Part 11
Despite the hurt feelings and confusion, Cordelia woke up enjoying Angel’s arms holding her against his chest. She studied his expression. It was so hard to determine if a vampire was asleep. Guessing he was, she inspected the wounds she hadn’t seen the night before.
There were still a few scratches on his chest that must have been fairly deep since they were still visible. His stomach was marred by a large bruise that had turned a greenish yellow as it healed.
She wriggled free of his grip and inspected his legs. There were a few faint bruises but nothing that indicated any serious injury. She knew the wound on his back would still be visible. Tears pricked her eyes. She was such an idiot. Her hurt feelings almost resulted in so many deaths. She endangered her family. She watched the still vampire sleep.
“How could I go from being in love with Buffy to falling in love with Cordelia? It had to be magic.”
Angel’s words may have hurt but that didn’t justify her actions. Brian had been so sweet. He took care of her after she got sick. He’d been so understanding. He deserved better than being used. As much as she liked him, their almost-lovemaking hadn’t been about passion.
Her feelings for Brian weren’t the reason she’d been so quick to take the next step in their relationship. It was about Angel.
She stroked her lips remembering their kiss. It had been so intense, his taste so good. She wondered if Wesley’s theory had merit. He was normally right about these things but a small voice kept whispering that her feelings were real. The situation made ignoring her feelings nearly impossible but it had nothing to do with magic, except that it was magic that created the situation.
Even now although she had no idea how he felt or why he’d kissed her, she wanted him. She wanted him to kiss her again and mean it. She wanted him to make love to her.
But did she want to consummate her marriage? She was still unclear what that meant. She now understood the monogamy clause. She wasn’t very sure about sensing each other’s emotions. Would his brooding affect her? Would his vampire instincts affect her? Would her behavior change? Would she crave violence? Blood? Would she suddenly want to sit in a dark room and alphabetize her past sins?
The priest said they wouldn’t read each other’s minds which was a relief. She knew there was a demon residing just beneath the surface of his beautiful exterior. She could accept that but that didn’t mean she wanted to hear his demon’s thoughts, his urges, his impulses, or his delight in inflicting pain. She had always respected him for resisting his demon. If it hadn’t been for his beige period, she probably wouldn’t have feared being his wife.
“Don’t make me move you.”
Now she knew he wasn’t just capable of hurting her, he was willing to. Why should she trust him? The bond may force him to be faithful but it didn’t stop him from hurting her again. Could she survive letting him in only to be rejected again, cast aside as if she were nothing? She survived Xander. She survived her parents. She survived Angel.
Angel woke up to find Cordelia sitting cross-legged staring at him through unseeing eyes. The events of the previous day caught up with him, especially their kiss. He longed to grab her and demand she kiss him, force her to confront her feelings and admit she wasn’t being tricked by magic. Wes couldn’t be right.
“I don’t think this is such a good idea. We don’t even know what this means. The bond, I’m still confused about its effects.”
His expression darkened. She was either being affected by magic, which he refused to believe; she didn’t trust her feelings for him; or she didn’t want to love him. Could he really blame her if the latter proved true? Regardless of the legitimacy of her doubts, he couldn’t help getting angry.
It took getting sick to stop her from being with another man. There’d been no such thing stopping them. She chose to stop. He needed to get away from her before he did something she might make him regret. “I take it the rule doesn’t apply to you?”
She jumped slightly at the sound of his voice. “What rule?”
“You told me if I woke up and the sun was shining I should move to the couch.”
“I…” She didn’t know what to say. His tone was clipped but not exactly angry. He did have a point. She made that rule but that was before the truce… and the kiss. “I’m sorry. I didn’t.. I should get ready. Today’s a working day.” She forced a plastic smile into place.
Angel cursed his stupidity as he watched her leave. “I would’ve been better off kissing her.”
***
“Wes, do you have any idea what the hell is goin’ on now?”
“What do you mean?”
Gunn gestured wildly. “Everything. This morning Barbie wakes me up and brings me coffee and breakfast in bed. She went to that Mom and Pop place I like so much.”
“Really? She brought me tea and a scone from the bakery down the street.” Wesley raked a hand through his hair. “Aren’t those two places in the opposite direction from here?”
“Yeah.”
He sighed. “I imagine she still feels guilty about last night. I hoped I got through to her.”
“I figured the guilt thing out on my own. I told her I don’t blame her but who am I to turn down breakfast in bed? What I can’t figure out is what’s up with her and the vamp? He was hurt worse than we were, granted he heals faster. But he don’t seem to be on the receiving end of any pampering. I watched him wince in pain when he bent to pick something up. Cordy was standing right there and just watched him. I was gettin’ up to grab my video game and she raced over to get for me. How come he’s doin’ his own fetching? Plus one second he’s looking at her like he’s dyin’ to ask her a question and the next he’s lookin’ like he wants to yell at her, which he better not do.”
“Well to be fair, we should look at the situation from his point of view.”
“Why?”
“Gunn, it’s not Angel’s fault his feelings are being manipulated. From his perspective, the woman he loves, his wife in fact, attempted to make love to another man last night. How would you feel if you were in his place? His feelings real or not should be given consideration.”
“I’m starting to have issues with your theory, Wes.”
“How so?”
“Well if they’re both being tricked into thinkin’ they’re in love, why was Cordy trying to get.. frisky with the accountant last night? Shouldn’t she want the vamp instead? What if you’re wrong? What if Angel really does like her?”
“That doesn’t seem possible. Why now?”
“Why not? Not everything is love at first sight. What if he didn’t know what he had until he thought he lost it?”
“Then he should have realized that when he fired us because that’s when he lost her.”
“Yeah but he wasn’t dealing with a full deck back then. He was all messed up, not really thinkin’ about anything but revenge. It wouldn’t surprise me if he thought Cordy would be waitin’ for him on the other side of his dark time. You know if he made it through. If he didn’t then she’d be better off without him.”
“Gunn, that was very well spoken and rather insightful.”
“You don’t have to sound so shocked. I have my moments. So what do we do? Whether his feelings are real or not, Angel ain’t the right guy for Cordy.”
“Very true. Perhaps I should speak to Lorne. He could ascertain whether or not the bond is affecting them and whether or not Angel is intending to make any long term romantic gestures towards Cordelia.”
“Do you think if we dusted him the marriage would be automatically annulled?”
“I hardly think we’re at a point where staking him is necessary. He is still Cordelia’s warrior.”
“You know me, Wes. I’m a proactive type of guy.”
“We can go to Caritas tonight. I think it’s best if we speak to Lorne in person.”
Cordelia walked into the office, oblivious to their conversation. “So are we still on for tonight?”
“What’s tonight?”
“Geez Wes. It was your idea to get together with Brian so you guys can get to know him better. You still want to go, don’t you?”
Gunn smiled a devilish gleam in his eyes. “He must be itchin’ to go out with you again after the wonderful time you showed him last night.”
She could feel her cheeks flush. “Brian was really understanding about last night. He’s a nice guy. I think you’ll like him.”
“I’m in. I gotta get to know a guy who handles his girl barfing on him so well.”
She rolled her eyes. “Wesley?”
“Of course. Gunn and I were planning a night at Caritas but we can do that another night.”
“Why don’t we still go? Aren’t Brian and Lorne friends?”
“Yes.” Cordelia couldn’t face Lorne. Her aura was probably lit up like a billboard, her swirling emotions out there for any nosy green demon to see. “But I’d rather leave the demon world behind tonight.”
“Does that include Angel?” Gunn pointed towards the lobby where the vampire in question was cleaning his broadsword.
“I don’t think he’d want to come.”
“Have you asked him?”
“I don’t need to, Wes. Angel wouldn’t want to come. He has that whole allergy to fun thing going on. I’m sure he’ll find something else to amuse himself.”
***
Angel watched Cordelia, Brian, Wesley and Gunn leave from his place in the shadows. Anger, hurt and jealousy raged through him. He took no comfort in Cordelia’s back-handed invitation to join them.
“Angel, did you want to join us tonight? I want the guys to get to know Brian better. I would’ve invited you sooner but I knew you’d say no. I figured I should at least extend the invitation just in case.”
He couldn’t understand why she was still dating that bastard. She had returned his kiss passionately. Granted she was the one to push him away but there was desire in her eyes, desire for him. She was confused.
He tried to push the hurt away. He wasn’t an easy person to love. It should confuse her. He had to help her confront her feelings. Wesley was wrong. The bond had nothing to do with it.
“There may have been moments where I thought I felt something.”
Wesley was wrong. Cordelia felt something and it was genuine. Angel needed to believe that.
“Hello? Is anyone here? I’m looking for Angel investigations.”
Angel stepped out of the shadows. “I’m Angel. Can I help you?”
***
Wesley wiped the tears from his eyes. “I have heard many tales but I have never heard anyone having that reaction to meeting a demon for the first time.”
“My sister is quite unique. Plus she’s married to a doctor. She had a lot of questions I couldn’t answer. Who better to answer them than the demons at the club? A lot of weird stuff happens in San Francisco so my entire family handled it pretty well.”
“That totally baffles me. My parents along with the rest of Sunnydale do the whole convenient memory thing really well. I mean our guest speaker at my high school graduation ceremony turned into a big snake and ate some of my graduating class as well as the principal and to this day my parents act like demons aren’t real. We had to blow the high school up in order to kill it but they choose to believe the bull the papers printed about a gas leak.”
“You blew your high school up?”
“Technically my high school librarian blew it up, he flipped the switch. Wesley and I were in charge of rescuing the books before it went up. You remember that, don’t you Wes?” She winked at her fidgeting friend. “It was rough ceremony. I framed my singed diploma. That was one of the last things I did before leaving Sunnydale for good. I haven’t been back since.”
“Do your parents visit you here?”
“Oh umm my parents… they umm… we’re more of a keep in touch with the occasional phone call kind of family.”
Brian squeezed her hand in support. He didn’t want to pursue the topic in front of her friends. “The biggest shock at my high school graduation was when Jim Bailey revealed he wasn’t wearing any clothes under his gown.” He lifted her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm. “You are an amazing woman.”
She shrugged. “I was mainly bait back then. Buffy was the hero.”
“How could I go from being in love with Buffy to falling in love with Cordelia? It had to be magic.”
“Buffy is the slayer.”
“The what?”
Cordelia rolled her eyes. “I think I’ll let Wes explain the wonder that is Buffy Summers.”
Wesley cleared his throat in preparation for his speech. “Buffy is a slayer. She was called when she was sixteen. You see Brian into each generation a slayer is born…”
Cordelia absently pushed her food around on her plate letting her mind drift. She’d heard the speech before. A soft smile crossed her face as she remembered the first time Giles had given her the slayer speech. Xander used to do a pretty good imitation of Giles. Her dorky ex knew it by heart.
She didn’t really hate Buffy. The blond had saved her life more times than she cared to remember. She just hated the power her royal blondness had over Angel. She had nearly called Buffy several times, knowing that if anyone could snap Angel out of his Darla obsession it was the love of his life. Buffy wouldn’t have been tossed aside like Cordelia was.
“I didn’t mean what I said to Wesley. He was being protective of you and I.. I wanted him to think he was right. I wanted him to think I couldn’t have feelings for you. He basically threatened me. Well maybe not aloud but it was definitely implied that my unlife would not be pleasant if I even considered pursuing you romantically.”
What a load of crap. OK. She could believe the implied threat. Wes and Gunn were protective of her. She loved them for it even if it got on her nerves on occasion. What she didn’t believe was Angel not meaning what he’d said. It had taken magic for him to be interested in her. He’d never shown the slightest interest in her until they were married, at least not romantically.
Of course since he is being affected, he probably believed what he was saying was true. He was crazy and crazy people tended to believe their own crazy talk.
She was being affected. It was the only explanation. She’d been in complete control of her slight, practically insignificant attraction for Angel until she’d been forced into his bed. She was a victim dammit!
“Cordelia, are you alright?”
She snapped to attention at the sound of Wesley’s voice. “What?”
“You were off in La La land. What’s up?”
“Sorry. You know me, Gunn. That speech always puts me to sleep.”
“I know what you mean. Actually most of Wes’s speeches put me to sleep.”
“I am a very good speaker. I’ve been told I have great presence.”
“Whatever your mama tells you don’t count, English.”
“I know you did NOT just bring my mother into it.”
Gunn held his hands up in mock surrender. “You know I would never say anything bad about Mama Wyndam-Pryce.” One hand closed in a fist.
Wesley smiled as they shared their special handshake.
“You two realize you just lost like a million cool points and Wes doesn’t have any to spare.” She winked at them, taking the sting from her words.
Brian would have to remember to tell Cordelia later that he now understood why she had laughed at him when he’d expressed some jealousy over her friendship with Wesley and Gunn. It was clear to him that both men truly were her older brothers, except for their occasional comments about her physical beauty but those comments were made without the slightest leer.
He was a little disappointed that Angel chose not to join them. He was interested in watching the vampire with a soul’s interaction with his seer. He’d heard so many conflicting stories. He wanted to believe Cordelia’s assertion that he had nothing to worry about but the few times he’d been around Angel led him to fear otherwise.
“So what’s next on our night off? The night is young and there’s nothing we have to kill.” Gunn smiled at the waiter who’d gone pale. “We’d like the check whenever you get the chance.” He started laughing when the man practically sprinted from the table.
“Geez Gunn. I can’t take you anywhere.”
“Oh really. Does that mean you’re payin’, Barbie?”
“This will be my treat.”
“Brian, that’s very generous of you but it isn’t necessary.”
“It’s my pleasure. Really. You can pick up the tab next time.”
“I got an idea. Me and English go to this bar..”
“Pub.”
“Whatever. We go to this pub to shoot darts. How about we hit that place next? We’ll play teams, Wes and I against you and Cordy.”
“That sounds like fun. Cordy?”
“I’m in. I’ve been waiting for the right time to kick their asses at darts. Tonight is as good as any.”
“Big talk little girl. We’re “both dart-throwing masters of the universe”. Don’t worry. We’ll take it easy on you.”
***
Cordelia groaned for what felt like the millionth time. She offered to be the designated driver. It made sense at the time. She wasn’t allowed to drink and volunteering saved her from having to answer any questions. What she hadn’t counted on was dealing with three intoxicated men.
Wesley and Gunn weren’t nearly as amusing as when she was drunk too. Brian wasn’t an obnoxious drunk. He was an affectionate one.
It shouldn’t have bothered her considering they nearly had sex the night before. His kisses didn’t feel right. Her toes didn’t tingle. She reasoned it was due to the liquor on his breath. Plus in his intoxicated state, he kept trying to use too much tongue.
Tongue just wasn’t appropriate in public, right? There was one thing Cordelia was sure about. The lack of fire in their kisses had absolutely nothing to do with Angel.
“We won again, Cordy. Victory kiss.”
Brian seized her lips before she could say anything. She returned the kiss for a moment before gently pushing him away. She glanced over at the sulking men. “I thought you boys were good at darts.”
“Shut up, Barbie. You never said anything about dating a ringer. You hustled us. That just ain’t right.”
“Ah poor babies. Are you two feeling a little inadequate?”
“Did I forget to mention that my frat brothers and I were dart-playing fiends? And we occasionally had a few beers while we played.”
“Man, what’d I tell you?” He slapped Wesley on the back nearly knocking him down. “She brought a ringer.”
She smiled sweetly. “Don’t be a sore loser, Gunn. We’ll let you guys win the next game. I promise.”
***
Cordelia paced the length of Angel’s suite. She threw a throw pillow at the clock sending it crashing to the floor. “Dammit Angel! Where the hell are you?”
She dialed her missing husband’s cell phone. Again. She hung up when his voice mail picked up. She threw the phone on the couch with disgust and resumed pacing.
She waited five minutes before grabbing the phone again. This time she dialed Wesley’s number.
A groggy voice answered. “Hello.”
“Wesley, it’s me.”
“Cordelia,” his voice became alert. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
“Angel isn’t home yet.”
“Is that all? He’s probably out patrolling. It’s only… Oh dear. Is that the correct time?”
“If you’re thinking it’s less than an hour before sunrise then yes.”
“Have you tried calling his cell phone?”
“Of course I have. I got his voice mail. I left a message even though I know he has no idea how to check it.”
“Do you have any idea where he may have gone?”
“No. There was no note or anything. We don’t have any pending cases. I called Caritas hours ago. Lorne was busy but the bartender told me Angel hadn’t been there all night. I’m a second away from calling Wolfram and Hart. You don’t think he’s relapsed, do you?”
“No. He hasn’t shown any indication of that. He hasn’t even mentioned the law firm recently.”
“Do you think he.. he went to Sunnydale? Maybe he went there to tell Buffy about his soul. Maybe he’s with her right now.” Making love to her, she silently added.
“He wouldn’t leave LA without telling anyone.”
“Then where the hell is he?”
“I’m sure he’ll be back any minute. He knows you only have until sunrise or you have to start over again.”
“Wes, that’s so not the point right now. What if something happened to him? You’re the answer man. Would..” she swallowed hard. “Would I feel it if he’s been killed?” She furiously blinked back tears. “I’d know, right? The bond is affecting us. I’d feel it, right?”
“I don’t know but I’m sure he’s okay. Angel has survived a very long time. He’ll be fine.” He cleared his throat. “Cordelia, Gunn and I noticed there was some tension between you and Angel today. Did you have a fight?”
“We… He was a little angry.”
“Was he upset about what happened between you and Brian last night?”
“You think he left because of what I did?” Cordelia sank to the floor.
“No of course not. It wouldn’t make sense. Leaving would ensure the bond’s completion. I am quite sure he’ll return at any moment. I only meant he may have gone to work off some tension. As long as he’s in bed with you by sunrise, everything will be fine. If he was still angry, he may want to wait until the last moment.”
“Oh. That makes sense. When we first started this 40 nights’ thing, I was tempted to wait but I was tired. He’s got the whole creature of the night thing going for him. He used to be up most of the night. I guess I’ve gotten used to meeting in the middle, we stay up later and he goes to sleep earlier.”
“Would you like me to come to the hotel and wait with you?”
“No. You’re probably right. He’ll be back any second. I’ll yell at him for making me worry and waking you up. Then we’ll go to bed. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I’ll be fine. Good night.”
“Good night.”
She tossed the phone aside and hugged her knees. “He said he wouldn’t leave. He promised.” She began rocking back and forth. “He promised.” She reached for the phone and dialed Sunnydale. She hung up before it even rang once. If he was there, she’d rather not know.
***
Angel crept into his suite careful not to wake Cordelia. He froze the moment he spotted Cordelia rocking herself on the floor by the couch, her face buried in her knees. “Cordy?”
Her head popped up. “Angel?”
“Yes.” He knew she had to be mad. The sun had risen almost thirty minutes ago. “I..” He grunted as he was nearly tackled to the floor by a surprisingly strong brunette blur. His arms instantly wrapped around her trembling form.
“You’re okay. You came back.” She stepped out of his arms. Her hands immediately began searching his body for any sign of injury.
His body hardened as her hands spread fire across his skin. “What.. what are you doing?”
“I’m looking for wounds.”
Angel bit back a moan of pleasure. “I’m not hurt.” He never saw her fist fly but he felt it. “Ow! What the hell was that for?”
“Where the hell have you been? I’ve been up all night worried sick.”
“You have?” He couldn’t stop a smile from forming. This time he blocked her next blow.
“Don’t flatter yourself. In case you haven’t noticed, the sun is shining. Now we have to start all over. What the hell were you thinking? Why didn’t you call? Did you even bring your cell phone? Why the hell did we get you one if you’re not going to carry it? I can’t believe you pulled this shit. Is this because of what happened last night? You went to Sunnydale, didn’t you? Are you just going to stand there looking stupid or are you going to answer my questions?”
“I was waiting for you to take a breath. You need to breathe, don’t you?”
“Shut up and talk.”
“You do know that made no sense, right?”
“Do you really think now is the time to be funny?”
Angel studied his wife. Her hands were planted firmly on her hips, her eyes were puffy from crying but the hazel sparked with anger, and her foot was tapping furiously. “I’m sorry I’m late.”
“Late? LATE? This goes way beyond late!” She gestured wildly at the window, sunlight peaking around the edges of the curtain. “The sun is freakin’ shining happily in the sky and I haven’t slept all freakin’ night because somebody couldn’t freakin’ use his damn cell phone!” Her eyes shined with unshed tears. “Did you go to Sunnydale?” her voice sounded small and defeated.
“No.” He cradled her face in his hands. “After you left tonight, someone came in looking for help. I was out all night working. I would’ve called but,” he pulled his smashed cell phone out of his pocket. “This got destroyed.”
“You know they have these wonderful things called payphones.”
“I couldn’t leave to use the phone and one of the vampires cut the phone lines to the building we were in.”
Cordelia blew out a frustrated breath. “I guess saving innocent lives is a fairly good excuse.” Her back straightened. “I’m not apologizing for hitting you. You made me worry. You could’ve left a note. I had no idea where you were. I called Caritas and Wesley. I dialed Sunnydale but I hung up.” She rested her cheek against his chest. The leather of his coat cooled her flushed skin. “I thought maybe you were still mad at me and left.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” He held her close, savoring her warmth. “I promise. I’m never leaving you again.”
They stood there for several moments wrapped in each other’s arms, their eyes closed.
He heard her gentle yawn. “Let’s go to bed.”
She bolted out of his arms. “What?”
Angel resisted the urge to pull her back to him. “I only meant we should get some sleep. I’m exhausted and you said you were up all night worrying.”
“But the sun is already up. It doesn’t count.”
“So? We still need to sleep.”
Cordelia nibbled on her bottom lip. “That’s true.” She followed Angel into his bedroom. Her pulse began to race as she watched him undress.
He stripped down to his boxers. He could hear her wild heartbeat, enjoying the effect he had on her. He didn’t want to scare her away but he wanted her to face how she felt about him. He slipped into bed, pulling the covers up to his waist. “Are you coming to bed?”
She had switched to nibbling on her thumb the moment his pants hit the floor. “I… um”
“You’re tired. I’m tired. Come to bed.”
“I am pretty exhausted thanks to you.” She moved towards the bed but paused when he pulled the covers back in invitation causing her heart to skip a beat. This felt more intimate. It didn’t count towards their annulment. There was a perfectly good couch in the next room. The room she slept in on occasion was just down the hall. There was no reason she had to sleep with Angel.
She debated internally for half a second before climbing into bed beside him. She justified her decision by reasoning it was her sheets and her blanket on the bed. If anyone should leave, it should be him. To further make it completely impersonal, she rolled onto her side with her back to Angel. They weren’t really sleeping together. He just happened to be in the same bed.
Angel refused to be ignored so easily. He waited for her settle before pressing his stomach to her back and draping an arm around her waist. He braced himself for another flying fist or an angry word. There was no pretending to be asleep this time.
She should pull away. This was wrong. She had a boyfriend. This was wrong. She entwined her fingers with his and wrapped his arm more securely around her waist. Sleep-deprived people weren’t supposed to be rational.
Angel buried his face in the crook of her neck and relaxed, letting sleep claim his tired body.
***
Wesley quietly entered Angel’s suite when he received no response to his knock. The shades were drawn casting shadows across the room. Instead of calling out for either Angel or Cordelia, he crossed the room and carefully opened the French doors. He knew they were likely to be still asleep and didn’t wish to disturb them.
If he’d had any preconceived notions about what he might find, it bared no resemblance to the sight he found. Angel slept on his back while Cordelia used his shoulder as her pillow. A long feminine leg was draped over his, entwining them. Her hand rested on his chest. It was intimate. It was the image of a husband and wife happily sharing their bed. It scared the hell out of him.
“Get out.”
Angel’s husky voice caused Wesley to jump slightly. Hostile brown eyes trained on him forcing him into speech. “I was just making sure you returned home safely. Cordelia called me last night rather worried. When I didn’t hear from her again, I assumed you must have returned as I assured her you would.”
“I’m back. Go away. Cordy was up all night worrying. It’s too soon for her to get up.”
“Of course. I’ll just be going.” Wesley remained in place.
“Is there something else?”
“Did you return before dawn?”
“No. We’ll have to start over again.”
“I see. Is there a reason you were out all night?”
“Yes.”
When he didn’t continue, Wesley prodded. “And that reason would be?”
“A walk-in client. I’ll tell you about it later.” Cordelia began to stir in his arms, grumbling unhappily. Angel lowered his voice so Wesley wouldn’t hear him. “Shh baby. Just sleep.” Her grumbling stopped, replaced by a small smile. “Go away, Wes. We’re sleeping.”
“Very well but I’d like to speak to you as soon as you wake.”
“OK.”
Wesley still remained in place. “Gunn and I are just downstairs if you need anything.”
Angel’s only response was to close his eyes.
“I will see you both later.” He reluctantly closed the door and slowly left the suite.
The moment he heard the outer door close, Angel whispered, “I have everything I need right here.” He gently pressed a kiss to Cordelia’s forehead.
***
Gunn watched Wesley slowly walk down the stairs. The Englishman looked as if his mind was a million miles away. “Is the vamp still missing?”
“What?”
“Angel, is he missing?”
“Oh. No. He’s upstairs.”
“Cool. I didn’t really want to run around the city looking for clues to where his ass was hiding out.”
“They’re sleeping.” Wesley sunk onto the red couch.
“O-kay. What’s up with you? You’re acting a little strange, even for you.”
“They’re sleeping.”
“You said that already.”
“Yes but they’re sleeping together.”
“You mean…” Gunn walked over to the weapon’s cabinet and grabbed a stake. “I’ll be right back.”
“Put the stake away. I didn’t mean it like that. They’re both dressed, well Angel is merely wearing boxers but they weren’t…”
“Don’t do that!” Gunn tossed the stake back in the cabinet. “So what’s the big deal? I thought the whole point was for them to sleep together without doing the freaky freak.”
Wesley rolled his eyes at the euphemism. “Angel didn’t return before the sun rose.”
“So? Oh. OH. That means they have to start over, don’t they?”
“Yes but that’s not my point. Why were they sleeping together?”
“Huh?”
“Charles, they officially missed a night. Yes they have to begin again but it won’t count until tonight. There is no reason for them to be sharing a bed right now. It doesn’t count.”
Gunn walked back to the weapon’s cabinet and grabbed the same stake. “I think I need to have a talk with the vamp. He needs to keep his hands off Cordy.”
“Don’t. Not yet.”
“Wes, I’m not gonna stand by and watch him finally destroy that girl. Don’t tell me you forgot about that night?”
“Of course I haven’t. They’re both confused right now. They’re being affected by magic.”
“I don’t care. I’m sure dusting him will settle the confusion.”
“No.” Wesley stood his stature weary. “Will you hold down the fort?”
“Where are you going at a time like this?”
“I need to speak to Lorne. I want him to read Angel. We need to know once and for all what is happening.”
Gunn tossed the stake back in the cabinet. “OK. I can be calm for now.”
“Good. I’ll be back soon.”