and unfastened her bra, exposing her large, firm, young breasts, the envy of many of her friends. She took the bra off and tossed it aside.
Angel bent over and covered her mounds with kisses. Then he took Cordelia's right nipple into his mouth, closed his lips around it, and gently sucked on it. He soon repeated the actions on its twin. Cordelia ran her fingers through his hair and moaned her approval.
Angel pulled back and took off his shirt. Cordelia reached down and unfastened Angel's belt. Angel took off his shoes and socks and dropped them on the floor. Then Cordelia unbuttoned and unzipped his pants. He quickly took them off, followed by his underwear. He tossed them aside. Cordelia stared in awe at Angel's large, erect penis.
The horny brunette bent over and took his erection into her mouth. Angel moaned his approval and leaned back.
"Mmmm..." Cordelia moaned as her lips slid up and down her lover's cock.
She could feel his orgasm approach. His cock pulsed, and he cummed into Cordelia's mouth. She eagerly swallowed all of his cum.
Cordelia let Angel's penis slip from her mouth and grinned. "Mmmm, hello, salty goodness."
She sat up straight and took off her shoes and socks, dropping them on the floor. She unfastened her belt and unbuttoned and unzipped her blue jeans. She took them and her panties off at once and tossed them aside. She lay back on the bed, resting her head on the pillow, and parted her legs invitingly.
Angel stared at Cordelia's pussy and then lay between her legs and got to work. Cordelia moaned as Angel kissed and licked her wet pussy. He put fingers inside and gently masturbated her.
Minutes of ecstasy went by. Cordelia moaned in delight as Angel serviced her. She could feel her orgasm approach and finally let loose, cumming into Angel's mouth. He lapped at her sex eagerly.
Angel moved up, lay on top of Cordelia, and kissed her on the lips. Cordelia parted her lips, and they french-kissed. Cordelia could taste her essence on Angel's lips and tongue.
When their lips parted, Cordelia rubbed her pussy with her fingers and smiled seductively.
"Are you sure?" Angel asked her.
Cordelia nodded. "I want you inside me. Just fuck me, Angel."
Angel positioned his penis at the entrance to Cordelia's womanhood. He slowly pushed in. Cordelia felt him fill her. She let out a series of quiet moans.
Finally, he was fully sheathed inside her. He paused for a moment, letting her get used to it, and then he slowly started thrusting in and out of her.
Their lips met in a passionate kiss as they continued their lovemaking. Angel groaned and cummed inside Cordelia. Cordelia deeply felt the throbbing and the squirting.
"Sorry. I thought I'd last longer."
Cordelia smiled. "It's okay. You did fine. When you get it up again, we can go again." A thought occurred to her. "Hey, do you have any lube?"
"Um...I'm not sure. Why?"
Cordelia grinned. "Because I was kinda hoping we could try anal."
"Oh." Angel looked very uncomfortable.
"What?" Cordelia asked him. "Don't tell me, in two centuries, you never fucked a lady up her ass."
"Well...Darla...if you considered her a lady."
"Well, okay then! Just get some of that hair gel that you, no doubt, buy in bulk and fuck my ass!" Cordelia told him.
"Um, Cordy, can we maybe pick this up tomorrow?" Angel asked her. "I'm feeling kinda drained."
Cordelia felt a bit disappointed. "Yeah, okay. I should probably get some sleep, anyway. I've got school tomorrow."
Angel pulled out of her, got up, and went and turned off the light. Cordelia settled into a comfortable sleeping position. Angel rejoined her on the bed, and they snuggled together.
As Cordelia drifted off into a peaceful slumber, she sighed in contentment. "Best birthday ever..."