Title: Who Said You Only Live Once
Author: anne
Posted: 02-04-2003
Rating: NC17
Email:
Content: c/a is the goal, this is an Highlander cross-over.
Summary:
Spoilers: ATS- takes place in between S2 and S3 (but- I’ve mentioned things learned in Birthday (S3-); However, the important part- no Connor (baby or otherwise) or reappearance of Darla or Groo or anything remotely S4 - or when Wesley and Fred decided to get eye surgery or contacts thereby not needing their glasses:
Highlander- I don’t know the episodes well enough to say- the series has ended so there is no chance of anyone being ‘spoiled’ but I have included a brief history of certain characters…and the mention of the demon Ahriman was an arch at the end of S5& S6-
Disclaimer: The characters in the Angelverse were created by Joss Whedon & David Greenwalt. No infringement is intended, no profit is made. Highlander belongs to Gaumount/Davis.
Distribution:
Notes: if you don’t like crossovers or the Highlander you won’t like this- I hope that you’ll give it a chance but I’ll completely understand if you don’t.
Highlander Notes: (brief summary for those that are unaware-the Highlander was a show about Immortals- beings that were immortal except they could be killed by decapitation and their purpose was to live for the ‘gathering’ a final battle that left one with the power of all- main character- Duncan Macleod- Highlander- 450 years old-very nice looking- cool- (OK, my opinion) )
Methos- 5000 years old -yeah- that old. Really a cool character- history- (except- that he was one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse.
Cassandra- almost as old as Methos- the history- Methos with his friends killed her whole village-and I guess her (except she was also an Immortal)
I read from the great feedback that either people know all about the Highlander or barely nothing….this part tells a little more in depth about Immortals. Anything that is wrong- sorry to the purist. I’m going on memory and a quick refreshing from episode guides.
Feedback:
Dedication: Dannyblue - Thanks for reading my spirited ideas- more importantly your encouragement.Part 42
“Maybe we should’ve stayed to at least say goodbye. It’s kind of rude, just leaving like that.” Cordelia fidgeted nervously in her seat.
“I left them my wallet.”
“Right.” Angel freely left his wallet, that was a bizarre thing, but no more bizarre than everything else that happened. She still was having a hard time believing it. Angel loved her. She loved him. It had been a lot easier to believe when she was in his arms. Then it felt so right. Now it just felt kind of weird and awkward. She sighed.
“Cordy?”
Cordelia’s gaze jerked towards his concerned one.
“Cordy, what is it?” Angel’s concern was turning quickly into real worry. Cordelia had said that she loved him but could she have changed her mind, had she realized how very little he had to offer her.
Cordelia gave a shaky smile, biting her lips. This was stupid. She shook her head. No more nervous awkwardness. Cordelia quickly scooted over closing the distance between her and Angel. Her hands going under the leather flaps of his coat, gripping around his waist, bringing her lips up to his neck. “You did say you loved me, right,” she whispered in between kisses.
The car served as Angel’s right arm shot around Cordelia’s waist pulling her body even closer. “Yes,” he tucked her knees into his lap molding her even more tightly against him. Relief poured into his body and mind. Cordelia hadn’t changed her mind. Was it possible that the touch of Cordelia’s hands, her moist breathy kisses, her love could make his heart beat. Because something was happening to him- his body tingled with more than desire but an electricity that gave impressions of life. Wishful thinking, he knew, he wasn’t alive, but it felt like it. His every sense was wrapped up in the woman huddled at his side, her ever sign of life became his. Cordelia was his life and his reason. God he loved her. Angel needed to be buried inside her warmth to extend the feeling make it last forever.
“You did say that your soul was permanent.” She licked up to the skin under his ear, lapping the fleshy tissue of his lope before trailing back down with her teeth.
“Cordy,” Angel growled jerking at the steering wheel.
“You didn’t?” she leaned her chin on his shoulder staring at him with changing hazel eyes. The dark couldn’t hide the flickers of gold and brown that graced her eyes from Angel’s.
“Cordy,” Angel growled as Cordelia started to nip again at his neck.
“Mmm.”
“You’re making it very difficult to drive.”
Cordelia scooted closer, her fingers plucking at the buttons of his shirt. “I was hoping to encourage you to be Mr. Speed Racer again. Just don’t get us killed or arrested.” She giggled into his shoulder.
“I’m already dead and you’re hard to kill.”
“Yeh, but think of all that time wasted.” She purred into his ear, her knee moving to straddle the vampire.
“Now, we could be killed.” Angel moaned as the heat of Cordy’s center seeped through the leather of her pants to scorch his body. He winced as he moved her off his lap. “Two minutes we’ll be home, three minutes we’ll be naked in bed. Patience.”
“Patience. This from the vampire that courted me by trying to kill my friend, make me jealous and then ravish me in an alley. Hmmph. Couldn’t wait for the flowers and poetry to take effect, uh” She slid to the passenger side, leaning up against the door. “It better be three minutes or I just might decide to get angry.”
Angel shot his hand out pulling Cordy back against him pressing the gas urging the vehicle to go faster. “It worked.” He risked taking his eyes off the road to nuzzle into her cheek.
“Kissing, puppy dog look, you think you got it all figured out, don’t you.” She cuddled further into his chest.
“You have two minutes left to be angry, you sure you want to waste them kissing me.”
“They’re angry kisses.” She whispered nipping and tonguing his jaw line. “Are we there yet?”
***
Cordelia laughed. Angel had been serious. Less than two minutes later she was naked on his bed. She really didn’t remember the disrobing; it started as soon as they reached the front door. Her coat was somewhere; she hoped it and her sword actually made it inside. She knew her shoes and pants ended up on the stairs with Angel’s coat and shirt. Her own shirt lasted until the hallway. Her lacy bra and underwear were somewhere on the floor by the bed.
Angel smiled, working the belt and zipper quickly. His boots were kicked off as the pants and boxers fell to the floor, his eyes never leaving the sprawled beauty on his bed. Finally. He felt like he had been waiting forever for this moment.
He had dreamt of her lying in his bed, covering him with her long gorgeous limbs even as far back as when Doyle was alive. Then he just shoved them off as sexual dreams of a beautiful woman that he had daily contact with. His dream state was still occupied by the slim form of Buffy. The dreams of Cordelia were the exception not the rule. Then days, months, years past with friendship, danger, fear and growing need. The dreams had become full fledged fantasizes, taking over most of his sleeping hours. The only break when Darla had shown up. What a waste of a good night sleep and fantasy hours that had been. Angel still cringed at how close he had come to losing everything of value. Angel should have realized sooner what those dreams of Cordelia heralded. His subconscious knowing of what his mind kept denying.
But Angel couldn’t be upset about the wait. The knowledge that Cordelia loved him, somehow, against the possible, it made the wait worth everything and the anticipation enough to kill.
Angel kneeled on the bed, his body sliding towards Cordelia’s smile. His gaze fixed on her eyes. So damn beautiful, so damn his. Nothing, no one would ever take her away from him.
“Angel?” Her laugher dying at the intensity of his stare.
“I don’t know where to start.”
“Insert A into slot B, is always good.”
Angel laughed moving closer, settling on his elbow to study the woman. His hand flickered out to touch the expansive golden skin before him. “Oh, Cordy that’s cheating.” He teased up to the underside of her breast, marveling in the feel of the weight playing against his fingertips. So smooth. So beckoning, but then so was the slight swell of her belly, strong muscles hidden over sweet flesh, his hand moved to test his theory. He breathed in, tasting the air for her scent as he confirmed the firmness under the delicate skin that his fingers could pluck and caress. Angel really didn’t know where to start, every part of her was enticing, her breast, her stomach, the indention of her waist, bringing the line of sight to the swell of her hips, the sweetness of the dark curls hiding the source of her heat, the curve of her thigh, the slope of the calf, the ankles, god, Cordelia even had gorgeous feet. Angel wasn’t even going too look at her face or delve into the thick fragrance that cried for him to take her completely. If he started in either place he was gone before he even started.
“Cheating?” Cordelia gasped.
“Cheating, going straight to the finish line without covering all the bases.”
“Bases?” Cordelia giggled. “God, you sound like Xander.”
Angel growled sitting up. “That was low. In the future never mention that moron’s name when you are naked. Better yet, just don’t ever mention him.”
Cordelia scooted up. “Pfft.” Cordy waved away his warning. “ He was all for the baseball analogy. Cordy let’s go to second base, how about third. Aw, strike out.”
“Second base? Third?”
“Geez, first base.” Cordelia demonstrated by kissing the vampire deeply, rolling her tongue in his mouth and along his lips. “ Second base, we kind of skipped as we’re naked, third, well, I’m willing to skip that and go straight for the home run.” She wiggled her hips closer to Angel’s.
“This third base, home run you did with Xander? Did you love him?”
Cordelia considered the question seriously. She thought she had. But had she? What she thought was love wasn’t anything like she was feeling now, like her life was somehow wrapped and intertwined with Angel, making her hurt when he hurt, sad when he was sad, smile when he smiled, begging to be the one to cause that smile, the need to feel him over her in her, possessing her, making her feel safe and loved with every caress and look.
Cordelia licked at her lips. “Maybe, but that’s not really fair, Angel. I’ve never questioned your love for Buffy, I’ve never belittled what she was too you. I bitched and complained but I never questioned that your feelings were real. Don’t do that to me.”
Angel reached out cupping her chin. “I love you, Cordy.”
“I know.” She smiled sadly.
“You don’t believe me.”
“I do. I…” Cordelia took a deep breath. “Weren’t we supposed to be making love about now?”
“Cordy, talk to me.”
Cordelia brought her knees to her chest, encircling them with her arms. “I’d rather be making love.” She said into her knees.
“Cordy,” Angel lifted her face, wondering what had turned the sensual, teasing woman into a frightened little girl.
“Hmmph,” Cordelia blew out a long resigned breath. “It’s nothing Angel, I just know that this wouldn’t be happening if Buffy were still alive. But, I’m okay with that, I love you.”
Angel leaned back. “I’m not okay with that. I love you Cordelia. YOU. This has been a long time in happening. I will freely admit that I loved Buffy, that her death was a harsh blow…”
“Angel,” Cordelia lifted her hand to his clenched jaw. “I know. I don’t expect you to deny that, you can’t. I know that.”
“No, Cordy, you don’t know. I LOVED Buffy, I mourned her death and the dream of something that was never to be, but even before she was died, I was thinking of her in my past, she was my past, when I thought of home, my future, I thought of you, not her. I loved her. If she was alive, I would still love her, but I wouldn’t need her like I need you, love her like I love you, you have become my life, my hope, my future, you are my best friend, not Buffy. If she showed up alive tomorrow, I would be happy, but it wouldn’t change anything, I love you.” Angel brushed at the tears squeezing out of Cordy’s eyes. “Cordy, this isn’t a rebound love or a comfort love, this…what I feel for you is real and all encompassing, I want…need you in my life always. And now, for us always can be a very long time and I want you there beside me, guiding me, loving me, giving me hope. Forever, Cordy, if you want.”
“Oh, I want.” Cordelia smiled as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
“Explore later, I need to be inside you now.” Angel whispered covering Cordelia’s body, kissing at the tear tracks along her cheek.
Cordelia leaned into the vampire, pulling him closer, adjusting her hips and thighs in an instinctual welcoming dance. Her hips rose from the bed as Angel’s hand brought her ass off the bed, bringing her closer.
Cordelia gasped, sighed, and keened as Angel filled her completely. Cordy’s long legs wrapped around the vampire’s waist urging for something more.
Angel growled as the heat encompassed him, the tightness was velvety smooth, the muscles clasping him in a soft perfect glove. It was so right. He almost didn’t want to move, just wanting to soak in the heat surrounding him, living through the beating heart against his chest and the gasping breaths against his cool skin. Some primeval instinct recognized that this is what it felt like to be alive.
“Angel.” Cordelia bit into his shoulder, her hips starting to jerk.
Oh god, the friction, this was truly life, the heat moving underneath him, teasing, welcoming, demanding, accepting. He stroked within the satin prison, wanting to stay forever but need caused him to move, to leave, to push, to only touch at the heaven, only to press back in making the glimpse of heaven the all more needed and desired. He wanted it all.
Cordelia’s fingernails scratched down the cool planes of Angel’s strong back, reveling in the twitch of muscle under each trail. She squeezed and pushed wanting needing more. “Angel.” She sucked and whispered into his neck.
The vampire growled, his hands, his fingers manipulating the small of her back lifting her off the bed as his thrusts became stronger, more frantic.
Cordelia’s mouth continued its advances on every piece of flesh she could taste.
“Cor.” Angel leaned up on his elbows.
Cordelia’s desire laden eyes blinked on the vampire. She struggled to squirm to do anything to get the movement back.
“Look at me.” Angel demanded.
Cordelia blinked again trying to focus.
“I love you only you, remember, know it, forever.” He demanded pushing his hips to move ramming his body further into Cordy’s, possessing her, forcing her to accept him deep inside. “Mine.” He growled driving in again.
Cordelia clutched at his broad shoulders, cognizant of the dryness against her sweaty fingers, but his skin was hot as if Angel had soaked up every part of her. She wanted to bring him closer, she wanted to break the unbearable tension in her nerves. Her womb was about to explode along with every part of her. She dug her nails into Angel’s skin trying to fight the devastation of her being, trying to keep her consciousness, trying to reach where she wanted to be, where she wanted Angel to be. Her hips moved faster, her channel tightening, her breath labored, her whimpers pressed against the flesh above her.
Angel’s kisses were feverish, tasting every inch of Cordelia’s face and neck, finally latching on the her lips. Sucking in her breath, and tasting her moans. Cordelia shouted out a silent scream as her body stilled the dam bursting flooding her with a high pleasure, it almost hurt in its intensity. Her body shuddered as her inner muscles clasped in a frantic rhythm, squeezing at Angel.
Angel growled slamming his hips into the velvet shuddering vice, he pushed deeper, his seed bursting in release. His body kept moving until there was nothing left to give except kisses. Angel rolled over taking Cordelia with him, his hands trailing gently up and down her spine, soothing the tremors that still flickered under her skin. Cordelia flopped down on his hard body, draping her tired arms and legs along his sides. “I love you.” She whispered into his neck. “I’m sleepy.” She yawned, kissing at his neck.
“I love you,” he brought his chin down against her hair. “And sleep.” He kissed the crown of her head gently.
Part 43
“Well, that was a load of fun.” Gunn unlocked the lobby door.
“I had fun.” Fred smiled rubbing at her face. “My nose still tickles.”
“You’re not going to be sick, are you?” Wesley asked concerned.
“Nope.” Fred swung her head back and forth. “I feel great.”
Methos came up to the young woman. “Would that because of the champagne or because a certain someone stayed in the bathroom for the remainder of the evening.”
Fred eyes lit up. “Both.” She giggled.
“You, Winfred Burkle, have a streak of meanness in you.” Methos smiled.
“Pooh.” She slid past him only to bump into a bent over Gunn. “Hey, that’s Cordy’s coat.” She pointed to the jacket that Gunn picked up.
“Yeah, it is.” Gunn looked around the darkened lobby. “Wes, man?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t think…they would…” he pointed around in the darkness.
“Only one way to find out.” Wesley braved turning on the main light. He gave a silent breath of relief at the empty lobby.
“Cordy and Angel must have already gone to bed.” Fred eye’s widened as she heard her words and looked again at the coat. “Of course they did,” she blushed.
“I say they did.” Gunn called from the stairs. He showed the others Angel's jacket and Cordelia's pants. "And in mighty hurry. Glad they made it out of the lobby at least,” he mumbled.
"Oh." Fred blushed again.
Gunn took a tentative step further up the stairs. “Here’s praying they actually made it up to the bedroom.” He picked up Angel’s shirt and Cordelia’s shoe. All except the Immortals followed him.
Wesley took a deep breath, squinting his eyes. They would’ve had to make it to the bedroom.
Fred crossed her fingers. She was happy for Angel and Cordelia but she didn't want to see the result of the strewn clothes.
Gunn let out a sigh of relief as he picked up Cordy's shirt outside Angel's closed door. "All clear. Hey," he complained as Gabriel pushed past him, running, screeching, bawling, and slamming the door to her room.
Fred shook her head mumbling, "Cordy forgot delusion and hysterical as well as skanky, whiny and forward.”
"Fred, she's just upset." Wesley gently chided.
"She’s been crying in the bathroom all night. Give me a break.”
"Fred, she thought Angel was attracted to her."
"Like I said-delusion. She's just not normal."
"I suggest we all go to bed." Wesley sighed. "What is it, Gunn?"
The black man stood in the middle of the hallway, the discarded clothes in a buddle in his arms, high heeled boots hanging ridicioulsy from under his arms. "What do I do with these?"
"I wouldn't suggest knocking and giving them to Angel or Cordy."
"There's a great idea, man, why didn't I think of it." Gunn snorted.
"Just put them down, they'll get them in the morning."
"Good enough for me." Gunn dropped his armful of cast off clothes in front of Angel's door.
***
Methos glanced over at Duncan. “Smart and not one to waste time.” He shook his head. “I think you can skip verifying whether Cordy actually wants to stay with Angel.”
Duncan gave a small laugh.
“Duncan?”
“I’m okay, I can’t deny that I still have some problems with a vampire making her happy. But….I can’t deny the obvious either. I’m going to bed.” Duncan turned. “Tomorrow, you’re going to tell me why it’s so important that we remain here.”
***
Angel hugged Cordy's body closer, his gaze fixed at the door.
He looked down at the chestnut tousled head nudging his chest. "What's so exciting about the door?” She rubbed her face along the defined muscles before looking up.
"I thought you were tired."
She scooted over him, resting her chin on her hands so she peered down at him. "I've rested. So?"
"Everyone's home. They found our clothes."
Cordelia's eyes widened. "OH shit." she buried her head back into his chest. "I forgot about them." She mumbled.
Angel chuckled as he felt the heat of her blush seeping into his skin.
She leaned up smacking him lightly on the chest. "It's not funny. They're all going to know that we…we..."
"Put A in slot B? I don't think it was much of a secret." Angel chuckled again, diving his fingers in the tangled dark silk.
"Oooh, you" She grabbed at his ear lobes tugging playfully.
"Me? What'd I do?" He asked innocently then flipped her on her back. "So, Cordy, you're rested?"
Cordelia's fingers left the vampire's ears to scratch lightly up and down his neck. "What did you have in mind?” She stared back into the brown eyes.
Angel drew a slow caress down her side. "Sliding A into slot B" He whispered nuzzling at the tender spot behind her ear.
"Slide away."
Part 44
Angel woke to a thump, thump, the serene steady beat echoed against his chest, the warmth covered him; the scent flowed around him further waking his senses. Peace, contentment, desire washed over him as he identified the source of his happiness.
Angel gently disentangled the limbs that surrounded him. He winced at his own actions. The signs of life that had been so intimately pressed against him were gone. Suddenly, he felt like the dead cold being he was, except it was okay because he still smelled the fragrance, his body still vibrated with the remembrance of the gentle thumbing, the warmth still coated him and Cordelia was still lying in his bed.
Cordelia squirmed trying to regain her comfort. The hard body was gone, the smooth surface that felt so wonderful that captured her and held her close as she buried further into it, was gone. She felt so alone. She grumbled turning back to where she had felt safe.
Angel sighed and moved Cordelia again, smiling as her sleeping face changed from peacefulness to annoyance. Sleepy, mumbled complaints came out of her lips as she resisted being moved. She reached again.
“Cordy,” he whispered pushing her gently on her back.
The young woman groaned in her sleep, she didn’t want to wake up. Her dream had been so real and wonderful. She squeezed her eyes tighter, hoping that the on-coming conscious would fade away. She squirmed. Her comfort place was gone. Cordelia wanted it back. She grunted and squeezed one eye open. What she saw brought the dream crashing back, except it wasn’t dream. That knowledge made her more desperate to get back to her safety zone. “Angel,” she pouted trying to drape her long leg across the vampire.
“No, Cordy,” He pushed her leg back down.
“Angel?” She blinked up.
Angel quickly planted a kiss on her scrunched up nose, tracing to her drowsy questioning eyes. “Shh, baby.” He rubbed noses with the woman. “We cheated last night.” He whispered rubbing his cheek against hers, “now we won’t.” He licked and nipped with blunt teeth at her jaw.
“Angel?”
“Shh, just relax, let me touch you.” His forefinger laid a tender path down her forehead, gracing the slope of her nose, to the fullness of her lips, to rest on her chin.
Cordelia’s mind was finally fully awake as was her body. “You did, a lot, really well.”
Angel chuckled. “It was too quick, Cordy, this time we’ll have all the time in the world.”
Cordelia scrunched up her brow. “It wasn’t that quick, any of the times."
“It was too quick.” Angel leaned up rubbing his thumbs under the weight of her breast. “Now it’s time to explore.” He leaned into whisper against her lips. “Come on, Cordy, please, you said I didn't know everything about you, let me learn now, let me touch you, taste you."
Cordelia licked her lips, her voice muffled, anticipation burning in her belly. "Why are you asking, do, do, just do. Geez, action vamp has turned into talky vamp.” She turned wiggling to her side to get closer.
Angel pushed her back. “To ‘do’ just right you have to stay still.”
“Oh.” Cordelia’s anticipation burst into hot flames, conflicting with the slight chill of the morning air.
“That’s better.” Angel all but growled. His broad hand made a smooth trail from Cordelia’s neck, weaving its way around and down her collar bone, his other hand reached between Cordelia’s inner thighs nudging them wide and urged her long legs into a bent position, his eyes never leaving Cordelia’s.
Angel’s eyes had turned almost black, the teasing smile that had been chuckling gone, his lips in a straight line. Cordelia shivered. That wasn’t an expression she had seen before on Angel. It wasn’t the tender, loving, desirous one of the night before, it was unrelenting, eyes that missed nothing, saw everything, they were predator’s eyes, one that had targeted its prey and wasn’t ever going to let it escape. Cordelia felt helpless and unprotected under the gaze. “Angel?” she gulped.
“Shush, relax, trust me baby.” He settled on his knees in between the triangle made by Cordelia’s legs.
Cordelia heard the roughness in his voice, a growl actually. She also saw the flicker of a sweet smile and the love shinning through the darkness of the orbs. She smiled. “I do, always.” She let out a deep breath, letting her body melt into the mattress concentrating on the contrast between the toughness of Angel’s palm, hardened from years of fighting and weapon use, against the softness of her skin.
Angel’s hand joined the other one in exploring Cordelia’s collarbone, tracing the hard bone that peaked under the skin, evidencing the strength under her femininity. Everywhere Angel touched, it was the same, a lushness of delicacy covering toned muscle. Every part of her body begged to be touched. Angel had never doubted that Cordelia was beautiful that her body was beautiful, but it was even more than his imagination allowed. His hand covered a breast, so soft, so perfect. Angel leaned into the nipple that strained for attention. He lapped at the darker skin, twirling his tongue, bringing blunt teeth over its peak. He held down Cordelia by the belly as her hips jerked in the air.
Cordelia whimpered as he moved to the next breast, her hands trying to intertwine with the dark hair over her. But Angel wouldn’t stay still. He moved down, settling his hands on her belly. His thumbs and fingers spread wide covering to her waist. This was a woman’s body, full and luscious, toned and strong. It was a body that controlled men, turned the course of history, a body that men had killed for over the centuries.
It was his. She was his. The strength, the courage, the love were his-he would kill for it and die for it.
Angel covered her body, rubbing his scent on every inch as he tasted and absorbed hers.
“Angel,” Cordelia pleaded. She felt lost, safe, alone, a part of something bigger, pleasured, loved, possessed.
Angel responded with a low growl, his mouth fixing on her center as her legs were brought over his shoulders.
Cordelia gasped twisting her fist into the sheets. All contrary thoughts fled as an intense pleasure weaved and danced throughout her body, each nerve bursting alternating pushing up against her skin trying to escape from the barrier of flesh.
Cordelia gasped tears forcing there way out her tightly closed eyes. “ANGEL.” She fell back, her muscles shuddering in an unrecognizable pattern.
Angel stayed where he was drinking in the pleasure of Cordelia, trying to taste all of it, to take all of it into his body. Slowly, as his hands petted and calmed the trembling flesh, he moved back up the body that enthralled him, planting small kisses.
Cordelia gulped and brought up her head tentatively, her hand reaching out. “Join me.”
Angel raised his head from the cushion of her breast, moving quickly now, to capture her lips, swollen by her clenched teeth. His tongue thrust and soothed. With an aching need Angel slid into Cordelia’s waiting warmth, relishing the inner muscles that welcomed him, the long legs that gripped at his hips, both urging him and accepting him.
Tears came back to Cordelia as she slowly moved with Angel making the act of sex something more than lovemaking. It was everything. She knew then that she would never feel lost and alone ever again. Because she was a part of something bigger, she was a part of Angel because he did love her and he had possessed her in a way that made it impossible to deny that she was his. Cordelia would have to return the favor soon. “I love you.” She whispered into the body that had fallen hard into hers at the last growl and thrust.
Gone was the dark gaze of a predator only the wondrous gaze of a man that never believed that he was worthy of such love.
Cordelia cradled Angel’s head into her breast, accepting the weight over her body; it was that dichotomy of the man- vampire that had melted her heart long ago.
Part 45
Lilah looked up at handsome lawyer leaning against her the doorway of her office.
“You rang.”
“Things have hit a snag.”
“Really.” Lindsey with a smooth grace molded his body into the chair facing Lilah. “And.”
“Angel has a permanent soul and he and Cordelia Chase have become lovers.” Lilah tapped the desk in irritation.
“You used a red alert to tell me that Angel’s now out of the dating pool, not like he was a player before.” Lindsey swung out of the chair.
“Lindsey, our plan was….”
“No, that was your particular plan. I never thought it work. Granted didn’t have any clue about the soul permanency thing- but still, just because Angel’s only meaningful relationships were with blonde women, doesn’t mean he’d fall into bed with the next one that showed up.” Lindsey held up his plastic hand. “I told you, his feelings for Cordelia were injurious if not fatal. And believe it or not the vampire has standards, its not just hair color and a rack that turns him on.” Lindsey shook his head at Lilah. “I understand why you may have been fooled by the blonde thing, but the other- you saw Darla. Have you seen a picture of the slayer? Neither could be models in the breast ‘R’ us category.”
“She was the only one that was blonde and fit the necessary requirements- what man doesn’t like breast.”
“Those aren’t breast, Lilah, they’re weapons. I thought women were all catty about that distinction.”
“Right, what you know about women consists of your sister and a blonde vampire.”
“And you know nothing about men, especially vampires if you really thought that would get into his bed.”
“I wasn’t expecting a romantic love tale, just a romp in the sack to further separate Chase and Angel.”
“Well, we got a romantic love tale that is guaranteed to cement the seer and warrior.” Lindsey paced. “Is that it?”
“Isn’t that enough.”
“No. Do they know anything about our plans? Have they identified Gabriel as one of ours or do they still think she’s Angel’s seer.”
“Gabriel is still viable on that end.”
“Well, that’s the one that is important. As long as they still think she is the seer and Cordelia believes she isn’t then the plan can proceed. Who cares who Angel is sleeping with?”
“It will make it harder to get Chase alone. The senior partners won’t be happy.”
“Tell them the truth, in this one case it will work. Lilah, Cordelia has been alone for over three months, Angel off somewhere. But our silent partner controlled the timetable of taking Cordelia not us- the senior partners agreed. But, we’ve placed a person inside his camp without detection. We did well. Even if the original plan fails, that would be to our advantage indefinitely. How long will your big headed freak last.” He pointed to the man with the bulging, pulsating, veined brain floating over Lilah’s coffee table.
Lilah rolled her eyes. “Until the money runs out. And the strategically placed ‘blonde’ infiltrator was all me, don’t forget that.”
“Whatever. Keep big head happy- brain hijackers don’t grow on trees.” Lindsey smirked to Lilah has he left the office.
Part 46
“Coffee?” Fred finally said as she leaned into Wesley’s office.
Wesley looked up from the Baba Yaga text. “That would be lovely. Thank you.”
Fred smiled and hurried to the counter. Gunn followed her. “Did Wes tell you what’s so important about that book?”
“No. I offered to help on the computer but he didn’t even hear me, heard about the coffee though,” Fred held up the pot.
“It makes me nervous when he goes into that lone research mode, bad things follow.”
“You’re right.” Fred looked at the blonde approaching them. Her eyes red and her hair messed in an artificial way. Fred wouldn’t be surprised if the woman had been rubbing raw onions on her face to get that perfect red rimmed suffering look.
“Morning.” Gunn waved.
Fred hmmphed barely looking at the woman again, she focused on pouring Wesley’s coffee.
“Is that for me.” Gabriel gave a sad smile.
“Ah, no. It’s for Wesley, he’s been up for hours translating that Baba Yaga book Methos' been reading. Get your own."
“Babba who?” Gabriel moved closer.
“The book that Methos and Duncan were looking for- for their friend- a witch’s book, have you not listened to anything except your own whining voice.”
“Fred.” Gunn shrugged.
“What?” Fred tore open the sugar packet.
“I thought…didn’t they send that to their friend? I thought I heard Methos say something about the price of sending it to Russia.”
“A copy. Wesley didn’t want to give up the book.” Fred stirred the white powder into the dark liquid.
“Oh. He has is it still?” Gabriel stood. “Well, I need to talk to Wesley, he’s always been nice to me, unlike some I don't care to mention.” She grabbed the mug out of Fred’s hand. “I’ll just take his coffee to him.”
“Why that….” Fred glared.
“Hey, I'm nice to her." Gunn puzzled.
Fred shot the black man a glare.
Both jumped as Wesley let out a loud yell.
Gunn and Fred ran to the doorway. “Wes,” they both called.
Wesley was standing one hand brushing his pants and the other valiantly trying to shake off the coffee that was quickly saturating the ancient page he had been studying.
“What happened?” Fred quickly went in.
“It was my fault.” Gabriel stood wringing her hands crying. “I…I had a vision and I dropped the coffee, I’m so sorry Wesley. It just hurt so much,” she sniffled.
“It was an accident,” Wesley tried to keep the anger out of his voice. “The vision,” he continued to shake the book for a moment. “Fred, please get me a cloth.”
Fred ran bumping straight into Methos.
“Whoa.” Methos held the girl by the shoulders.
“I’ve got to go, klutzy Gabby just ruined your old book.” She shook off the Immortals arm.
“The Baga Yaga text?”
“Yeah.” Fred ran towards the kitchen.
Methos went into the office. “Wesley?”
The watcher looked up showing the Immortal the page. All the ink ran together creating a nifty Rorschach test if that was what was intended.
“Shit.” Methos leaned back. “Did you finish it?”
“Mostly, and we need to talk.” Wesley glared, then turned to Gabriel. “Your vision.”
“You finished, so I didn’t mess up so badly,” she said with a hopeful smile.
“I told you not to worry, it was an accident.”
"What happened?" Duncan came up.
“Excuse me.” Fred pushed through, bringing the kitchen towel to Wesley.
“Thank you, but,” he held up the blackened smeared passage.
“Oh.” Fred glared at the blonde.
“I didn’t mean to.”
“Not in important for now. Gabriel has had a vision. Please, Gabby.”
“Right,” Gabby bit at her lips, heaved her breast and twirled her hair. “Vampires.”
“And? Are they playing outside, it’s 10 am.” Fred crossed her arms still glaring.
Gabriel blinked her glare away. “Um, of course it wasn’t outside if you let me finished I would have said that a small child is trapped in the sewers and a bunch of vampires are about to kill him.” Gabriel glared and crossed her arms.
“A child?” Fred stood straighter. “I’ll go get Angel.”
Wesley nodded. “Gunn, please the map.”
“On it.” Gunn was back in less than a few seconds. He quickly draped the sewer map over Wesley’s desk.
“Gabriel, we are here.” Wesley pointed to a big X, “now where were the vampires.”
The blond sucked on her tongue. “I’m pretty sure there.” She pointed to a far point away. “Yeah, I’m sure.” She nodded with more confidence.
Part 47
Cordelia broke away from Angel’s kiss and leaned up from her position on his chest resting her chin on her fist. “I’ve decided something.” She spoke her brow wrinkled as in great thought.
“You have?” Angel hands smoothly descended to rest on the small of her back. “Do I even want to know?”
Cordelia shrugged a smile flickering on her lips.
“Are you going to tell me?”
Cordelia peered at the vampire, her expression one of exaggerated seriousness. “I have decided,” she paused dramatically. “Ow.” She pouted as Angel lightly smacked her bottom.
“You were saying.” He cocked his brow.
“Hmmph. I was going to say that I may have decided that you could touch and taste anytime you wanted, but now I’m rethinking.”
The sharp urgent knocks at the bedroom door interrupted any retort Angel was about to make. “Angel, Angel.” Fred's voice filtered through the wood. “Angel, Cordy, Gabby Ho had a vision, child in sewer, vampires, now. Please and sorry.”
Angel groaned. Cordelia pushed at him. “Answer the door.” She swung her feet off the bed.
“Where are…?”
“Answer the door.” Cordelia shot over her shoulder as she shut the bathroom door.
Angel grabbed at his pants, stepping into them as he strode to the door.
Fred jumped as Angel swung the door open.
“How soon?”
“Soon.” Fred gulped. “Sorry,” she peeked around Angel. Her eyes flitted around the room. “Where’s Cordy, I thought…”
“Bathroom. I’ll be right down.” Angel moved to close the door.
Fred was still peering under his shoulder.
“Fred.”
Fred shot up. “Right. Wesley’s is trying to pin point the location now, and then…”
“Fred,” Angel nudged the girl further into the hall.
Fred finally looked up and down at the vampire. “You want to get dressed. Okay, Bye, see ya.” She backed up and then ran towards the vampire. “I’m really happy for you and Cordy.” She beamed, turning on her heel and running back down the stairs.
Angel shook his head, and then looked down. He bent down and picked up his and Cordy’s clothes that had been dumped near the door. He tossed them in the corner and grabbed a shirt from the closet. He looked back at the closed bathroom door.
“Cordy.” He walked through the empty bathroom into her room. “What are you doing?”
Cordelia looked up, pulling her jeans on and grabbing for a shirt. “Vision, child, sewer, vampires.” She strode to her dresser picking up a rubber band pulling her hair in a small ponytail. “Hurry up,” she nodded to the vampire’s bare feet and open shirt.
“You’re not going.” Angel stood firmly in the bathroom doorway.
Cordelia raised a brow. “Putty in your hands maybe, tell me what to do- no way.” She smiled pulling on her boots.
“Cordy.”
“Angel, you’re being stupid. I’ve fought vampires way before I actually knew how to use a sword. So, hurry up, don’t waste time on a losing argument.” She hooked her elbow under the vampire’s arm a tugged him back through the bathroom.
Angel growled.
Cordelia rolled her eyes. “Did you really think declaring your undying or is it dead love, whatever, would change things.” She smiled. “Hurry up.” She pushed him on the bed throwing some socks.
“I could always hope,” Angel grumbled pulling on his socks and boots.
Part 48
Angel kept trying to explain to Cordelia why she couldn’t go with him on the vision but the young woman refused to act rationally and listen to his compelling reasons. She kept saying ‘yada yada yada’ over and over again as she opened and closed her hand repeatedly in the universal sign of too much unwanted talking.
“Cordy, stop that.” Angel grabbed at the motioning hands, fed up with her ridiculing his repeated concerns and orders.
Cordelia turned on the lower step of the stairs. “No, not until you stop. Get over it, Angel. I’m going, live with it, deal with it and move on to something I’ll listen too, like,” she snaked her arm under his. “How much you love me, trust me, and value my contributions.” She beamed.
Angel glared. “Just because you say that you love me doesn’t mean that I’ll let you walk all over me or ignore me.”
“Pleeaase, Angel. I’ve always done that. Pfft.” She graced his cheek with a kiss.
Incorrigible. Angel fought hard against the quirking of his lips or acknowledging the truth of her statement in any manner. He signed in resignation. “Fine, but duck.”
“Pooh, Angel, you’re the only vampire that I know that carries a sword.”
***
Angel went straight to the weapons cabinet as Cordelia scanned the floor. “Has any one seen my sword? I might’ve dropped it last night when…” Cordelia blushed. “I might have dropped it.”
Duncan held the blade up.
“Oh, thanks.” She hid it competently under the back of her black jacket. “So Fred said vampires? How many?”
Gabriel came forward. “Only a few. I don’t think everyone will be needed,” she looked at Duncan and Methos. “But you can go, Cordelia.”
Cordy narrowed her eyes at the blonde. “Why?”
Gabriel crossed arms over her ample chest. “Because, there are a few and a small boy at stake and you would force your way into going anyway.” She retorted.
Cordelia narrowed her eyes at the blonde then turned towards Methos and Duncan. “I agree that you shouldn’t go.”
“Cordy.” Duncan started.
“No, Duncan. You and Methos have been a great help, needed when Angel wasn’t here, but now he is. I can’t expect you to risk your lives anymore. This is our job, our mission.”
Duncan started to speak again when Wesley stopped him. “Actually, you and Methos would be of help if you could take this,” he held out the Baba Yaga text,” to Walter, he has methods to repair damage to texts, possibly he could fix this.” He cringed somewhat as he looked down at the coffee ruined pages.
Methos smacked Duncan’s arm for urging agreement. “Okay.”
Fred bit her lips looking around the lobby, Gunn was stashing stakes in his jacket, Wesley was searching the weapon’s cabinet, Angel and Cordelia were waiting near the door, and Methos and Duncan were getting their jackets. Gabriel was back to sniffling at Wesley’s comments about the book.
”Can I go with you,” she said before the thought was completely formed. Fred amazed herself at her words. Hospital and Caritas aside, she hadn’t really left the hotel before, but the idea of staying alone with Gabriel was rapidly washing away any nervousness she may have been feeling.
“You sure?” Methos knew that Fred had been hesitant about going out into the world.
Fred looked again at the blonde. “Definitely.”
***
“What is it Cordy?” Angel looked over at the pensive young woman. She shrugged and continued her brisk pace.
"Cordy?” Angel was getting slightly unsettled; Cordelia hadn’t said a word since they entered the sewers.
Cordelia paused taking a deep breath. “Why did the blonde bimbo want me to come with you, she should be all about ‘you aren’t need, you aren’t suppose to here’, not go, go, go, with OH Angel.”
Wesley called from behind. “She explained that already and after last night she had to realize that seer or not, she wasn’t keeping you and Angel apart.”
“Like she could, blonde floozy and why did she want to, nevermind- I know why she wanted to – she wanted to get into Angel’s pants.”
“Cordy,” Wesley sighed. “Angel was a playing it a bit strong last night, she had reason to believe that he was interested in her.”
“I was not.” Angel turned offended.
Cordy swirled to face the vampire. “You were too, you were all about peering down her dress. Prev.”
“I told you it was self-preservation, duck, and avoid” He pleaded and then turned to glare at Wesley. “Shut up.”
Wesley ignored the vampire. “Please, Cordy, there is nothing sinister about Gabby’s actions. She just realized that you were going to go, it’s not like anyone could’ve talked you out of coming. I’m sure Angel tried already.”
Angel shuffled looking at his feet, mumbling, " yada, yada, yada," and open and closed his hand repeatedly, "Fat lot of good it did."
Cordelia stared a moment at the face-making vampire. "God, you are just a baby sometimes."
"Am not."
"Are to."
"Hey, you did it first."
"Because I had a reason, you were being yady, yady stupid. Now you're just being a baby."
"I am not."
"Are to."
"Glad to see that doing the freaky freaky didn't put the halt to all that adult bickering, I would've missed that." Gunn rolled his eyes at the couple. "Can we get back to tramping through the sewer? Small child to save."
Wesley spared the black man a glance. "Freaky freaky," he silently mouthed.
Gunn shrugged.
Wesley shook his head. "Cordy," ", interrupting another bout of am not - are to.
“What? Oh, I don't know about Gabby Ho, she tried to get me killed before.” Cordelia huffed.
“Cordy,” Wesley rolled his eyes. “That was a mistake, you know that.”
“Hmmph.” Cordelia resumed her pace.
Part 49
“Another up date on the Cordy-Angel sex escapades?” Lindsey stood in the doorway.
Lilah waved the other lawyer in as she continued to talk on the phone.
Lindsey sat down listening to Lilah’s side of the conversation.
“Oh for god sakes, we don't have time for you to go searching school yards and parks for a small boy, get a shape shifter. We're in a hurry. Lilah rolled her eyes. “Yes, I said vampires. Are you new? We've them on payroll, you idiot, check with personnel. And make sure they understand their instructions- Wyndham-Price must die and Cordelia Chase must be captured. The others I don’t care about, the priority is Wyndham-Price and the girl. I said we're in hurry that means NOW.” She hung up.
“Interesting conversation.” Lindsey cocked a brow.
“Vision.” She shook her head.
Lindsey turned to the bigheaded brain pulsating man mediating above the floor. “I thought, big head freak was orchestrating those, leaving us with plenty enough time to set them up.”
Lilah shrugged. “Gabriel contacted him. She had to create a diversion. So she made up a vision. At least she didn’t concoct an apocalypse.”
“No, just the death of a child. Wonderful.”
“Is that compassionate disapproval, I hear? Don't worry we can't get a small boy on time."
Lindsay rolled his eyes. “What’s the deal with Wyndham-Price, why do we want him dead now? And we have the green light to take Cordelia?”
"Yes and yes."
"The reason?"
"It seems that the book that wasn't a concern to our Immortal has now become one.” Lilah shook her head.
"What book?"
"The one she didn't tell us about, the one that Wyndham-Price and the really old Immortal have been studying for the last few months, or at least the Immortal has but Wyndham-Price was getting interested. It seems that our Immortal didn't foresee that somebody would actually read it, even though she knew Angel Investigations had the original. Amateurs." Lilah said in disgust.
"The book?"
"The text of Baba Yaga."
"The witch of Hazel and Gretal fame?"
"You aren’t just a pretty face are you?"
Lindsay rolled his eyes. "What's so important about an ancient eastern European witch?"
"I don't know, our partner is silent, except that now everything is on rush order. I've got research pulling up everything on the witch."
"What do you need me for?"
"I've got my hands full staging a vision. You need orchestrate the acquisition of the original book. It's being taken to that Bandox demon's shop for repair."
"Easy enough."
"Um, Lindsay, two Immortals with swords are carrying it."
"Less easy, but doable.” Lindsay commented as he left.
Part 50
“Wow, there’s a lot a people out on Saturday afternoon,” Fred hung over the passenger car door, taking in the sight of people milling along the promenade. She frowned and looked towards both Duncan and Methos. “I guess you’ll knew that, uh, maybe, I don’t know, I should get out more.” She bit her lip in a self-depreciating gesture. “Still little nervous, I guess,” she shrugged apologetically.
Methos leaned up. “Fred, when you’re ready, you’ll be fine and you’re getting close, aren’t you. You’re out now.” He said encouragingly.
“Yeah, I am.” She smiled tentatively. “I am.” She said with more confidence. “I’ve never been in a magic book shop before, they don’t have that in Texas. I never even believed magic existed,” she shrugged, and giggled with more self-deprecation. “Whoa, silly me.” She laughed, looking back out at the various people walking about. “They don’t even know that’s so mind boggling. More so than Imaginary Time, which was pretty mind boggling before I just had to accept that time could be measured by using imaginary numbers- imaginary numbers- magic, you just have to accept some things.“ Fred looked straight at Methos. “ Do you think that I’ll figure this all out? I want to, I want to help Angel, Cordy, Wesley and Gunn, they all are so brave, I want to be like them.”
Methos smiled gently. “You already are, Fred.”
Fred gave a quirky unsure smile and leaned back out the window.
***
“Wow, this doesn’t look like any magic shop that I know of, well, I don’t know any but still I thought, I don’t know, maybe it would be darker, more something, you know, dark stuff, eerie lights, spooky, this looks like a cross from the Barnes and Noble and the general store in my home town. I would’ve never known, well, except for that,” Fred pointed to the small symbol discreetly in the corner of the glass window. “I recognized that, it’s on all the bags Wesley brings home, it’s a sign that it’s an occult shop, a real one, not a tourist one.” Fred nodded happily that she saw something the felt comfortable with.
Duncan was the first to react, jerking as a bullet hit him in the chest. Methos turned at the loud bang moving in front of Fred, the book secure under his arm. He was pushed back the one bullet turned into a burst of fire, shards of glass flying out and around them. Methos flinched as two bullets hit him, one in the leg the other the stomach, he swirled around grabbing Fred, throwing her on the ground and covering her with his body.
Fred’s scream choked in her throat as she slammed her hands over her ears to keep the repetitive loud sounds out of her head. She squeezed her eyes against her tears as Methos’ body covered hers, jerking and jumping at each earsplitting blast. Fred wanted to scream, but Plyea had taught her to keep quiet. She flinched as she felt warm liquid saturating her back. She tried to open her eyes. Fred immediately closed them as she saw figures in black approach, weapons in hand. Where were the police? Where was someone? Anyone? She opened her eyes peeking under Methos dead weighted arm that covered her head. Numbers. Fred concentrated on the license plate of the van that sped off with the shooters and the book as Methos’ dead weight pushed her into the concrete and into unconsciousness.
Part 51
“How much longer, Jesus, did Gabby map out to the other side of town.” Gunn groaned as he pulled up a muck-coated boot. “Don’t see why we couldn’t have drove.”
Cordelia slumped her shoulders spinning to face the black man, her brows at a dangerous angle. “Daylight, hero dust, burnt to a crisp. DUH.”
”I get it, back up, evil woman,” Gunn raised both hands in front of him. “I’m just saying us daylight folks could’ve taken the car, vamp guy could enjoyed the wonders of the sewer.”
Wesley stepped up, pushing Cordelia behind him. “That’s not quite accurate, Charles, Gabriel’s map is best understood from this position.” Wesley pointed to the mess of paper he held before him.
“Yeah, but where next, the boy, is a dead boy if we keep wandering the sewers.”
“Don’t say that, we’ll find him.” Cordy twirled fixing Gunn with a true lethal glare.
“Okay,” Gunn backed up. “Wes, where next?”
“From the map, that way,” he pointed to the left.
In a group Wesley, Gunn, Cordelia and Angel, surged forward, Angel taking the lead.
***
The group entered a wide convergence in the sewer tunnels. They all looked to the various choices of paths to take.
“Okay, which behind the door,” Gunn raised his axe.
Angel jerked his head, pulling out his sword. “All of t hem.” He swung as vampires poured from every opening.
“Shit.” Gunn swung his sharpened fine point bat, banging and pushing at the attacking vampire.
Wesley expertly pulled out a crossbow shooting and automatically replenishing the weapon quickly.
Cordelia’s sword was out, swinging and taking heads, she jumped back as dust settled around her feet.
Angel moved his sword was gone for now, it had a vampire speared to the sewer wall. He moved quickly, dusting the two before him, a stake in both demons’ dead heart. He turned, grabbing his sword, as the vampire fell to the ground, Angel swiped at the vampires'neck, and more dust fell on him.
Angel took a second, focusing on Cordelia. She was battling two vampires. Their attacks kept at bay by her sword. Angel ran grabbing one and ripping the other's head from his shoulder. Cordy yelled as more vampires croweded her. "Angel, Wesley.” She yelled pushing at ugly demon that was in her face. "Angel," she yelled as she was dragged out of the of the fight. Cordy tried, but the blow that smacked her, was causing her head to vibrated.
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