Title: The Portal
Author: louloucn
Posted:
Rating: R
Email: louloucn@hotmail.com
Content:
Summary: (for this part at least) Cordy comes back from a date with Groo, and later talks to Angel
Spoilers: Post WITW, but knowledge of BtVS would be helpful too.
Disclaimer: The characters in the Angelverse were created by Joss Whedon & David Greenwalt. No infringement is intended, no profit is made.
Distribution: Anywhere, just drop me a note so I'll know where to look.
Notes: Note: This is my first fanfic ever so please be kind. As for the end of part 1 to the next part, I thank Dannyblue for inspiring me to actually start writing this fic in the first place and for Angelicgal82, starlet2367 and Love's Bitch for their always enjoyable fanfiction. They are the best.... also, please note that this is kind of like a prologue but I thought it was necessary just for the story. Also, I have no idea what I am doing here... Not used to writing fanfic at all...
Feedback: Yes, please.
Part 5
They were all sitting in the library waiting for Buffy. There were all there. Willow, Oz, Xander, Giles and Cordy. While Oz was deep in thought, Willow and Xander kept sneaking glances at each other. All of them had no idea what they were going to say to Buffy, as they all were reeling from the fact that she had kept such a big secret from them. The only ones that were calm were Giles and Cordy, who kept trying to talk to each to other without putting more attention on themselves.
“Giles? Is there anyway I could talk to you for a minute?” Cordy asked.
“Yes, Cordelia, I think maybe the office would be a more suita…”
“Lagos is out of luck. I got the magic mitten thingy.” Buffy exclaimed, as she burst into the library.
Everyone turned to look at Buffy, as Giles and Cordelia tried to pretend to be as glum as possible.
“What's with all the tragedy masks?” Buffy asked.
“Better take a seat Buffy.” Giles replied, trying to look solemn.
“What’s going on?” Buffy wondered, feeling as though she was being interrogated.
“We know Angel is alive. Xander saw you with him. It would appear that you've been hiding him and that you lied to us.” Giles answered very matter of factly.
Buffy then tried to look away.
“…I think you're harboring a vicious killer.” Xander said suddenly.
Out of nowhere, Cordy blurted out in defense: “Angel’s not a vicious killer!” much to the surprise of everyone and the chagrin of Giles.
“What did you say Cordelia? How could you be standing up for Buffy?” He demanded. ~I totally thought that she would be the first one on my side!
“Yeah? Why are you standing up for me?” Buffy asked, as it began to sink in that Queen C, the evil stuck-up cheerleader of Sunnydale, was actually standing up for her was beyond her comprehension.
“ Uh, I was just thinking that you guys are maybe being a little too hard on her.” Cordy gently replied.
“Uh, hello? Doesn’t anyone see that we’re dealing with a psycho here! Once that’s just gonna turn back all demony once Buffy gives him another happy!” Xander yelled out.
With that, Cordy got a visual that she’d just rather not deal with. ~Eww. Angel and Buffy.. blech!
“I'm not going to... We're not together like that.” Buffy protested.
“But you were kissing him.” Oz replied.
“You were spying on me? What gives you the right?” Buffy demanded.
And without no control of her own, Cordy suddenly made another outburst: “What gives you the right to suck face with your demon lover again?”
“Hey, I thought you were on my side about this!” Buffy said. ~I guess it was a figment of my imagination to think Cordelia would be on my side.
“I didn’t mean I swear…well, maybe I mean it, but…”Cordy replied, confused by her actions. ~You know you meant it cuz you just don’t want Buffy to be kissing Angel since he is your boyfriend now.
“It was accident, okay?” Buffy yelled out in her defense.
~Accident, yeah right! Cordy muttered to herself. Like she just…
“…tripped and fell on his lips!” Xander answered.
And so it went between everyone in the room, as Xander kept barking accusations and Buffy started yelling back. Only Cordy and Giles remained on the sidelines of this crazy argument until Giles just couldn’t take it any longer…
“That's enough! Everybody. Now, Buffy knows our concerns, and her actions, however ill-advised, can be understood.” As he was talking, he kept looking at Cordelia knowingly. “Our... priority right now is to retrieve the Glove of Myhnegon and try to destroy it. Now, all of you, back to classes.”
This just made everyone disperse and leave.
“Thanks for the bail in there.” Buffy exclaimed with a sigh. “I know this is a lot to absorb, but Angel did find the glove, and that was a good...”
“Yes, I know.” Giles said calmly, “But you should have told us all about Angel being alive again. It was not fair of you to have kept lying to us over and over again. You have to have respect for not only me as your watcher, but also for your friends who all depend on you, do you understand?”
“Yes.”Buffy said shamefully, as she walked out of the office and the library.
Giles just watch as his slayer walked away and let out a huge sigh and looked out the window.
“Giles?” Cordelia asked, completely startling Giles and made him jump out of his skin.
“Cordelia! Don’t ever do that to me again!” Giles exclaimed, “Shouldn’t you be in class?”
“Hey, you know me, I already know what my future’s gonna turn out. I’ll get okay grades, graduate and get the hell out of Sunnydale and got to L…oops! Once again, too much details!” Cordy replied, feeling guilty for letting her tongue slip.
“Oh! I forgot about that.” Giles replied. “Do you mind me asking how old you are really? I mean, it’s not much of a detail. You don’t have to answer but…”
“Giles, I’m twenty one now! I just celebrated my birthday pretty recently in my world and boy what a birthday it was! Let me tell you…whoops! Sorry again! I know you wouldn’t be interested in my birthdays anyways.” Cordy answered, with a little grin.
“Twenty one!… that is tremendous!” Giles replied, giving her a smile as well.
“So Giles, have you figured out a way for me and Angel to go home?” Cordy asked.
“I’m terribly sorry Cordelia, I was so busy with the Glove and Mrs. Post that I haven’t been…” Giles explained.
“Oh Giles! Don’t worry about the glove! Me and Angel are working on that now. You don’t have to worry about a thing. Just please help us soon. We are counting on you.” Cordy answered.
“Could I ask you a question, Cordelia?” Giles asked “About the portal?”
“Sure!” Cordy answered.
“What kind of portal was it supposed to be? I mean it might help me narrow down the search.”
“It was supposed to be a portal opening up to the Pylean dimension. My friend was supposed to go back to his dimension when he accidently flubbed the lines and Angel and I ended up here. That’s all I know, Giles.” Cordy admitted.
“Thank you, Cordelia” Giles answered. “That will prove very helpful.”
“I’ll be going to Angel’s now to help with the Glove, okay?” Cordy answered. And as she left, “Giles?”
“Yes?” Giles replied.
“It’d be nice if you could call me Cordy from now on.” Cordy said with a smile.
***************
“You wanted to see me Mr. Giles?”
“Yes, Mrs. Post. I do apologize for bringing you in at this
late hour.” Giles said as he put on his coat.” I just wanted you to be kept up to date about the Glove. I’ve found it. Oh, not actually on me, but, uh, I believe it's safe. It's in a mansion on Crawford Street. A-a-a friend of Buffy's is keeping it there.”
“Well. We must get to it. Immediately. Hide it before someone else finds it.” Mrs. Post replied with enthusiasm as she stood up.
“Oh, actually it is already in the process of being destroyed.”
“Destroyed?”
“Yes. We have already gathered the necessary materials to destroy the Glove before anyone could use it for any harm. The ritual might have already begun. Let me just grab a few things and we can go there together” Giles explained as he fumbled around his desk to pick up a few books.
“Well, I must say, Mr. Giles... Good show.” Mrs. Post answered impressively, as she stepped behind him and hits him hard across the head with a wooden statue. Giles looks back at her completely stunned and collapsed to the floor.
“Good show indeed.”
**************
“Angel, are you sure this is going to work?” Cordy asked, as they both stand in front of a fire with an urn and a couple of potions beside them.
“Trust me Cordy, this will work.” Angel replied, “I mean, I’ve already done this before, so how hard would it be to do it a second time around? Just help hold up the book as I recite the chant, okay honey?” Angel answered, as he gave a quick smile.
“Okay, Angel, I trust you.” Cordy answered, as she held up the magic book in at eye level so that he could see.
“Exorere, Flamma Vitae. Prodi ex loco tuo elementorum, in hunc mundum vivorum.” Angel chanted, as he took some green powder, shook it unto the fire and made it turn green.
“Exorere, Flamma Vitae. Prodi ex loco tuo elementorum, in hunc mundum vivorum.”
Angel chanted once more and shook some red powder onto the fire and it turned bright red.
“Angel, do you need the gl…”Cordy asked.
“ Shussh! I hear someone coming!” Angel whispered as he could hear footsteps approaching with his hearing. “Go behind the curtain and hide!”
“No Angel! I want to stay here with you!” Cordy replied.
“Can you just listen to me this one time not argue? Just go!” Angel demanded. “Hide!”
So Cordy ran and hid behind the black curtains around the fireplace, just a the mystery guest appeared.
“What do you want?” Angel asked, although he knew exactly how this was going to play out.
“Gwen Post. Mr. Giles sent me.” She replied.
“What for?” Angel asked again.
“To help you destroy the glove. Is that the Living Flame?” she pondered, pointing at the urn.
“Yes” Angel replied, trying not to hide the boredom in his eyes.
“Look, I'm sorry to be so abrupt, but Lagos is on his way here now. (looks it over) If you're performing the ritual incorrectly, it will only make the glove more powerful.” She explained.
~Oh God Angel! Cordy thought to herself as she peered out from the black curtain, Just please be careful!
“Alright.” Angel replied. ~Remember. Don’t change anything. Just let it be.
“Good. Where is the glove?”
“In the trunk.” Angel answered, as he turned towards the trunk.
However, while his back is turned, Gwendolyn grabs a shovel that's leaning against the table and swings it hard into his head. He falls to the floor unconscious.
~Angel! Cordy thought in horror as her beloved laid on the floor unmoving.
Part 6
Notes: If you have been following this series, you can think of this as the 'end' of one part of the story, as if pts 1-6 are one part...there is kind of an 'ending' at the end of this chapter, but next chapter is a start of a new adventure for them in search for a way home.
I also suggest after reading parts 1 thru 6 that you definitely watch "Revelations" (Season 3 BtVS) again because if you watch it, with the events that happen in this fic in mind, you will totally see how this storyline could complete happen if Angel and Cordy ever did travel back in time... I really mean it. It was because of having the idea of time travel in my mind and wondering where in time could I send them back in, that I realized that this episode was a perfect place to land as everything, I mean EVERYTHING falls into place.
~Angel! Cordy agonized in frustration behind the black curtain, holding back her tears as she was unable to speak or even move in that moment. While her lover was still unconscious and she was unable to help him, the evil Mrs. Post proceeded to use the shovel to jam into the padlock of the trunk. Why didn’t he tell me that he was going get his stupid head bashed in? Why didn’t he defend himself? Of all the stupid, idiotic th…
“Okay...” Angel got up suddenly with his game face on. “ That hurt.”
~Angel! You’re okay! Cordy smiled in relief. You nearly gave me a heart attack!
Angel then began to circle the urn as he attempted to fight off Mrs. Post. Then he pushed her to the wall and she fell down unconscious.
~Yes Angel! Cordy thought. Then she noticed Faith coming in. Oh no, not Faith!
“Mrs Post!” Faith cried out, as she ran to Mrs. Post’s aid. Then she got up and faced Angel.
“I can't believe how much I'm gonna kill you!” Faith exclaimed with utter rage.
“You’re not getting that glove.” Angel replied, not moving an inch.
“You wanna bet?” Faith challenged.
Angel and Faith then proceeded to exchange kicks and blows, each attempting to get other at their vulnerable points. However, Faith gains some advantage as she snap kicks him, then grabs him by the shirt and sends him flying unto the couch. Angel becomes helpless and sees Faith raising her stake.
~ Angel! NO!!!!! Cordy thought in complete and utter panic.
But as Faith swings her stake to stab his chest, out of nowhere, a arm reaches in and stops Faith from stabbing.
~Buffy! Cordy realized, as she lets out a sigh of relief.
“What?” Faith asked in confusion.
Buffy then proceeds to push Faith away from Angel and then stand face to face with Faith.
“I can't let you do it, Faith.” Buffy proclaimed.
“You're confused, Twinkie.” Faith explains with a twisted smile. “ Let me clear you up. Vampire.” As she points to Angel. “ Slayer,” as she points to herself. “ Dead vampire.” As she points to Angel again.
“ Faith no,” Buffy tries to explain.
“She doesn’t know” exclaims a weakend Mrs Post to Faith, “She's blinded by love.”
~Faith, don’t listen to her! Cordy thought pleadingly.
Instead, Faith kicks Buffy in the face and Buffy drops to her knees. Then, Buffy takes a punch to Faith and they continued to spar and fight outside.
“Angel…”Cordy whispered from the curtain, but Angel doesn’t respond to her calls.
Then Willow and Xander arrive at the mansion and Cordy once again, fumbles to be completely covered by the curtain.
Willow and Xander run to Mrs. Post’s aid as she weakingly says: “The glove! It's in the trunk.”
“ We’ll get it.” Xander replies.
~No Xander, you idiot! Don’t listen to her! Cordy thought to herself, as she frustratingly tries to motion her head towards an unconscious Angel and Buffy and Faith fighting outside, as if anyone could really see her.
“Help Faith.” Mrs. Post said, as she fragily falls over.
However, as Xander attempted to help stop the fight between Buffy and Faith, they instead knocked him over, throwing aside to fight some more.
Inside, Mrs. Post takes her chance and opens the trunk. She unfolds the glove from the rags that cover it and holds it up in her hands.
“Finally.” She proclaims triumphantly.
As Willow stares at Mrs. Post in confusion, Mrs. Post remembers Willow’s presence and knocks her unconscious as well.
~Oh Willow! Cordelia sighed in desperation. She hated feeling helpless these days. What was the point of Angel training her for so long if she couldn’t use her skills? But, she had to remind herself that this was a different time, a different world where the only way of preserving the future was to stand by idly as your friends fall one by one. This completely blows!
Suddenly Mrs. Post slipped her right hand into the Glove and makes a fist. As she makes the fist, the metal claws that surrounding punctures itself into her arm. It seemed as if she was oblivious to the pain and laughed maniacally at her triumph and raises her arm to the sky.
“ Taou huogan maqachte milegaing!” She proclaims, as lightning bolts begin to strike and thunder booms.
~Oh my God! Cordy thought to herself. This can’t be happening!
As the thunder and lightning filled the room, Buffy and Faith finally stop their fighting and notice the chaos.
“What's going on?” Faith asked in bewilderment.
“ Faith! A word of advice: you're an idiot.” Mrs. Post explains, as Buffy and Faith both look in utter disbelief.
Mrs Post then raised the Glove once again towards the sky and begins to chant:
“Tauo freim! Tauo freim!”
She then directs her power towards Buffy and Faith, to strike them down with a lightning bolt, but they think quickly and jump out of the way.
Willow then wake up and realizes what is happening. She stands and is complete frozen with fear. Mrs. Post notices Willow and decide to spurn her wrath on her next.
“Tauo freim!” She screams and points the Glove in Willow’s direction.
Angel finally gains consciousness and thinks fast. He rushes towards Willow, reaches her in time and tackles her down, away from the lightning. As they are both crouched onto the ground, Willow notices something. She glances up at the black curtain from the ground and notices a pair of feet peaking out from the bottom of the curtain.
~Huh? She wondered. She started to stare at the pair of feet even further as they were figgeting under the curtain.
~No, Willow! Look away! Cordy thought and tried to stay as still as possible.
It was too late, as continued to stare at the pair of shoes. ~ I think I’ve seen those heels before. Black, sparkly heel…it looks expensive…isn’ t that Cord..
Angel then notices Willow’s continual stare towards the curtain. As they both lying on the ground, Angel looks into Willow’s eyes and whispers “Shussh…” as he put his index finger to his lips to tell Willow to keep quiet.
“Can you draw her fire?” Buffy asked Faith.
“You bet I can.” Faith assured her.
“Go do it.” Buffy replied.
Faith then distracted Mrs. Post to direct her power in her direction. As Mrs. Post pointed the Glove towards Faith and fired, Faith then jumped behind the couch to avoid the lightning.
“There's nothing you can do to me now.” Mrs. Post laughed maniacally. “I have the glove. With the glove comes the power.”
“I’m getting that.” Buffy replied.
As Mrs. Post look towards Buffy, she flings a large piece of glass like a blade, severing the Glove and the power from Mrs. Post’s arm. The Glove falls to the floor and starts flinging lightning bolts at random. Without a central target, it hits Mrs. Post in the chest,
as all the power goes throughout her whole body. Mrs. Post then screams in utter pain. All of them look on with horror as she continues to scream in pain until her body just vanished in bright flash of light. Xander finally get up from his fall outside and walks towards the others. Buffy just stands there, completely frozen. Faith, gets up from behind the couch. Willow and Angel struggle to get up from the floor, but keep giving each other knowing stares. As for Cordy, she tried her best to keep herself hidden from curious eyes, and did her best to remain calm after that debacle.
The only thing that was left of Mrs Post was her severed hand still trapped inside the Glove. All of a sudden, the metal claws that had punctured her arm unexpectedly broke free and released her hand.
The spell was finally broken.
***************
“Is everyone okay?” Buffy asked everyone. She then tried to move closer to Faith, who refused to talk to anyone and stormed out in a flash.
Buffy feeling defeated, then turn to Angel for support. “Are you okay, Angel?”
“Yeah, I’m fine, Buffy. Just fine.” Not looking at her directly in the face but kept glancing towards Willow, who tried to pretend that there was nothing strange going on.
“Yeah I am fine too.” Willow replied out of nowhere, with a little too much eagerness.
Xander tried to walk closer to Willow to comfort her but since Willow knew of Cordelia’s presence, she tried to back away.
“Hey, Xander, shouldn’t you check up on Cordelia?” Willow suggested.
“Oh my god! Cordelia!” Xander finally realized, as a feeling of utter guilt swept over him. “I have to check up on her now, before I get in big trouble. You know Cordelia and how mad she gets when I don’t check up on her.” He nervously chuckle, gives Willow another look goodbye, and scurried out of there as fast as possible.
“Angel…” Buffy exclaims as she walks towards him and tries to take refuge in Angel’s arms.
“You know Buffy,” Angel says gently, “I think you should go now and see your mother. I am sure she’s worried sick about you.” And then Angel added, “And you know, we wouldn’t want to be doing something that we shouldn’t.” as if her staying would be something they’d regret.
“Oh. You’re right Angel.” Buffy agreed as she remembered their converstation about bad habits and quitting them ‘cold turkey’. She definitely needed to get out of here before feelings should arise and kissing would come into play. “Willow, are you coming?”
“Oh Buffy.” Willow said nervously, as she began to lie through her teeth.“I think I’ll just…um… call Oz from here and ask him to pick me up from here. I think I definitely some Oz quality time. Yeah! You can go on without me.”
“Are you sure Willow?” asked Buffy again.
“Oh of course I’m sure! Why wouldn’t I be sure, huh?” Willow laughing nervously.
“Okay.” Buffy replied. “I’ll see you in school tomorrow okay?”
“Yeah, bye Buffy!” Willow answered, waving at her.
“Yeah, bye!” Buffy looking at her strangely and shaking her head. Then she looked at Angel and gazed longingly “Bye Angel.”
Angel just didn’t respond and just watched her go.
***************
Once they were completely alone and everyone was gone, Willow stood there, looking at her sneakers, and then walked towards the curtain and pulled it open.
“Aha! I knew it was you! I just knew it!” Willow proclaimed. “ What on earth are you doing here, at Angel’s place of all places and why were you hiding behind the curtain the whole time? Were you scared, because I would understand cuz you know I…”
“Hi Willow.” Cordy interrupted. “So I guess you found me.”
“Hey why don’t you answer my question, huh?” Willow once more. “Why are you here?”
“Umm… how can I explain…” Cordy said nervously, as she kept looking at Angel for some help, any help. But he looked as clueless as ever. ~What’s the point of having a champion as a boyfriend when he can’t even get you out of a simple jam?
Then, Willow looked around the room and noticed things that she hadn’t noticed before. Plastic, colourful flowers were put everywhere around the room. Women’s clothing were scattered all on the furniture and the floor. She knew they couldn’t be Buffy’s because she never dressed that colourful ever and Angel… well, he’s mister Black all the time. Unless…
“Oh my God! You’re cheating on Xander with Angel!” Willow blurted out, pointing her finger at Cordy and gasping in shock. Although it was surprising, it did ease her heart a little over having those kissing sessions with Xander behind Cordelia’s and Oz’ backs. But, Angel? They had absolutely nothing in common! “Angel, what about Buffy? Don’t you love Buf…” Willow asked Angel as she gave him disappointing looks.
“Wait Willow, wait.” Cordy interrupted her in mid sentence. “It’s not exactly what you think, okay. Just please calm down Willow and we’ll try to explain everything to you.”
“Alright.” Willow agreed.
“You know Willow,” Cordy said. “I think that you should be sitting for this news…”
***************
Willow was sitting in the student lounge with Oz, Xander, and Cordelia. They were all sitting around as Xander was retelling last night’s adventure. However, Willow couldn’t really concentrate on what he was saying as she was still reeling from what Angel and Cordelia had told her the night before. ~They can’t be from the future! It’s even more unbelievable than regular Sunnydale Weird stuff! But then she thought back to how Angel and Cordelia were acting last night. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but they were different. I mean, they looked like the Angel and Cordelia that she knew, but their behaviours were so strange. Cordelia, instead of griping and caring only for herself, she was nice and kind and actually trying to calm her down, like she actually cared about how she was feeling. And Angel, the darkest and broodiest person (well vampire) that she had ever known was actually smiling, pretty much most of the time. It was so eerie being there seeing it. It was like some sort of dream.
The oddest part would have to be the way that Angel and Cordelia were acting towards each other. They sat so close to one another on that couch and the way that Angel would hold Cordelia’s hand or pat her shoulder and even kiss her forehead was enough to make her head spin. I mean, she had seen Angel be very affectionate with Buffy, but not like that. Even the simplest gestures spoke volumes about their relationship. They didn’t have to say a single word and she knew that if what they had was true, that Angel and Cordelia would fall in love. ~Angel and Cordelia fall in love in the future? She thought to herself. ~What about Buffy? I mean, what she thought was basically true love (even though she won’t admit right now) is not like at all! I mean, this totally changes the way that I think about true love! I really thought that Angel and Buffy would love each other forever and now that this has happened…
How could Angel and Cordelia fall in love? I mean, they are so totally different from each other. She wouldn’t have even thought they could be friends… ~I mean, Angel having friends? He’s the loneliest guy I know! But then, people do change. How could she know what would happen after high school. And as she saw from last night, with Angel and Cordelia basically living together, they really did change a lot.
~Oh God! I wonder if she knows about me and Xander? She suddenly thought. A wave of panic swept through her. She had been all jumpy about her and Xander’s little ‘indiscretions’ and now that Future Cordelia was around, she had to wonder whether she ever found out the truth about her and Xander. She didn’t really have the courage to mention it at all last night, but she was now feeling even more super guilty about the whole thing. ~It was supposed to be a fluke! Just a fluke! With the homecoming clothes and the candy and the…
“So there's no more glove thingy?” Cordelia said.
Willow jumped in her seat, as her mind refocused on the conversation in the lounge.
“No. Little Living Flame, little mesquite, gone for good.” Xander answered.
~God, why can’t I stop thinking about him? Damn his lips! Willow thought to herself, as she kept staring at his cute lips and licking her own lips in the process.
“Sounds like we missed a lot of fun.” Oz interjected.
~Oh Oz! Willow quickly thought, as she darted her head to her sneakers in one swift motion to hide her guilt.
“Then we're telling it wrong.” Xander replied.
Willow, thinking that she had been too quiet, tried to join into the conversation:
“What do you think Buffy and Angel are gonna do?” She really wanted to know cuz how does Buffy’s and Angel’s relationship get so bad that in the years to come, he would fall for Cordelia?
“Boy, do I don't know.” Xander answered.
~It is so weird to think that I ever liked Xander at all. He can be nice sometimes, but boy can he be annoying.Cordy thought to herself, as she gave him a strange look.
~I wonder how Willow is doing. She looks so quiet and avoidy over there., as she glanced at Willow.
“Well, he saved me from a horrible flamey death. That sort of makes me like him again.” Willow exclaimed all of a sudden. ~Kinda also like this new Angel. Kinda creepy at first with all the smiles, but you sort of like after awhile.
“Well, as long as she and Angel don't get pelvic, we'll be okay, I guess.” Xander declared.
~ Why did he have to mention Angel, Buffy and pelvic? I hate getting these visuals! Cordy groaned in disgust, as she crossed her arms.
“What are you guys talking about?” Buffy asked, as she came into the lounge.
“Oddly enough, your boyfriend. Again.” Oz answered.
“He's not my boyfriend.” Buffy answered sadly, as she sat next to Xander. “ Really, truly, he's... *sighs* I don't know.”
~Damn right he’s not your boyfriend! He’s my boyfriend! Cordy thought to herself, as she looked at Buffy. ~Oh God. I’m so petty.
“Are we cool?” Buffy asked while looking at Xander.
“Yeah! Just seeing the two of you kissing after everything that happened, I leaned toward the postal. (pauses) But I trust you.” Xander replied grudgingly.
“I don't. Just for the record.” Cordy added, ~Especially when it comes to Angel.
As Buffy raised her eyebrows at Cordy, not surprised by her response, Giles approached them, with a big bandage on his forehead.
“Let me guess: Gwendolyn Post: not a Watcher.” Buffy deduced.
“Yes, she was.” Giles answered, trying to be very careful with his steps. “ She was, uh, kicked out by the council a couple of years ago for misuses of dark power. They swear there was a memo.”
“Well, I better go.” Buffy explained, as she looked at Xander.“Little more damage control.”
Buffy stood up and left the room.
“* sighs * The whole Angel thing is so weird.” Willow agonized. ~In more ways that I can count!
“Yes, well, we'll have to see how that unfolds, won't we?” Giles replied, as he sat down next to Xander. ~Especially with the portal problem.
As Giles settled on the couch, Xander and Oz both started to get up.
“Sorry guys, but me and Oz have class.” Xander explained, as he gave Cordy a peck on the cheek. “We’ll see you guys later, okay?”
“Yeah bye guys.” Oz added, as he gave a loving kiss to Willow and smiled.
The only ones left were Willow, Giles and Cordelia.
“Oh God, I’m really sorry Giles.” Cordy exclaimed, as she touched Giles’ forehead. “I didn’t want you to get hurt, but our hands were tied. We couldn’t disrupt the way things would happen.”
“Ouch.” Giles said, as he backed his head away from Cordy’s touch. “It’s alright Corde..I mean Cordy. I understand your situation. I wouldn’t want you to disrupt the chasm of time, but I sort of wished that you would have given some warning. That woman gave me a serious whallop!”
“Giles!” Willow exclaimed in surprise. “You know about Angel and Cordelia too!”
“Oops!” Cordy admitted. “I’m sorry that I forgot to fill you in about that Willow. Angel and I only wanted Giles to know because we needed his help to find a way back home. We hadn’t planned on getting you involved too. I’m sorry about that.”
“That’s okay.” Willow assured her. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“I don’t know” Cordy replied. “Giles, have you found any more information about the time portal?”
“Unfortunately, no.” Giles said in disappointment. “With Gwendolyn looking over my shoulder at practically every moment of the day, I couldn’t make any more progress on it. I’m sorry.”
“That’s alright Giles.” Cordy replied with some sadness. “ I just hope that Angel and I will figure out a way back home before everyone finds out about us or we screw things up during our time here.”
Then they just all glanced to each other in silence, with worried looks all over their faces.
*********************
“So how was your day at school, sweetie? I mean, you must have had a lot to talk about after that whole Glove debacle.” Angel said, as Cordy’s head was on his lap.
They were both on the couch, just talking and relaxing. Angel was sitting up, as Cordy laid on it.
“Pretty much, same old, same old. But I’m totally hating this déjà vu crap day in and day out, not to mention high school in general.” Cordy replied. “Even though it’s kind of bad that Willow found out about us, I’m kind of glad that she knows because not only can she help us with the portal thing, but it’s nice to know that there is one less person to hide our relationship from.”
“I know what you mean.” Angel agreed. “ With Xander still dating you, and Buffy in love with me, we pretty much have our hands full with the hiding.”
“* Sigh * I just wish that everyone could know about us instead of me constantly hiding behind a curtain, couch, or your bedroom.” Cordy exclaimed, as she looked up at Angel with concern. “I mean, I am running out of things to break for whenever Buffy comes over to make out with you.” Cordy added, trying to lighten the mood, as she smiled.
“Hey, I don’t appreciate all the broken objects! They were all antiques!” Angel protested, pretending to be mad. “But you don’t have to worry about Buffy. She’s not a threat to us.” As he stroked her hair and forehead.
“I know.” Cordy replied. “I just feel sorry for her now, Angel. You know how much she loves you now. How much she’ll always love you. And she only 17! She’s not even out of high school! I don’t want her to be having a rougher time, especially what she’ll be going through later…” as her mind drifted to Buffy’s death last year. She knew that’s what Angel was thinking about too.
“I know. We’ll just have to try harder to act like nothing’s wrong and make sure that everything that will happen as we remember. No ifs and buts.” Angel decided. “We’re agreed?”
“Agreed.” Cordy answered, as she sat up, turned her body around so that her legs would be on his lap, and rested her head on his chest, as he wrapped his arm around her to pull her closer to him. “I just hope that we find a way back home to Connor.”
“I know, Cordy. I know.” Angel answered, desperately trying to hide his sadness for Cordy’s sake and kissed her head.
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