Title: Three Little Words
Author: rousedower
Posted: 04-05-2004
Email:
Rating: PG
Category: Light
Content: C/A
Summary: Cordy gets the words out of Angel.
Spoilers: None.
Disclaimer: The characters in the Angelverse were created by Joss Whedon & David Greenwalt. No infringement is intended, no profit is made.
Distribution: Just Fic.
Notes: This is based on our frustration as to why Angel couldn't tell Cordy he loved her. Punk bitch that he is. ;)
Feedback: Would be nice.
Thanks/Dedication:

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"Angel? I love you."

The vampire gave her his most sexiest smile. "Looks like someone's fixing to get lucky tonight." He wagged his eyebrows at her. "You know, honey. All you have to do is ask. And not even that."

Cordelia rolled her eyes. "No. I LOVE you."

"I know, baby", he smiled warmly at her again.

"Angel!", she stomped her foot in frustration.

"What?" He creased his forehead in confusion, and a bit of fear. Cordy could be scary when she was mad. "What did I do?"

She sucked her teeth. "It's more like what you didn't do."

"Huh?"

Cordy licked her lips and frowned. "Angel... why don't you ever say it?"

"Say what?", the vampire was genuinely confused.

"That you love me?"

His eyes widened and he froze. "What do you mean? I say it."

"No, you don't. In fact, you've never said it."

"Cordy, that's not... you know I do!"

"Yes. But it's also nice to hear it once in awhile."

Angel sighed. "Cord, I...", he fumbled with his words, "I like to think that we have the kind of relationship where... actions speak louder than words. There's no need to say it. We just... know."

Cordy smiled, and for a brief moment he thought he was out of the dog house. "Angel, that is so sweet." She caressed the side of his face. "And so full of crap." Then lightly smacked his cheek.

The dark avenger flinched. "Ow."

She gave him a sad smile. "Just forget I brought it up, Angel." She turned to leave.

"Cor, wait!" The vampire was beginning to panic. She wasn't really upset, was she? She didn't really doubt his love, did she? "Where is this coming from all of a sudden? We've been together for almost a year now and this is the first time you've ever said anything."

The woman tucked her hair behind her ear. "I was just chatting with Fred, and you know how mushy she gets when she's talking about her and Gunn. So she goes on about how she and Gunn have this 'I love you' contest going, she's ahead, 35 to 33."

"Oh. That's..."

"Weird? Creepy? Nauseating?"

"Yep."

"I know. But then it just hit me. I've told you I love you at least 20 times now, and you've never said it once."

The vampire smirked. "You counted?"

Cordy stuck her tongue out at him.

"It's not that I don't want to, baby. I say it all the time in my mind. It's just... I don't have a very good track record when it comes to using those words."

"Neither do I."

The vampire looked down. "The only people I've ever said them to were Buffy and Connor and look what happened. I hurt them both and lost them. I don't want that to happen with you, Cordy." He raised his pained eyes to her.

"Well, at least you got to say it, and at least in one case you got to hear it back. I only ever entertained the idea once before and it was when I was with Xander."

Angel closed his eyes and whispered, "Honey? I'm scared."

Her heart went out to him. And in that moment, she closed the distance between them and kissed him.

It wasn't a passionate kiss, or a melancholy one. It was just theirs.

And when it was done, she leaned her forehead to his and mumbled against his lips. "I know you love me, Angel. I've always known, even when I didn't want to know. How could I not? But if you don't say it, I'm gonna kick your ass."

They chuckled as they broke further apart.

Angel grabbed her hand and bit his lip in nervousment. "Cordelia Chase... I love you."

She squealed, jumped into his arms and wrapped her legs around his waist.

"Oh, Angel! You didn't have to say that!"

End.