Title: Too Little Too Late
Author: Lilly Rose
Posted: 11-04-2003
Email: e_jones78@yahoo.com
Rating: PG
Category: Angst, AU
Content: A/C friendship, Cordelia/Gunn implied
Summary: Twenty years ago he walked away. Now Angel's back for Cordelia- or is it too late?
Spoilers: Vaguely, the "Gray Angel" arc of Season Two
Disclaimer: The characters in the Angelverse were created by Joss Whedon & David Greenwalt. No infringement is intended, no profit is made.
Distribution: It's welcome to go anywhere so long as my name and e-mail stay attached. Oh and you tell me where it is so I can go and admire.
Notes: This is Lilly Rose going Old School. This and "Fun and Games" were the first _Angel_ fics I attempted. I took this down because I didn't like it, but I thought that some might like it. I have a little more I may inflict later.
Feedback:
Thanks/Dedication:

---

"Where is she?" he demanded. He emphasized his demand
by slamming the man up against the wall. "_Where_ _is_ _she_?"

"Step off- now."

Angel dropped the runner and whirled around to face a former friend. Twenty years had passed, but not enough time had passed to render the man unrecognizable. "Gunn where is she - where's Cordelia ?"

"She's here."

Angel growled low in his throat. "I was told that she was here with you."

"She's here," Gunn repeated dully, and suddenly Angel was possessed with a terrible suspicion. He didn't want to hear what the man had to say. Yet Gunn continued on as if he had no choice but to keep speaking.

"After you dumped 'em, Wes and Delia wanted to keep on fighting," he explained. "One night we were out, and this bad ass group of demons jumped us. Delia got separated - and killed. She was cut up in so many pieces we didn't have enough to bury. She's here - her memorial
stone's out back."

The realization hit him like a physical blow. "Cordelia...if I had...sooner..." he trailed off, absolute misery rendering him speechless.

"You failed her," Gunn said simply. "I don't think I should let
you see her, but I'll take you 'round back."

Gunn and Angel walked around to where Cordelia's memorial stood.
On and around the grey marker small tokens of affection were
left : a girl's hair ribbon, a bottle of nail polish, and a
letter with its pages streaked with ink and water. Carefully,
Angel set the offerings aside. He ran his hand over the
inscription as though he could touch the woman it memorialized.

Cordelia
1981-2003
Beloved

"That's all?" Angel shook his head. "She was much more than that."

Gunn kept his eyes on the marker. "You could have filled five stones
with everything she was. A fighter. A visionary. A mother.
A sister. A friend." The haggard man looked over to Angel, the pain and anger in his eyes explained by his next words. "A wife. Beloved just seemed to be the best word to cover it all."

"Charles..."

"No," Gunn cut him off. "Sit here with my Delia for a while.
Talk to her. After that, don't let me see you again."
With that implied threat Gunn walked away, leaving Angel to
his first apologies and his last respects.

End.