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 63
Gunn wanted to ask how in the hell Cordelia had a vision. But judging from the tense silence of the vampire Angel wouldn’t be receptive to anyone questioning the young woman just yet or ever.
Shit. Cordelia wasn’t supposed to be getting those damn things anymore. Gabriel was Angel’s seer not Cordy. But, Gunn couldn’t deny that Cordy's screaming; clutching her head, writhing on the floor had all the hallmarks of a vision, a particularly bad one at that. It had been so long, Gunn almost forgot what they had been like for Cordy.
Gabriel had, did whine a lot about the visions hurting, but they were never were as devastating as Cordelia’s had been. Wesley had said it because Gabriel was half Brack-something demon, like Angel’s first seer, lessening the pain and giving her the ability to survive the visions.
Well, Gunn wanted things to remain as they were, Cordelia may have been upset when she lost the visions, but it hadn’t bothered him any, just like he knew it hadn’t bothered Wesley or Angel. The visions had been killing her. None of the men had wanted her to suffer like that again. Gunn, like everyone, had been silently pleased that the visions were no longer Cordelia’s burden, would no longer cause her any pain no matter how much she complained that her Immortality would keep her safe
Gunn didn’t give a shit about Immortals’ miraculous healing abilities, he had been in the room when Methos had told them that the only human seer he knew of got her head blown out. How in the hell does some one, even an Immortal, survive that? Fuck.
Methos jerked as Gunn’s shoulder knocked into the Immortal as the black man’s fist smacked at the steering wheel.
“Sorry, man.” Gunn grunted.
Methos merely nodded recognizing that the black man’s silent outburst had everything to do with the woman in the back seat. Methos looked over to Duncan. The other Immortal expression was tense. Methos wondered if the Highlander’s preoccupation had to do with Cassandra or Cordelia. Methos decided he didn’t want to ask. Methos got the distinct impression that either topic would not be welcomed by the vampire who would definitely overhear.
Duncan was still stunned by the scene of Cordelia crying on the ground in pain. Duncan couldn’t imagine a pain that could cripple her so. In the time that he had known Cordelia, she had faced every change, every task, and every battle with courage, strength, and humor. Nothing broke her, not her death, not her new destiny, but whatever happened inside her head had. If that was what being Angel’s seer entitled, Duncan had to find a way to stop it. The idea of Cordelia facing that pain on a regular basis was unpalatable.
Cordelia was grateful for the silence. But she was more grateful for the vampire holding her. Cordelia wasn’t naïve. She knew what standing on the sidelines watching her battle with Cassandra had cost the vampire. Just has she known what his continuing silence was doing to him now. When she thought about it, truly thought about it - it was amazing how much Angel would do for her, curbing his instincts, who he was, because she had asked him to.
Cordelia glanced down at the hand holding hers. She took her free hand brushing at the fingers intertwined with hers. So, strong, so gentle. She gazed up at the brown eyes, giving a slight smile. “I love you,” she said softly having to give Angel that at least when she knew he wanted so much more.
Angel leaned in cupping her chin. “Whatever it is, it will be okay.” He whispered, his voice deep with reassurance.
Cordelia gave a small chuckle. “You’ll fix it?”
“I’ll….”
Cordelia drew his hand away. “You can’t, I wish you could.” She said sadly, separating their hands going back to her spot on the other side of the car.
Angel swallowed his growl not wanting to accept that there was something else out there that he couldn’t protect Cordelia from. Angel had to know what had gotten Cordelia so upset. “Cor….” he stopped as the determined hazel eyes locked on to his.
Cordelia was deliberating shutting him out. Her sadness and tears were gone, replaced by anger and a coldness that he had never seen before. Before he could say anything else she was out of the car heading into the hotel.
Part 64
“Cordy,” Fred blinked up from the lobby counter. “Wesley,” she called as she ran towards the young woman. “Angel found you. What happened? You’re okay? Wesley.” She called again.
“Cordelia?” Wesley came out of his office.
Cordelia turned at the sound of his voice. A true genuine smile took over her face. She hurried over to her friend and watcher. “I always knew that you were too untasty to be dinner.” Cordelia raised her hand, her fingers flitting over the gauze tapped to his throat. “You’re okay, right?” Her eyes shot up to Wesley’s.
Wesley nodded temporarily silenced by the tenderness and worry apparent in the young woman’s eyes. Cordelia really did have beautiful eyes. “You?”
“Long story. You could’ve died.” Her concerned happy eyes squinted into dark slits. “You could’ve died.” She repeated.
“Cordy.” Wesley puzzled at his friend’s change in demeanor.
Cordelia turned her gaze going to the stairs of the lobby. “Gabriel, you have your coat on…and a bag, were you planning to leave us?”
Gunn hurried over to Wesley. “Some major weird shit just happened.” He whispered.
Wesley turned. “She’s alright?”
“Who the fuck knows? Maybe Angel, “ Gunn tipped his head at the silent vampire that was attentively shadowing Cordelia’s every movement. “ She took the Immortal bitch’s head, became a freaky fireworks show, and had a vision, a bitch of one. Angel said it was like the Vocal demon thing. Freaked me out, she froze, eyes’ wide, crying.”
Wesley wondered how freaky could be a noun, verb, and adjective. Wesley shook away the nonsensical thought concentrating on Gunn’s other words. “A vision….Vocah, impossible.”
“I saw her, Wes, it was the same as before, just worse, Angel said the dead crying eyes were Vocal, Vocah, whatever.”
Wesley considered the words of his friend, and then turned to watch as Cordelia walked up to Angel’s seer for the last three months.
“I asked you a question, Gabby, going somewhere,” Cordelia pointed to the bag in Gabriel’s hand.
The blonde kept stepping backwards as she had been doing since Cordelia first approached her. “I thought I would stay with friends as it seems I have none here, even after all I did for everyone.”
“Did? Could you explain exactly what you did for us,” Cordelia waved her hand around the lobby.
“I am Angel’s seer.”’
‘Aww, right, all those visions you had while he was gone, the ones since he came home, truly a great seer. Tell me seer, have you had any other visions, I mean other than that last one, the one that almost got Wesley killed and got me kidnapped by a crazy Immortal, Cassandra, do you know her?”
“I don’t know what you are babbling about, you’ve gone crazy, help me,” Gabriel swirled looking at the other occupants in the large room.
“Cordy’s vision, what was it.” Wesley jerked his head towards Gunn.
“She didn’t say, just that we had to hightail back here.”
“Are you sure it was a vision?”
“Well, she didn’t actually say that either, but it was somethin’ somethin’ freaky that looked like a vision."
Wesley shook his head. There was that ‘freaky’ again.
Fred ran up. “Why is Cordy being so mean, I mean, I don’t really care that she’s being mean to Gabby on principle, but why Cordy is being scary mean? I mean…I don’t know what I mean.” Fred slumped.
The blonde straightened her shoulders facing the brunette. “You actually think you can stop me.”
“I know I can. You’ve been stopped.”
“Fool.”
“Bitch.” Cordelia swung, every emotion that was triggered since the Quickening focused in her fist as she knocked the blonde across the room.
“You don’t know what you are up against.” Gabriel scrambled getting to her feet.
Cordelia pulled her sword. “I just took a head, I liked it, and I’ll take yours. Now, tell me how you did it."
“I’ll kill you.”
Fred blinked as she listened. “Cordelia just hit Gabriel and Gabriel just said she’d kill Cordy, what’s happening?” She blinked again at Gunn and Wesley.
Both shrugged, moving a little closer to the women, not sure what they were supposed to do.
Cordelia stepped forward. “It’s over, the only way you can possibly live is if you tell me how and why.”
Gabriel laughed. “Try it.” Her body seemed to grow in stature, her blonde hair receding as her frontal lobe expanded and pulsated.
Angel ceased his shadowing and jumped forward as Gabriel transformed into something he had ever seen before.
“Cute. I saw the techno version, I thought it was your best look.” Cordelia swung not going for the neck like expected but slashing at the wriggly claws that shot out of Gabriel’s chest.
Fred leaned back. “I knew she wasn’t normal.”
“I knew those were weapons.” Angel commented stunned as squiggly arms regenerated out what had been Gabriel’s amble breast, the limbs waving in the air towards Cordelia.
“Attack of the killer tittys” Gunn yelled as he vaulted over the chair reaching for the weapons cabinet.
“Oh my,” Fred gulped twirling around still stunned that the annoying blonde was morphing into a very ugly demon with clawy extra arms for breasts. “I knew she wasn’t normal,” Fred mumbled again as she ran to the stairs.
Wesley scrambled back to his office grabbing for the crossbow on his bookcase.
“A Bracken demon?” Angel yelled as he ran towards Cordelia.
Wesley skidded to a halt. “There was no reason to ask for a blood test, she had a vision, obviously now that was not accurate.” Wesley shot off arrow.
Angel grunted and yanked at Cordelia, kicking out at the demon that once was the petite blonde, trying to break the clawed, breast thrusting, squiggly, strangle hold the demon had on Cordy.
Duncan’s sword was in the air. “Methos.”
Methos’ sword was already slicing at the appendages that seemed to pop everywhere out of the demon.
Fred ran back down the stairs dragging a small suitcase. She bit her lip, praying as she set up her experiment. She flicked the box, and pointed. She squeezed her eyes as the sharp axe blade swung from the depths of the suitcase. She didn’t start breathing again until Gabby wailed, whimpered, and fell to the ground.
The dead body on the floor held no resemblance to the petite young blonde woman. Rather it was a larger humanoid demon with a too big misshaped cranium and multi appendages draped lifeless on the tiles.
The room was silent each occupant staring, none could claim victory. The body was definitely dead but whether the fatal blow was accomplished by Gunn's axe embedded in the demon's chest, Wesley's arrow that pierced her stomach, Angel's sharp dagger that pinned the demon's neck to the floor, the three swords standing straight up in the lifeless form or the circular blade catapulted from Fred's suitcase, was anyone's guess.
Angel was the first to move yanking his weapon free. "Correct me if I'm wrong, Wesley, but that's not a Bracken demon even half of one.” He repeated his earlier comment.
Wesley rolled his eyes, heading back to his office to get his Demonic Encyclopedia.
Gunn shook his head. "Girl, was this you?" He pointed to the circular blade.
"I've been experimenting, I like to make things." Fred held up the mobile catapult she had built.
"Damn, that's where the toaster went."
Methos grabbed his sword and Duncan's handing the Highlander his. "It's got to be over now," Methos sighed going up to Fred. "That was really nice and you're really scary, Winifred Burkle."
Fred bit her lip, giving a small embarrassed smile. She was pretty sure that the old handsome Immortal gave her another complement.
"Cordy," Angel went to stand next to the young woman her gaze fixated on the dead body. "Cordy," he said sharply as Cordelia kicked at the lifeless body over and over again.
"Cordy," Angel called again, pulling the young woman away from the body, worried at the tears streaming down Cordy’s face.
"She...” Cordelia clenched her jaw. "She did it." Cordelia glared up to the vampire. "All those people are dead because of her." Cordelia broke free from Angel, going back to the body. "It was her fault." Cordelia went to kick at the dead body, only to choke slumping to the ground, sobbing into her hands. "All those helpless, dead. We couldn't save them. I didn't see them."
"What people, Cordy?" Angel kneeled by the young woman scared to touch her. Her tears and sobbing making her fragile as if his touch could break her, but that same fragility brought an intense need to protect the young woman. He hesitantly reached out, brushing at the hair that was mixing with the tears on her face.
"The helpless," tears muffling Cordelia’s breaking voice. "The helpless in my visions, all dead, because I didn't see them." She blinked up to Angel's concerned gaze. "I let them die. It's my fault."
Angel's heart split into two as Cordelia’s anger turned into sorrowful self-blame. His need to protect became overwhelming.
"We saved...” Gunn looked at the dead demon then back to the crying girl huddled in Angel's embrace. "Who the hell did we save?"
"Not now." Angel called as he picked up Cordelia's trembling form taking her up stairs.
***
Cordelia scooted away from the vampire once she was on the bed, curling up away from him.
Angel sat on the bed, moving closer. "Cordy." Angel’s hand reached out to tenderly caress the curve of her hip, trying to sooth the young woman. "You didn't let anyone die."
Cordelia shook her head into the pillow, squishing her body further from Angel's comforting touch.
"Cordy,” Angel said firmly. "I'm not going anywhere, so stop." He pulled Cordelia towards him, ignoring her resistance, curling her shaky body into his lap. His arms kept her secure against him. "It's over now, talk to me.” His voice was soft but the order unmistakable.
Angel was relieved when Cordelia finally conceded, the tension fled as her body melted into his embrace.
Angel had to lean into to make out her soft words.
"I never lost the visions, I just didn't see them. I don't know how. But, after the Quickening, it was like Vocah all over again, all the visions that the Powers had sent for the last few months flooded through me,” Cordelia closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I felt them, all of them, all of the victims that had died, because I hadn’t seen them. I believed her, I believed that the Powers took my visions, but they didn't, I believed her and they all died."
Angel lifted Cordelia's face. "Everyone believed her, Cordy. Everyone.” He emphasized. "That thing was having visions, you weren't."
"But, I was, Angel. All the time, whatever she was having wasn’t sent from the Powers. They were lies, I should've known. I'm your seer, I should've.... all those people."
"Should’ve ignored the evidence? You didn't know about the visions, not until now. YOU are not responsible."
"I should’ve known.” Cordelia shook her head into his chest.
"No, Cordy, shush." Angel stretched out along the bed taking Cordelia with him, he continued to whisper that it wasn't her fault, his gentle caresses kept tempo with his assurances.
"I'm so tired." Cordelia said softly.
"Shush, then sleep, baby, just sleep," Angel’s voice was soft and lyrical in its beckoning.
***
Lilah threw up her hands. "That's just great." She looked down in disgust at her ruined fashionable jacket.
"I think his head just blew up." Lindsay flicked a piece of goo of his cheek.
"YA THINK." Lilah brushed at sticky mess spattered in her hair. "This is wonderful."
"I think Gabriel's dead." Lindsay held the phone receiver to his shoulder again.
Lilah snorted in disgust. "Why stop there, Lindsay, I don't think I get the fact that the sky is blue and the grass is green."
Lindsay hung up the phone. "Linwood wants us and the head popper to stay put, he's sending the mystics to do an autopsy on why exactly this guy flipped his lid."
Lilah groaned at the message and the delivery. "We know why he's dead. The white hats figured it out, killed Gabriel, and blew his gasket. Why else?”
"Linwood isn't quite as confident as you are that the sky is really blue and the grass is really green."
Lilah flopped in her chair. "Could this night get any worse?"
“Don’t ask, if you don’t want the answer.” Lindsay eyed the empty stained seat next to the couch for a long minute before deciding on the corner of the desk to wait.
Part 65
Angel took one more look at the sleeping woman. He softly closed the door and went to rejoin the others.
“Wesley?”
The watcher pushed at his glasses. “Gabriel was a Mediica. Mediicas are very susceptible to psychic influences and when attacked or in danger their abilities extend to being able to generate physical manifestations to meet the threat.”
“So, the wiggle arms growing out of her breast aren’t always there?” Fred frowned at the dead body.
“Jesus, even as a whacked demon, the girl was fixated on her breast. Walking, talking boob blonde joke.” Gunn plopped on the counter.
“Gunn.” Wesley cocked his head.
“What?”
“Now that Gabriel has been identified, perhaps you could dispose of her in the furnace. I would but, Angel I imagine as some questions for me and hopefully, he also has some answers.”
“Playing the brain card, Wus-ley” Gunn jumped to his feet. “I am so going to need disinfectant.” He grumbled, tossing the body over his shoulder, trudging towards the basement stairs.
“Angel.” Wesley looked to Angel.
The vampire shoved his hands in his pockets. “Cordy said that after the Quickening she experienced all the visions that she had been getting but couldn’t see. She said that that things’ vision were false.”
“There were victims, Angel. We did save innocents.”
Angel looked up the stairs his thoughts on the woman tucked in his bed. “Cordy was positive, she blames herself for those that weren’t saved. Somehow, the visions, the visions sent by the Powers, weren’t getting through, blocked somehow. Does a Mediica have that power?”
“No.” Wesley considered. “But, from what I was able to briefly read, it isn’t unusual for a Mediica to create a symbiotic relationship with a more powerful psychic. They feed off that beings energy and give physical protection if needed.”
“There is another being out there that could hurt Cordy?” Angel said tensely.
“Questionable, if Gabriel was in such a symbiotic relationship, then once she died, the other being would be weakened, possibly dead.”
“Cassandra’s foresight wasn’t like that.”
Wesley shook his head towards Duncan. “Do you really know that?” Wesley cocked his head.
Methos stepped up. “Cordelia killed Cassandra. That’s what enabled Cordy to have the visions, the Quickening. Gabriel was still alive at that point. It’s some one else, some one that would have a reason to want to block Cordelia’s link to the Powers, someone with…”
“With law degrees.” Gunn said as he went straight under the counter to pull out a big bottle of Lysol. “That’s how Angel knew where Cordy was.”
Wesley rubbed his forehead. “It would be hard to argue that Wolfram & Hart wasn’t deep in this. Angel, where are you going?”
“To make sure this is finished. Stay with Cordy.” He ordered.
Part 66
"Can we get this thing out of my office yet,” Lilah paced in front of the mystic pathologist.
"It does seem that the implosion..."
"Explosion," Lilah pointed to her stained jacket.
The doctor continued, ignoring her interruption. "Was caused by the break with its symbiotic partner. That demon is obviously dead."
"Lilah," Lindsay held up his hand to stop her next retort.
Lilah gave the doctor a tight smile. "Then it can be removed."
"I see no reason to keep the carcass." The doctor exited the door only to return flying across the room, landing against the wall, and dropping unconscious to the ground.
"This is your fault." Lindsay said under his breath. "You had to ask."
Lilah rolled her eyes at the other lawyer and turned to the intruder. "Angel, hello, it seems the vampire detectors are once again operating with their usual efficiency."
"You might want to get some new ones." Angel strode into the office, his gaze narrowing on the dead demon on the couch. "New client or who I came to kill.”
"Angel, isn't this visit a little unnecessary, we can only assume that you've gotten you're seer back."
"That's only reason YOU’RE not dead. But, I do think this follow up call is necessary. You see,” Angel moved swiftly, grabbing both lawyers by the neck. "I need you both to understand this- Cordelia’s off-limits. You go after her again. I will kill you." He tightened his grip on the lawyers and smiled as they turned to blue. He released them before they lost unconsciousness.
Angel stepped back and waited until they both struggled to their feet. "I do have one question, though, Gabriel's fake visions, what were they?"
Lindsay coughed. "Staged events."
"So, the victims weren't victims."
"Well," Lindsay shrugged. "Would it make you feel little better that some of them were innocents and needed to be saved, time frame and all, couldn’t always get the right players for the role assigned."
"No” Angel looked in disgust at the couple. “Do we have an understanding, now? Good," he nodded to the lawyers. Angel paused in his exit and went back to Lindsay. "I really thought you might have learned your lesson the last time." Angel snatched at the lawyer's prosthetic hand wrenching it off and waving it in Lindsay's pain filled face. "I really did, oh well, some people are just slow learners." Angel tsked with the plastic hand at Lindsay's glare and clenched teeth.
Angel left with the hand still waving in the air, without pausing or looking back he tossed the hand over his shoulder.
30 seconds later, Wolfram & Hart security ran in. "The monitors showed that the vampire with a soul was coming this way."
"Really? Did they?" Lindsay picked up his tossed around hand from the floor. "Christ."
"Ms. Morgan, Mr. MacDonald, are you..."
"If you say anything more, I will order you to be killed." Lilah interrupted. "Now, get him out of here," She pointed to the unconscious doctor on the floor," Have that burnt," she waved to her sofa and the dead demon on it. “ And while you're at it, have every single vampire detector in this place burnt."
"I'll...have to check with the section head..." the guard stuttered under Lilah's cold stare.
"Then do it," Lindsay cut in. "And when you do, suggest that the replacements at least have some knowledge what the hell a vampire is."
"Yes sir, mam." The guard quickly ordered his men to clear the office of the unwanted bodies.
"So, you want to go out for a drink, I could use one." Lindsay looked down at his aching wrist and the plastic hand that should be attached.
"The only place I am going is home to take a shower."
"That will work, you got any scotch?"
Lilah gave a hard look at Lindsay and stalked out the office.
"Was that yes or no?" Lindsay waved a two-handed single wave after the woman.
Part 67
Duncan paused a moment outside Angel's door. The immortal didn't want to disturb Cordelia if the young woman was sleeping. But, he did need to talk to her and now that the vampire was gone, it would probably be the only opportunity to get her alone. His decision was made a he heard Cordelia cry out.
"Cordy," Duncan moved quickly to the bed, trying to gently wake her from whatever dream that made her scream.
Cordelia thrashed on the bed, making small gasping breaths, and tears squeezed out of her closed eyes.
"Cordy," Duncan said louder, his touch on her shoulder more firm.
Cordelia blinked, confused by the presence of the Immortal sitting on the bed.
"Where's Angel?"
"He had an errand. He'll be back. You're were dreaming?"
Cordelia shook her head. "It was nothing."
"You screamed."
"Oh.” She rubbed her forehead. "Don't remember it."
"I don't believe you."
Cordelia narrowed her eyes. "I'm fine."
"Cordy, you aren't fine. I saw what those visions did to you."
Cordelia bit down her annoyance. Duncan was her friend and concerned. But, she didn't like the way he said the word visions., has if the visions were a bad thing. Duncan knew how much losing them had upset her. Moreover, he'd wanted some sort of explanation and she didn't want to talk to anybody about what happened after the Quickening, not yet. She'd already told Angel. She hadn't even wanted to really tell him, but he deserved to know. They were his visions, his missions that she failed to see. It didn’t' matter that he hadn't been there. His need to grieve for Buffy was a far cry from his deliberate cutting himself off from the mission because of his obsession with Darla. Angel had left expecting that she would continue with the mission and she had failed him, her family, the victims, everyone. Cordelia didn't want to talk about it. It hurt too much.
"Mac, I get that you worried, but I am fine. The dream was nothing but a mini replay. No pain, just video. Okay."
"Cordy, you're crying." Duncan brushed at the telling tears with his thumb.
Cordelia wiped roughly at her tears and Duncan's hand. "I'm fine. Really." Leave me alone, go away, she wanted to shout at the top of her lungs, instead Cordelia took a deep breath. "Duncan, it wasn't anything I hadn't felt before only this time with the benefit of being Immortal, I don't have any lingering pain hangover. It's gone. I feel great.”
"Why are you ignoring what happened to you?"
"Believe me, I'm not ignoring it. The days of ignoring my visions are over, thank god." Cordelia hugged her knees into her chest, gently rocking back and forth.
"You shouldn't even have them, you heard what Methos said- Immortals and the Powers don't mix. The Powers' don't use Immortals."
"Duh," She pointed to her head. "Wrong. The Powers didn't take the visions away, Gabriel some how did."
"Well, they should. You can't waste your life, keep going through that pain tying yourself to a vampire. Cordy, you're young you have your whole life to live. Angel can't enjoy it with you. He's got this mission. He can't take you to San Francisco, Paris; he can't even take you for ice cream during the day. What kind of life is this? You deserve so much more.”
Angel stood in the open door, the truth of what Duncan was saying sliced through his rage at the Immortal's words. He waited to hear Cordy's response. Knowing that whatever she wanted, he would do, even if it meant tearing up his own dead heart.
Cordelia was flabbergasted. Her mouth opening and closing. Finally she blinked. "You act as if I had a decision to make. I don't, Duncan. This is my life no matter how long it lasts. I’m not leaving LA. I never wanted to leave. The only reason I considered it was because I thought Gabriel was Angel's seer and that he wouldn't need me anymore. But he does..."
"Because of the visions."
Cordelia shook her head vehemently. "I used to believe that but the visions are just after market extras."
"A car? You’re comparing yourself to a car?"
"A nice one of course, Pleeaase.” She rolled her eyes.
Angel relaxed a bit as he continued to listen.
“Cordy, I can take you away from all this.”
“Ah,” Cordelia coughed. “If I wanted to leave, I could do it myself. Geez. I don’t want to leave, I can’t. This is where I belong.”
“Cordy…”
“Duncan, you don’t seem to understand. The visions are a part of me, they are needed for Angel’s mission, but even if I didn’t have them, I would stay. Angel needs me, I need him, I love him, and he loves me. I’m not going anywhere.”
“He’s a vampire.”
“And…yeah…so what?”
“So what? Cordy,” Duncan asked in shock.
“Oh, right, the no sun, the dead thing, well, so what. That creepiness got comforting a long time ago. I love him. He’s got his issues sure, won’t dance, miser from Dickens, bad jokes, moody, goes from stuttering to growling in an blink of an eye, clueless on so many things, still lame on pop culture after the disco area, can I just say eww to that…”
Angel cleared his throat drawing attention to his presence. He heard enough, in fact he heard way too much.
“Angel,” Cordy shot up. “Where’d you go?”
“I had an errand to do. Why are you awake? I left you asleep.”
“I had a dream.”
“A nightmare,” Duncan corrected, glaring at the vampire. “A nightmare of your visions, of your life here.”
Cordelia blew out a breath of air. “It was nothing, I told you…just…just go now. I’m fine.”
“MacLeod, you heard Cordy, go.” Angel stood at the door, pushing back his need to throw the Immortal around the room a few times before he kicked him down the stairs, maybe through a window or two.
Duncan looked once more at Cordelia.
“I am tired. I’ll talk to you later. Bye. And thank you for your concern.” She smiled.
Duncan nodded and went towards the door. “I want a minute of your time.” He said lowly to the vampire.
Angel nodded and followed the Immortal out of the bedroom, shutting the door behind. “Something on your mind?”
“These visions, she can’t have them.”
“She does.”
“She shouldn’t.”
“I don’t disagree but she does and she wants them.”
“For you. God, how selfish are you? I saw what they do to her.”
“You saw once that makes you an expert. I have been with her since she first received them. I watched her accept them and the pain. I watched her grow to embrace the mission with more heart than anyone in this whole hotel. I saw what they meant to her, just like I saw what they did to her. Regardless, she doesn’t want to give them up and they won’t just go away. Believe me, if they could, I would’ve made it happen long before now. But they won’t. “
“You could just leave her or tell her too leave, if she doesn’t have a champion, there is no need for her to be a seer to one.”
“I left one woman that I had loved because it was the ‘best’ for her. She died without me being there; she was a champion, a woman full of life, and a responsibility that would bury most. She died saving the world. I wasn’t there. But, that was okay, because I did make the right decision, here-now, it wouldn’t be. I won’t leave Cordy, I won’t let her go.”
“You’re selfish.”
Angel narrowed his gaze at the Immortal’s response. He had been as honest with the man as he could. Buffy’s death was still a heartache he would have to live with. But, he had explained that Cordelia was different that he couldn’t, wouldn’t give her up, especially not when the woman fully accepted him and didn’t want to go. Angel’s voice got cold. “I’m a vampire, selfishness is in my nature. Try to get Cordy to leave again- I will kill you. But maybe you should listen to her answer. She loves me and I love her. Evil has yet to separate us, a good intention friend, well, good luck.” Angel shook his head and entered the bedroom.
Duncan wanted to grab his sword and go after the vampire but the voices that reached him before the wooden door shut him out made him stay still.
“So, are you going to tell me where you’ve been or do I have to use all my energy pouting, pleading, browbeating, and quilting you?”
“Seducing might work.”
Duncan cringed before the locked door, still listening.
“Hey, you want to pillow fight? Okay.” Angel’s voice was light so different from the threat in the hallway.
“Jerk,”
Duncan left at the sound of Cordelia’s laughter.
***
“Duncan isn’t going to get her to try to leave again is he?’ Fred asked the Immortal sitting next to her on the couch.
“Probably.”
“He shouldn’t do that. Cordy belongs here. She and Angel love each other.”
“Do you think she’ll go?”
“No way.”
“Then there is nothing to worry about,” Methos’ finger ran over the wrinkles Fred’s frown made.
Fred gulped at the tender, teasing gesture. “Um…well…it won’t make. Angel will be mad.”
“They’re all grown ups and Mac, while past behavior might dispute, is a very honorable good person with common sense. He’ll back off when he’s satisfied that Cordy will be safe.”
“Angel will always keep her safe.”
Methos shrugged and peered into the young woman’s eyes. “Winifred Burkle, would you care to join me for a late dinner tonight.”
“Sure, I’ll go get…”
“I was asking you.” Methos grabbed at the woman who jumped.
“Me? Alone?” Fred squeaked.
“Yes, you and not Caritas.”
“A REAL restaurant? I can’t. I have to…” she looked at her jeans and blouse. “Cordy…”
“You look very pretty and we’ll go casual. Come on, you can tell me the dynamics of your lethal toaster.”
“You really want to know?”
“I’m five thousand years old, I wouldn’t asked if I didn’t want your company or learn the secrets of the deadly appliance.”
“Oh.” Fred blinked. “A real restaurant?”
“How about that Mexican joint that I’ve seen you longingly gaze at through the window, just down the block.”
Fred’s eyes widened. “They’re menu boasts of the best white sauce in LA.”
“Shall we test them?”
Fred debated white sauce, salsa, tacos, and burritos against major aloneness with handsome man nervousness. “Okay.” She nodded firmly.
“I lost to the food, didn’t I?” Methos chuckled as he led the woman out.
“Uh?”
Part 68
Angel was on the bed before Cordelia could throw the pillow that was in her hands. He grabbed at it and threw it to the floor.
“Not fair.” Cordelia pouted.
“My bed, my rules.” Angel sat up smugly.
“I could just leave.”
“Nope, not possible,” Angel pulled the playfully slapping woman underneath him.
“Bully.”
Angel leaned up, pushing back the tangle of hair that had resulted from their brief pillow fight. “I will let you go if you want to leave.” He said seriously.
Cordelia scrunched her face and slid up under his body to sit up. “Do you want me to?”
“That’s not the question, I heard Duncan, and he was right in a lot of things. You’re Immortal now, you could do anything you wanted, Paris, San Francisco, where ever.”
“The visions?”
Angel twirled a strand of the brown silk in his fingers. “You aren’t bound to my redemption, you got the visions from Doyle, now you are Immortal, if you leave and if what Methos’ says is true the Powers won’t expect you to stay my seer.”
“They…”
“We won’t ever really know and that’s not what’s important right now. I want you to stay, I want you right here in my bed, beside me forever, with or without the visions preferably without. But, Cordelia what do you want? Is it just the visions?”
“I thought you said you with your vampy creepy hearing heard.”
“I don’t want you to stay if you don’t want too, I especially don’t want you too if its out of a misguided sense of duty to me. I won’t hold you to your promise, I will understand if you leave. You’ve fulfilled that first promise more ways than what was even hoped for. You’ve always been there for me.”
“That was pretty lame ass.”
“Cordy?”
“Oh, this is your lame ass attempt to let me leave for my own good. Angel, it would work better if you’d stopped touching me as you remind me why I should go.” She looked down at the strong hands caressing her hip and her breast.
Angel jerked pulling up his hands. Shit, he hadn’t even realized.
Cordelia laughed, pushing the hands back to their original positions. “I’m not so tired and I’m not leaving you.”
“Cordy,” Angel sat up his hands leaving her at her laughing tone.
“Sense of humor, Angel. Geez, will you ever maintain one? Get these flashes than poof, gone.” She scrunched up her face, relenting at the puzzled expression on Angel’s face.
“I love you. YOU. Vampire, champion, dork, silly, brave, strong, stupid, idiot….” Cordelia was forced to stop as Angel’s hand covered her mouth.
“Nevermind.” Angel swept in capturing Cordelia’s lips. Cordy sighed into the embrace, moving her mouth in contrast with Angel’s taking on his tongue in a magical duel.
Thrust, parry, swirl, and turn. Cordelia’s body melted more into Angel’s as their lips fought, comforted, teased, and pleasured.
Cordy jerked up. “Off.” She pushed at the vampire that was nuzzling her neck.
“Uh?’ Angel was sure that everything was going very well, very very well.
Cordelia leaned into the vampire, staring into his confused desire filled eyes. “You believe in promises, vows.”
“Yeah,” Angel answered tentatively.
“Well, I vowed that I would touch, taste, own you like you did to me, so on your back vampire.” Cordelia pulled and pushed the stunned vampire against the bed.
“Cor” Angel begged as she teased down his thighs, separating them fitting her kneeling body in between his bent knees.
“What this was only your trick>”
“You’re playing with a man’s patience. We don’t have any, we’re pathetic that way,” Angel tried to sit up.
Cordy laid a gentle but firm hand on the vampire’s chest. “Suffer.” Her lips mumbled as her head deftly dove, nuzzling, kissing, nipping, tonguing the cool skin under Angel’s chin and down his throat and further.
Cordelia slapped and flicked at Angel’s hips as they jumped when her tongue and teeth wet and grazed along his chest, resting teasingly on his nipples.
Cordelia giggled and leaned her chin on his stomach. “I think I finally realize why guys like nipples so much, they’re fun, watch.” She licked and teased at the hard bud. Angel’s hips jerked again.
Angel brought his hands to her shoulders, his voice rough and raspy. “I don’t need to watch, I’m a guy, dead, but I know.” Angel caught the growl in his throat. His hips were jumping off the bed.
Cordelia rode the movement and clapped down with her thighs when Angel’s hips hit the bed. Her head dove back into Angel’s chest, licking down, reaching the trail of dark hair leading the way. Cordelia giggled as she nuzzled and her hand met her mouth meeting at the swollen sacks hiding behind the erect organ.
“Damn you.” Angel groaned, grabbing for Cordelia’s thick air. Cordy licked her lips and peeked up. “You’ve got a problem?”
“Big one, beautiful one, teasing one, evil one,” he moved jerking pulling Cordelia up and under him diving into the warmth that was waiting.
Cordelia clenched her eyes closed. She thrust up as Angel pushed down.
Angel stopped for a second. “God.” He whispered as the heat that encased him made him feel alive.
“Hmmph.” Cordy caressed gently on hi s jaw contradictory to her scowl.
Angel looked down. “Yes?”
“It was my turn.” She pouted. “I was going to make you squirm at the pleasure.”
“Christ, Cordy, you won that battle a long time ago.” Angel groaned the truest admission in his life as he thrust.
Cordelia had barely a minute to think about it, before the tingling started in her toes and move upward just as quickly. She did complete one thought. Win, or lose, Cordelia would get her turn it was only fair. That thought and any other was lost in the movements and the feelings that were flowing through her body. God. It was happening again, it wasn’t an apparition; her nerves were straining against her skin. Cordelia held on to the strong body. Lord. The feelings that Angel was causing had to be forever, other wise life was really not fair.
Part 69
Gunn came out of the bathroom, still vigorously wiping a paper towel over his hands. “Hey, where’s Methos going with Fred?”
Wesley stood staring at the retreating couple a frown settled on his brow. “Dinner.”
“Hold on, I’m hungry why’d didn’t they wait.”
“We weren’t invited.”
“Why not. We gotta eat too.”
“I think it was a date.”
Gunn stood stunned. “Fred doesn’t date. She barely leaves the hotel.”
Wesley turned his frown to the other man. “You know she’s gotten a lot more confident over the last few months.”
“But, a date? I would’ve taken her to dinner if she wanted to go out.” Gunn grumbled.
Wesley shook his head, not sure why the idea of Fred going out with Methos bothered him. Wesley studied his friend. Gunn didn’t seem to like the idea either. Wesley’s brow cleared as the logical conclusion came to mind. Obviously, both he and Gunn had become protective over the young woman. It really hadn’t been that long since she returned unsettled and timid from Plyea.
“You said you were hungry.”
“Yeah.”
“Feel like Mexican.”
Gunn raised his brows considering Wesley’s question. “Where did they go?”
“La Tacta’s.”
Gunn nodded. “Hey man, it’s a free world, we’re hungry and in need some of their white sauce. I’m with ya.”
***
The lobby was empty. Duncan would’ve liked to seen Methos and tell him it was time to pack their bags. Cordelia wasn’t going anywhere. Angel’s threat hadn’t convinced Duncan to stop trying to get Cordelia to leave. It was the woman herself. She really did love the vampire and was dedicated to him and his mission. He needed a drink.
Part 70
Cordelia hugged the pillow underneath her chest, sighing as Angel’s fingers did amazing things to her back. “Mmm.”
Angel smiled rubbing his thumbs downwards to the slight curve of her spine, pressing and massaging at the bright sun gracing the tempting area of skin.
“Cordy,” Angel kept the rhythmic pressure of his fingers on her back.
“Mmm. I recognize that tone, don’t worry, no need for that sorry pathetic whine of an order. Anything you want, I’ll do it.” She sighed again into the pillow.
Angel decided not to comment on the supposed description of his mere mention of her name. So what that she was right. He was going to tell her to do something she wouldn’t want to. Angel cocked his brow. “Don’t you even want to know what it is?"
“I don’t care, keep this up, I’ll be your slave for life. God, that feels heavenly, up a little.” She urged Angel’s massaging touch to her shoulder blades.
“You already are my slave for life, I know I heard you scream that earlier.” Angel smirked a cool breath over Cordelia’s golden shoulder.
“Hmmph.” She mumbled into the pillow. “Tell a guy that’s he’s a good in bed and he becomes the king of the world. Simple arrogant clueless asses.” She hmmphed again.
“Only good?”
Cordelia leaned over turning up, her hazel eyes teasing into Angel’s. “Great, magnificent, wonderful, awesome, terrific, spine tingling, mind blowing, world rocking, is that better?”
Angel brushed his thumb against Cordelia’s smile, his eyes fixed on the plush swollen lips. “A little, still seems pretty lame.”
“Hmmph.” Cordelia rolled completely over on her back. “What it is that you want me to do that I won’t want to?”
Angel chuckled giving in to her insight. “I want you to go back to the doctors and get a cat scan. I want to make sure that the visions didn’t cause any damage.” His voice became grave as his thumb tenderly pushed back a strain of dark silk behind her ear.
“Angel, it doesn’t hurt.”
“Cordy,” Angel brushed at Cordelia’s new pout.
“Fine.” She sighed, turning back over.
“That was easy.”
“I’m in a good mood, you better take advantage of it. Anything else? You better ask now,” quirking her lips back up to him in a crooked smile before settling back in the pillow.
Cordelia puzzled at the silence and the absence of Angel’s hands soothing her skin. “Angel?” noticing the serious expression on Angel’s face.
“Cordy, it wasn’t your fault.” Angel loathed admitting it but he hadn’t been able to save Cordelia from Cassandra, Wolfram & Hart, the visions, or her destiny as an Immortal but he refused to allow her to suffer the burden of self-blame.
Cordelia blinked and turned away. “Tell that to the people I didn’t save.”
“I’m telling you. Believe it.” Angel brought her back to him, hating that his need took away the teasing light from her eyes. But he had to convince her. He knew Cordelia’s previous lightness hid a deeper guilt that she would keep to herself unless forced to acknowledge it.
“Angel, I was supposed to have those visions while you were gone, I told you everything would be alright, I told you we would take care of the business the mission, I failed you, them, the Powers, everybody.”
Angel winced at tears glistened in pools, clouding and sparkling the hazel depths.
“Cordy,” cradling the woman up into a seated position. “Don’t do this. You didn’t fail anybody. You were manipulated by a couple of demon freaks and Wolfram & Hart. The freaks are dead and Wolfram & Hart have been warned. It happened, but now its over. You didn’t do anything wrong. Wolfram & Hart set up Gabriel’s visions there was no reason to be suspicious.” Angel’s fingers grazed lightly at the trail of liquid that escaped Cordelia’s will.
Cordelia blinked and took a deep breath. “Wolfram & Hart set them up?” She scrunched her nose wiping at the beginning redness.
Angel nodded.
“God, I hate them.” Cordelia wrinkled her brow at the vampire. “Their warning? That’s where you went, isn’t it?” The thought of the evil lawyers drew the tears away bringing anger and disgust.
Again Angel nodded.
“Good, I hope they peed in their collective expensive pants. Hmmph.”
Angel sighed at the loss of tears. “I don’t know about that but Lindsay will need another plastic hand,” he added lightly.
Cordelia gave a small chuckle despite herself. “Still, Angel….” Cordelia wanted to let Angel’s words and hands take her away from her guilt. She wanted to believe him. Maybe it was true. Angel didn’t blame her so maybe she wasn’t to blame. Maybe the victims that had died would forgive her. She let herself smile at the vampire, giving him her trust.
Angel felt lighthearted as he watched the hazel orbs clear, accept, and even twinkle. Cordelia was going to let him help her.
“Cordy, the only way that we knew what was going on was because you had a quickening- though, I suppose you could’ve taken MacLeod’s head instead and a lot sooner. I wouldn’t of minded.”
“Angel,” Cordy smacked at the vampire. “I wouldn’t do that.”
“I know.” Angel grumbled tugging her into his lap.
Cordelia peered up at the vampire. “I thought you got over wanting him dead. I told you….wait, it’s not because he’s Immortal and some sort of potential threat, you ARE jealous. Ha, you’re jealous of Duncan.”
Angel dipped his hands, spreading them wide over Cordelia’s firm belly, pulling her possessively closer. He nuzzled into her shoulder. “Why would I be jealous, I have you in my arms and in my life and I’ve got it on good authority I’m good in bed, ” he whispered, nipping, scratching his blunt teeth up along her chin. “ Anyway, MacLeod and I discussed it, I think he finally realizes that you aren’t going anywhere, this is where you belong.”
“Oh god, you threatened him.” Cordelia tried to put at least a little bit of anger in her voice, but Angel’s caresses and kisses made it hard to think about anything but the pleasure tingling in delicate sparks along her flesh everywhere he touched.
Angel leaned on the bed, capturing Cordelia underneath his larger body, “An exaggeration. I just pointed out the obvious. Now, can we please stop talking about that Immortal, there is only one Immortal I want to concentrate on.” He whispered, slipping his fingers through the delicate petals that housed Cordelia’s sweetest heat.
“Were we talking about something?” she moaned, scratching her nails along Angel’s broad back.
“Mine.” Angel growled into the soft curve of her neck.
Cordelia pushed up, her eyes flashing. “That’s it, stop right now.”
Angel jerked up. “Uh.” Fear, real fear rippled through his body, flowing into a tidal wave. Stop? He couldn’t stop. But she said to. Why? Angel wanted to ignore Cordelia’s no and cry at the same time because he couldn’t, just like he couldn’t ignore the squeezing in his balls and the need pulsating in his cock, he was in hell.
“Cordy?” He managed to whisper and beg.
Cordelia took advantage of the vampire’s unhappy and confused state to push him down on the bed, quickly straddling his hips. “Mine? My ass. You ARE mine and I’ll prove it. Stay put and don’t interrupt.” She warned with a raised elegant brow.
Angel gulped his mind switching gears. She hadn’t said no, her warmth was still searing into him. She had only changed their positions. “Cordy, I told you, not needed, really, I was squirming with desire a long time ago.”
Cordelia leaned up teasing his chest and stomach with her nails. “I don’t believe you.”
“I’ll prove it.” He reached for her hips ready and willing to embed himself in her. Cordelia slapped at his roving hands. “I said it was my turn.”
Angel was a bit scared of the glint of determination and purpose in her eyes. He slowly dropped his hands, sinking into the mattress, preparing for what he knew would be the most unbearable, delectable, and sweetest torture of all of his 250 years.
“That wasn’t so difficult, was it?” Cordelia cooed, tracing her fingers along his chest, twirling delicate patterns in the cool skin.
Angel merely grunted. He was a vampire, he had without a soul and with one, experienced torture, he could handle this it was only Cordy. He closed his eyes. Only Cordelia, Christ, he wondered how long she needed to prove her nonsensical point. He hoped it wasn’t too long. Angel wanted to grab her now and end the anticipation. He was going to cry he just knew it. He thought about Darla. Angel gulped in relief, that cooled his ardor for…he winced, Cordelia kept touching him, learning his body, how was he supposed to think about unwanted sex, when he was being tortured by the one woman he needed more than his redemption. A growl escaped as a groan.
“You liked that.” She smiled, sitting powerfully on him, twirling her fingers, the tip of her nail digging in slightly on the marbled flesh, drawing a line down his breastbone, and circling his navel to tap an insistent sharp pattern down the dark hair that led to his groin.
Angel tired to keep his expression passive. But his hips jerked in the air belying his nonchalant attempt.
Cordelia leaned up further. “Okay, resisting. A challenge?” She licked her lips, leaning down to nibble at his throat, her hands moving southward. “So, you seem to be enjoying it,” she whispered as she caressed the hard evidence that her hands found.
She leaned up again as Angel’s hips lurched upwards.
“You like everything,” her brows furrowed.
“I told you.” Angel gulped.
“No.” She pouted and scooted down trailing her hands and lips. Her tongue flickered and tasted the tense pulsated organ.
Angel felt the world explode, thoughts of Darla, Slime demons, Gabriel, anything that could stall his need flew out of his head as Cordelia moist mouth encased him, drawing him in as deep as he could go. He was going to burst.
God. She teased him like an expert. Angel knew that it wasn’t an expertise learnt by experience. It was just there, just in her, the ability to entice and torture. Angel didn’t know or want to know if her magic could work on others, but he sure in hell knew that she controlled his ever desire, she was made for him. He waited for the last possible moment. He growled, using his strength to pull and push her body under his. “You won, again, you always will.” He growled, spearing with instinct only.
“Angel,” Cordelia gasped, her legs moving under the same instinct that caused Angel to react with such need. Their hips moved disjointedly in an un-timed and harsh movement, full of power. Each thrust, made the need apparent, teased at the need, fulfilled the need.
Cordelia screamed out as her sweaty body collapsed. Angel fell soon after, his body glistening in the borrowed sweat, every nerve alive as he breathed in the scent and flavor of the woman cushioning his fall.
“One time, one time, I’ll prove it.” Cordy whispered breathlessly.
“There is nothing to prove,” Angel tucked his body around Cordelia’s careful to keep her comfortable, his tight embrace easing at her involuntarily gasp at his strength. “You will always drive me to the brink. I love you.” He rubbed into her chest, licking and kissing at the salty sweet skin. “God, I love you.”
Cordelia purred into his embrace. “Easy then, since I love you.”
Part 71
Fred was amazed, she was giggling and only thought about the white sauce three or four times. This was fun. Methos’ attention was focused on her as he told her a story from the late 14th century. Wow. It was so amazing. History had never been her first choice of study, but the way Methos brought his stories to life, she just needed wanted to delve in the books and learn about the ages of which he was telling. It was so wow. He even met Newton. Wow. She almost believed him when he said he threw the famous apple. Eeek. He had seemed pretty serious. Geez. Fred was pretty enthralled, especially, when the Immortal listened, nodded, and congratulated her on her weapon design. Then, he even listened to her description of her parents. She found herself telling the Immortal all sorts of things that she never told anyone before.
Gosh, she really was having fun.
“Hey, girl.”
Fred pushed up her glasses at the surprising presence of Gunn and Wesley.
Wesley shoved at his glasses. “So, this was you were going? What a coincidence.”
“Yeah.” Methos shrugged against his seat, giving in to the inevitable. Great, it wasn’t only Cordelia that had her own protectors. “Do you want to join us?”
“Cool.” Gunn straddled the chair he had already grabbed.
“If you don’t mind.” Wesley politely asked the table next to them for their extra chair.
Fred scrunched up her face, but she couldn’t think of a reason that Wesley and Gunn shouldn’t join them except she didn’t want them too. She was having so much fun. Then again, she had a nice time with Wesley and Gunn before.
Methos smiled a bit sadly and waived the waitress over for Wesley and Gunn.
***
Duncan leaned over the bar sipping at his drink.
“So, my handsome, live for ever butter buns, you came back, alone.” Lorne saddled up next to MacLeod.
“I needed a drink.”
“You asked the wrong question, sweetie. The Princess’ place is here even without the visions.”
“She has them, worse yet, she wants them.” Duncan twirled a finger in his glass.
Lorne blinked his red eyes. “Excuse me, the music is a little loud in the den of fun, say that again.”
“She had one, seems it was one of all of the ones that she should’ve been having, Gabriel was a fake, planted by some law firm.”
Lorne shot a finger up to the bartender. “Sea breeze, leave the breeze at home. How’s the Princess handling it?”
“I wouldn’t know. The vampire is there.”
Lorne waved again. “Double shot of what ever he’s drinking.” Lorne rested his bright yellow elbows on the bar. “Pretty much over the last year, I’ve seen their vibes. They were dense but sym-y-biotic-aly-type of in tune together. “ Lorne shrugged. “ They just are. Here have another drink.”
Duncan nodded towards the bar.
Part 72
The late morning brought everyone to the lobby. Methos and Duncan’s bags were near the door.
“Duncan,” Cordelia ran up. “I…selfishly I wish you would stay, but,” she graced a delicate palm to his cheek. “Thank you for everything.” She tried to encase her words with the right tone to show her appreciation.
Duncan smiled. “I will always be your friend, anytime you need me, I’ll be there.”
Angel moved quickly shoving out his hand. “Goodbye, have a safe trip, I’m sure that Cordy won’t be needing you, but thanks and goodbye.”
Both Immortals glared at the vampire’s interruption for different reasons.
Fred sighed. “Bye.” She smiled at Methos.
Methos leaned in touching her lips gently, moving, and tasting her lips. “Bye.” He stood.
Fred gulped, her fingers going involuntarily to her lips. Oh my. That was nice. And it was over. She ran too the Immortal already at the door. “You’ve got my e-mail right. I mean, you’ll…I mean will I see you again.” She bit her lip really embarrassed.
Methos smiled. “I’ve got your e-mail and you will love Greece and Egypt in the fall.
“Greece and Egypt,” Fred gulped.
“The birth place of Euclid’s and then where he orchestrated and complied the genius of the ‘Elements’ I was there. I could show the path of his mathematical journey.”
Fred’s eyes widened as she swayed. “You knew Euclid, the father of Geometry,” she gasped, feeling very light headed.
Methos nodded.
“Oh, my,” she gulped at her breast. “You could show me where he sat, thought, discovered, and taught.”
“Why not?’ He tenderly tipped her chin.
“I…I don’t know.” Fred blinked rapidly trying not to faint at the overload of a handsome man staring into her eyes combined with the thought of actually walking in a great, historical, mathematical genius’ footsteps.
“Then it’s a date.”
Methos smiled again as Gunn and Wesley rushed to the blushing woman’s side. The old Immortal moved towards Cordelia. Methos smiled a different smile. “I’m glad you won.”
Cordelia blinked. “You’re kind of great aren’t you?”
“Nay. But you are, live well, Cordelia, and you’ve got one more friend and so do I and I know how special that is.”
Cordelia gulped at the sincerity in the oldest Immortal’s tone. She hugged him impulsively and whispered with skepticism. “What do you want?”
“An in with Fred.”
Cordy lurched back laughing, looking to Wesley and Gunn hovering over the other brunette. “Keep up the math sweet talk and you’ll do wonders.” She giggled. “I’ll do what I can.” She cocked her head back at her other male friends. “But they’re pretty great and special too.”
“Damn.” Methos smiled. “Bye, live long. Angel.” Methos' tone changed, more formal, but still sure as he faced the vampire. “You’ve got a responsibility that I can imagine and fine if you want to take it, but you hurt these exceptional women…well, I’ve been alive longer than any vampire still walking the earth, check it out, if you doubt.”
Angel narrowed his eyes and then conceded slightly. Methos was over five thousand years old and managed to go from evil to a friend of Cordelia. “I’ll protect them, but if the time comes for Cordy….”
“Don’t bother. I’ll bring stakes to the Gathering if it comes to that.” Methos shrugged.
Angel slowly nodded at Methos. That was an Immortal he could like. He turned to the whispering between Cordy and MacLeod.
Angel didn’t interrupt or even growl because the pony-tailed Immortal gave a sad smile and headed for the door.
“I’ll miss him.” Fred said, “I mean them.”
Part 73
Cordelia moved, refusing to let the vampire draw her back into the bed. She slept way past her wake up time. Well, not just slept, but still she had to get up.
“Where are you going?”
“Shower, rip vamp horny winkle. Hmmph.”
Angel leaned up on the pillow, smelling and feeling his empty bed. That sucked. He padded to the bathroom.
“Angel.”
“What did I do?” he asked as he climbed into the shower back into the warmth that left him.
***
Fred looked at the phone receiver. The voice on the other end identified herself demanding to speak to Angel, but Angel was sparring with Cordy. You just didn’t interrupt them, but the voice didn't care. The voice was insistent and it was that tree name of a girl that came and made Angel disappear for three months. Fred really didn't want to get Angel, what if he left again. Things were going so well.
She took a deep breath and took her information to Wesley.
She scrunched her face, as Wesley looked worried for a moment and then shot out of his chair.
“Angel.” He called as he strode quickly to the basement.
Angel growled his hands around Cordelia in a semi legit self-defense move.
“What?”
“It’s Willow, Buffy’s alive.” He took a deep breath and just said it.
Cordelia stepped back, really wishing that Angel’s hands were still around her but they weren’t his hands were going with his body up the stairs in a flash.
Cordelia smiled up to Wesley who was still watching her. “Wow, that’s cool, maybe she’s an Immortal. That’s good.” She smiled. Her smile ached as it stayed on her face while Wesley studied her. Finally she could breathe as her watcher nodded than went back up the stairs.
Angel loved her, he loved her, Cordelia tried to say over and over again. Cordy did believe it, but it was a love that was spoken of after Buffy had died. Of course, Angel thought he loved Cordy, the love of his life had been dead. Whoops, no she wasn’t. Cordelia took the stairs slowly; trying to figure out she would handle this new heart wrenching twist in her life.
She watched as Angel gripped the phone and the smile cascaded on his face. “I want to see her.”
Cordelia’s heart broke at the words. Damn him. She smiled as he faced her.
“So the slayer lives that’s wonderful,” she kept her tone light. “You have to go see her. Hurry, she may die again.” Cordelia winced. That wasn’t exactly nice.
“I have too.” Angel was confused, his mind in lost in memories. Buffy was alive.
“Okay, go, I’m sure that no other freak demons will hijack my brain.” Cordelia smiled. Damn, she did it again- that not being nice thing. She took a deep breath. “Go, Angel, see that she’s alive, then…then just…what….just know that the love of your life is alive…. go.” She blinked as she remembered, really remembered. “You got your soul grieving her maybe this was why. Go.”
“I have to see.”
“I said go, Geez.” Cordelia turned to go back into the basement to finish her training alone.
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