Part 4<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cLook man for way too long now you\u2019ve been doing your rendition of it\u2019s all about me and I for one am ready to change the music around here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo one is forcing you to be here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019d like that wouldn\u2019t you? Get me out of the way so you can muscle in on the girl. That ain\u2019t gonna happen, so give it up.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGunn, Angel, is it really asking too much that I enjoy my morning tea in a battle free zone?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry English. It\u2019s just that the day\u2019s barely started and the vamp\u2019s already itchin\u2019 to get at Barbie. I was just giving him some advice\u2026back off.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDamn it Gunn all I asked was if Cordy was here yet. How the hell does that constitute a threat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I told you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBoth of you please\u2026Angel; join me for a cup of tea?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHah, now you\u2019re gonna get it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGunn I believe if you check your messages you\u2019ll find that you\u2019re running late.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLate for what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCheck your messages. Angel?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m on it English.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll grab my cup and meet you in your office.\u201d<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
\u201cSo Angel, how are things?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFine.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cReally, well that\u2019s a load off.\u201d<\/p>\n
The two men stared across the large, wooden desk. Papers neatly squared in methodical stacks, the accessories minimal but carefully selected and meticulously aligned at a right angle characterized the man that now owned it. With a silent sigh, Angel masked the discontent and more than slight resentment at his current position as subordinate.<\/p>\n
\u201cLook Wes, I know where this is headed so let\u2019s just get it out in the open. I\u2019m not going off the deep end again and I\u2019m not firing anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel let\u2019s try to prevent this conversation from taking the wrong direction. I would prefer to put an end to yours and Gunn\u2019s macho contests without replacing it with ours.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIs that so?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, it is. Whether the agency operates from this location or another, the agency will continue. Angel Investigations belongs to all of us but that doesn\u2019t imply its existence is dependent on any particular individual\u2019s participation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Point delivered and received, Angel acknowledged the current leader\u2019s reminder that the mission and their small firm had continued with little interruption during his absences.<\/p>\n
\u201cWes, I wasn\u2019t trying to take charge. I just wanted to assure you that you guys don\u2019t have to worry about me. I\u2019m not going anywhere and I\u2019m not going to ask anyone to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s good to hear but it doesn\u2019t change the reality of our present situation. You cannot threaten your coworkers regardless of your reasons. Should you ever do that again Angel we will be forced to relocate. None of us are willing to come here everyday having to worry about your current mood.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWes I think your attitude is a bit discriminate.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cReally; how so?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know I shouldn\u2019t have threatened Gunn like that but it wasn\u2019t the result of my current mood as you put it. I had just watched Cordy experience a very terrifying reaction to the visions and then find out you had known about it but neither of you told me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel I explained to you last night that we had not informed anyone of these new developments. It is Cordelia\u2019s right not to disclose certain personal information and her decision did not put anyone\u2019s safety in jeopardy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not the point Wes and you know it. Nothing is like it used to be. There was a time Cordy would never have kept something like that from me but now I know less about what\u2019s going on in her life than her damn manicurist.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, you cannot force Cordelia to go back to the way things once were between the two of you. I believe you and Cordelia were on the road to reconciliation until Darla arrived\u2026carrying your child. Possibly the deceit you had stooped to, the lies you told in order to gain our forgiveness and trust may have permanently closed that road for Cordelia. Perhaps you need to accept that your behavior, that the decisions you willingly made have destroyed any relationships that existed before. Perhaps Angel, your time would be better spent building new relationships instead of complaining that you can\u2019t return to what you once had.\u201d<\/p>\n
The challenge had been issued and it hovered like a winged predator waiting to strike. Angel quietly accepted genuinely taken aback that the issuer had been Wesley and not him. His relinquish of title had been symbolic at best and he had never doubted that in time he would reclaim it.<\/p>\n
The discovery of Darla\u2019s healthy survival coupled with the exposure of their licentious reunion gave cause to postpone any attempt to retrieve his surrendered leadership. Angel inwardly admitted his respect for Wesley\u2019s ability to command might have been upped a notch or two but waited for the next few minutes to sway that opinion one way or the other.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat the hell do you think I\u2019ve been doing Wes? For the last twelve months, I have done everything I could to regain your trust and be accepted back into the family I walked away from. What do you people want from me? If I burn in hell\u2019s fire for another couple hundred years will that be enough?\u201d<\/p>\n
Whether purposely delivered or mistakenly perceived the metaphorical challenge had been countered. Wesley watched in silence as Angle shot to his feet, his tense movement forcing the chair back; its metal legs scraped across the already blemished floor. The loud clack of his heels hitting against the wood shuttled through the air as he marked off his side of the room in a jerky pace. With a barely noticed hitch of breath Wesley responded, his voice clear and decisive.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo Angel you haven\u2019t. The truth of this pathetic situation we find ourselves in is that had Darla\u2019s arrival not exposed your dishonesty you would have lured that innocent girl into trusting you and believing in you again under the guise of lies and deceit. The truth Angel is that for the past twelve months you have carefully presented the perfect persona that you perceived we needed to witness. You have treaded lightly, you have spoken softly and you have dallied in the day to day pleasantries that are a normal occurrence in the lives of us humans\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
His interruption a gesture of purpose, Wesley slowly rose from his chair bending his tall, lanky form to rest his closed fists against the surface of the desk. Having gained the reluctant attention of the now motionless listener he continued.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026but you have yet to invest yourself in any real commitment that is essential for building meaningful relationships. Now sit down and let us continue this discussion as the civilized beings that we both are.\u201d<\/p>\n
Each man squared his shoulders granting a slight glance of respect and acceptance to the other before submitting to the civilized gesture of a seated discussion.<\/p>\n
At this moment, Angel hated Wesley Wyndam-Pryce. He wanted to feel the man\u2019s bones crush under his iron grip, wanted to smell the blood as it poured from his broken body. All because this man had challenged him with the undeniable truth and he had no recourse except full disclosure.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a reason for that\u2026I don\u2019t know how. Before, Cordy would always tell me what to do and whether I wanted to or not I would eventually do what she said and then everything would be OK. I don\u2019t know how to do this without her and I\u2019m stuck in limbo. I can\u2019t get her back if I don\u2019t know what to do and until I get her back, she won\u2019t tell me what to do. I need her to tell me what to do. I need her back, I need all of you back. Tell me what you think I should do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now Wesley found himself in a dilemma he wasn\u2019t prepared for. Angel had reached out to him asking for help. Although surprised by the request he wanted to help the man sitting across from him but wasn\u2019t confident he possessed the wisdom such an endeavor would require.<\/p>\n
\u201cHonestly Angel I\u2019m not sure I\u2019m the best person to advise you on this. Just as the case with you, my experience with true friendship didn\u2019t occur until I arrived in LA. The only upper hand I have on you right now is that I have been fortunate enough to realize the importance of the friendships I have and therefore am less likely to do anything that will jeopardize those relationships.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGees, thanks for all the help Wes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel the only advice I can give you is to be honest with us. No one resents that you have a son and most certainly, no one regrets Connor is here. The shock of Connor\u2019s birth didn\u2019t destroy the progress we had made; it was realizing you had deceived us into believing Darla no longer existed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know Wes but I can\u2019t undo what\u2019s already done.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo you can\u2019t. All you can do is move forward. I believe Angel you will find that all of us are ready to make that move with you. I\u2019ll talk to Gunn about his over protectiveness for Cordelia. Since losing Alonna, Cordelia has filled a rather large void in his life. He doesn\u2019t mean to be so hard on you Angel, it’s just that he worries he could lose another sister.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI can understand that. Wes, will you a least tell me how Cordy is? You did talk to her last night; didn\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes I did and she\u2019s fine Angel. When Cordelia arrives I\u2019ll discuss with her your desire to assist with her new demon skills.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks, I\u2019d really like to help. Wes maybe now would be a good time to discuss the scroll you\u2019ve been interpreting about Connor.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAh yes, the scroll. Well Angel these things take time and with the obvious threats to Connor\u2019s existence it\u2019s difficult to determine who can be trusted with helping interpret the text.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought you were contacting Rupert Giles. When I was in Sunnydale Buffy didn\u2019t know anything about Giles helping you with the scroll. Haven\u2019t you called him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot exactly, well\u2026no. You see Angel, Rupert\u2019s close relationship with Buffy Summers; his personal ties to The Slayer make me hesitant to involve him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy Wes? Giles would never do anything to hurt Connor and I\u2019ve told Buffy everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI see and may I ask how she took the news of you and Darla having a child?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was shocked of course but she handled it OK I guess. It\u2019s not like her reaction could change anything.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe, maybe not. That is one of the hesitations I have had about involving Rupert, which I assumed would lead to Buffy\u2019s involvement. From what I know about your time in Sunnydale, you and Buffy were quite immersed in the belief that you were fated to be together and the text I have interpreted so far clearly does not support that belief.\u201d<\/p>\n
Is that all I will ever be to these people; Buffy\u2019s ill-fated lover? I don\u2019t want my life to be remembered as nothing more than The Slayer\u2019s tragic love.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cThat might have been true at one time. Maybe I did cling to the whole star-crossed lovers or destined to be ill-fated lovers for eternity but that\u2019s all I had then. It\u2019s not like that now. I don\u2019t want to be with someone because it was foretold. I don\u2019t need that\u2026not anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hmmm. That\u2019s surprising to say the least.<\/i> \u201cAngel we still have the threat of Holtz. We cannot be sure why he or Wolfram and Hart have granted this unexpected reprieve. Either or both could be waiting for us to let our guard down.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re right Wes. I never relax where Connor or his safety is concerned. I\u2019m always worried that I\u2019ll fail him, that I\u2019ll lose my son.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI can assure you Angel we will do everything in our power to help you make sure that never happens. Let me have a little more time with the scroll. I just want to be certain that anyone involved can be trusted.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSure Wes and thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAll and all I would say our talk went quite well. Wouldn\u2019t you agree? All right then, I believe I\u2019m in need of another cup of tea. Join me in the kitchen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I need to check on Connor, and Wes, it was a good talk; a talk we should have had a long time ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMost definitely.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel stood from his chair and headed for the door glad for the positive direction their long overdue talk had moved at least one relationship. Now if he could just accomplish the same with Cordelia. He was confident that an automatic fix for his scarred friendship with Gunn would be mending his relationship with their girl but Angel didn\u2019t dare allow himself to believe any talks with Cordelia would be so easy.<\/p>\n
Angel leaned against the doorframe contemplating the use of Wesley\u2019s influence with Cordelia to aid his cause. \u201cWes, I do want to help Cordy. I know what she\u2019s going through, kind of been there myself for the last two hundred and fifty years.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIndeed. I\u2019ll discuss it with her Angel. Cordelia and I have been working with various meditation techniques to help her concentration during the visions. We don\u2019t seem to be making much progress, perhaps you might assist us. I\u2019m sure you have a few tricks up your sleeve for maintaining control over the more unappealing demon attributes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYea, I do have a few tricks that work. Tai Chi is an exercise I\u2019ve used for a long time. It\u2019s good for calming the anger as well as other tension causing situations.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAh yes, Tai Chi, we have tried that actually; though not successfully.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe you\u2019re doing it wrong.\u201d A surge of hope ran through him that he hadn\u2019t felt in a long time. If Wesley could convince her, Angel knew he was the most qualified to help Cordelia deal with her new demon aspects. The fact that they would need to spend time together up close and personal was merely a bonus. A bonus he had not maneuvered into happening, well very little anyway.<\/p>\n
\u201cPerhaps, it is rather new to me as well and concentration is not Cordelia\u2019s strong point. She does succumb to boredom quite easily and then there\u2019s the\u2026well she\u2026she giggles.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGiggles? Why would she giggle?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe says it\u2026tickles. I watched the video of a couple performing Tai Chi. I\u2019m quite certain I followed their illustrations correctly and there was no tickling or giggling from the couple on the video.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWes there are different methods of Tai Chi. Some are just a form of meditation but others are for couples who want to connect on a more spiritual level so they can enhance other areas of their relationship. Is that the kind of Tai Chi you used with Cordy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell I\u2026of course\u2026oh my this is not good.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRelax Wes, it\u2019s no big deal. I\u2019m sure Cordy will know it was an honest mistake. She\u2019ll probably think it\u2019s funny.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo that\u2019s not the problem. I\u2026there is someone that offered to help, he\u2019s\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can say his name Wes. It\u2019s Jack Stone, isn\u2019t it?\u201d Angel struggled not to choke on the man\u2019s name as he assured Wesley. \u201cIt\u2019s OK Wes; I know this guy is more than just a business acquaintance.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo Angel, you don\u2019t understand. I left the video with Cordelia and suggested she and Jack perform the\u2026you see he has some experience with Tai Chi and I thought he would be more helpful in training Cordelia to perform\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou told Cordy to perform an intimacy enhancing technique with Jack Stone? You gave them a video that illustrated the movements they were to perform together? Are you insane?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel you just said it wasn\u2019t a big deal.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s when she was doing it with you\u2026and giggling!\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel was pacing again but this time Wesley had no intentions of stopping it. The cause of this agitated pacing was from an entirely different source and it was best to allow the vampire to work off some of that agitation.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight. I\u2019ll call her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNow Wes, call her now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRight, I\u2019ll call her now\u2026It\u2019s ringing\u2026I\u2019m getting her voice mail but nothing to worry about. I\u2019ll leave her a message. It\u2019s her cell phone so I\u2019m sure she has it with her wherever she is or whatever she\u2026 may be doing.<\/p>\n
\u2018Cordelia, Wesley here, it is very important I speak with you immediately, very important and I cannot stress this enough, do not participate in any Tai Chi until after we have discussed it.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cThere now Angel, everything will be fine. I\u2019m sure we will hear from Cordelia any minute now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd if we don\u2019t?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will Angel and need I remind you that the sun is up; and even if it wasn\u2019t it wouldn\u2019t be prudent for you to go tracking Cordelia around the city. I\u2019m sure she\u2019s fine Angel. Cordelia is quite capable of taking care of herself in personal situations.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure she is Wes, so while we\u2019re waiting to find out if you\u2019ve sent Cordy off to learn the art of seduction I\u2019m going to check on Connor and I need to smooth things over with Fred anyway. I think last night\u2019s showdown between Gunn and me upset her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood idea Angel. Fred has come a long way recovering from her ordeal in Pylea and we wouldn\u2019t want anything to impede further progress. Very well then, if there\u2019s nothing else I\u2019ll just fetch my tea.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo I\u2019m going upstairs; just let me know when you hear from Cordy.\u201d<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Angel scented the air for Fred as soon as he cleared Wesley\u2019s office. Slowing his stride across the lobby, he listened for the rhythm of her heartbeat. The faint sound led him up the stairs toward his own suite. \u201cHey, I didn\u2019t know you were watching Connor, I thought Lorne was with him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe had to check on some stuff about the club. I think he\u2019s in his room making some calls.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAh, speaking of calls I was wondering if you could do me a favor.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSure Angel; what do you need me to do?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCall Cordy\u2019s apartment.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUmm, OK. Do you want me to leave her a message?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot if she\u2019s home.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell she\u2019s not so what do you want me to tell her in the message?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFred if you already know Cordy\u2019s not home there\u2019s no reason to call. Do you know where she is?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYea.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAh\u2026Fred?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, you want me to tell you where she is.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYea, that would be good.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell it\u2019s almost ten so she\u2019s probably still at the gym.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGym? Why would Cordy be at the gym?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe works out with Ja\u2026ah\u2026people. That\u2019s it, she works out with people\u2026at the gym.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, OK. So she goes to the gym to work out with people.\u201d<\/p>\n
A gym is a public place. Not much Mr. I\u2019m Too Sexy For My Shirt can do at the gym. Cordy wouldn\u2019t put up with him putting any moves on her in public. This is OK. I need to calm down. Fred\u2019s getting nervous again.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cAh Fred, look I just wanted to apologize if the disagreement Gunn and I had last night upset you. I would never\u2026\u201d Angel\u2019s head jerked toward the sweet aroma drifting through to open doorway. \u201c\u2026Cordy\u2019s here.\u201d<\/p>\n
The broad, solid form became a blurry swish and Fred wondered if Angel intended to assure her he would never harm Gunn or hoped she wouldn\u2019t be upset if he did yank the young man\u2019s spine out.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
The anger radiated from Cordelia like a lighthouse beacon run amok and the feared Queen C fury was directed at its intended target.<\/p>\n
OH MY.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cGood morning Wesley. Got\u2026Your\u2026Message.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh my.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh my is right. What the hell were you thinking?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell evidently I wasn\u2019t. Perhaps we should discuss this in the office.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy discuss it behind closed doors? It\u2019s not like there\u2019s anyone left that doesn\u2019t know about my personal life or lack of. Oh goodie, Angel\u2019s here; the more the merrier I always say. Fred, Lorne, come join us so you can hear all about wacky Cordy\u2019s latest adventure and Lorne, do bring the baby; we wouldn\u2019t want Connor to miss out on the embarrassment that is my life.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia what happened, didn\u2019t you get my message?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYea I got it and a fat lot of good it did me. Just so you\u2019ll know Einstein, you need to tell me not to do something\u2026 Before\u2026I\u2026Do\u2026It.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore\u2026oh my\u2026Cordelia you didn\u2019t\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDidn\u2019t what; make a fool of myself in front of Jack and every scuz-bucket in the gym this morning?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the gym, why were you in the gym Barbie and what are you guys talkin\u2019 about? English what did you do?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh great Gunn you\u2019re here, now no one will be left out of the horror that was my morning and because Gunn, at the time it seemed like a good idea to exercise the muscles after exercising the brain. Pfftt, yea right.\u201d With not so much as a smidgen of interruption in her on-going assault, Cordelia went from Wesley to Gunn and was now whipping her death glare back to Wesley. \u201cHave you any idea how humiliated I was? I was broadcasting that smut how-to on a fifty-two inch screen for everyone to see and me, little ole clueless Cordy, I was totally oblivious to the deer caught in the headlights panic plastered on Jack\u2019s face.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh Cordelia, what did you do?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did I do you ask? Let me tell you what I did. I shoved this inexperienced foot deeper and deeper into this even more inexperienced mouth.\u201d Her index finger jerked to and fro pointing from foot to face. \u201cI think the highlight of my morning was when I reminded Jack in front of everyone that I had been a cheerleader in high school and I was VERY BENDY. Thank God, the man had the good sense to drag my ass out of there. Jesus freakin\u2019 Christ, I have never been so humiliated in my life.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh my. Oh Cordelia, I am so, so very sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou should be\u2026\u201d She halted her current rant noticing the too happy look on Angel\u2019s face. To Cordelia he looked like the little boy on Christmas morning finding his special gift from Santa under the tree. \u201c\u2026and what the hell are you grinning at?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHuh? Me? No I\u2019m not grinning.\u201d Busted. Angel panicked, his face displaying a dorky grin. Lost in his reverie over Cordelia\u2019s morning with Stone going even worse than he had hoped, his emotions had been much too easy to read and now Angel struggled with a believable explanation. \u201cI\u2019m just glad you\u2019re OK.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOK! The grinning idiot is glad I\u2019m OK. Have you heard anything I\u2019ve said? Have you ever listened to a damn thing I\u2019ve said?\u201d<\/p>\n
Oh, I listened sweetheart. I listened to you and Jack Stone taking a big step backwards from anything close to intimacy in the near future.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cNever mind. It happened, it\u2019s over and I never want to talk about it again. So everybody just go, go find something to do that doesn\u2019t involve being in my personal space.\u201d Her arms flayed out from her body and above her head. \u201cGO!\u201d Jesus freakin\u2019 Christ, I gave up stardom for this crap?<\/i><\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Angel walked over to Lorne reaching out for his son. His face, now a more placid mold, showed nothing more than his heartfelt love for his son. The meager shield was a useless tool against the anagogic demon and the mossy green face held a smile of its own as he lifted the gurgling bundle to his father.<\/p>\n
Content for the moment, Angel carried his son up the stairs. Crisis averted, he now had time to suggest himself to Cordelia as the better trainer. His self-inflicted fall from grace had allowed Jack Stone to take the temporary role as her champion. His ill-timed sabbatical had given the man opportunity to earn her friendship and his revealed fiasco with Darla had opened the way for something a little more intimate. One more slip up and Jack Stone would be receiving his invitation as Cordelia\u2019s lover. Angel cringed as the thought wretched through his gut and silently vowed there would be no more mistakes.<\/p>\n
His love for Cordelia was different from anything he had ever known before. It was so much more than the savage lust he felt for Darla during their reign of terror. He had clung to the unfulfilling romance with Buffy believing it was meant to be but now he knew such a tragic farce would not be his destiny. His future with Cordelia was as natural as the changing seasons. The savage lust was there but it was fueled by his love and need for this woman and there was no preordained destiny for them. They were simply two people who fell in love.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
\u201cSo Professor, you and the big guy have a good talk this morning?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes we did Lorne and how did you know about our talk?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cVibes man. You two had some colorful vibes pulsating through the door and skittering around the lobby.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes well, there were a lot of things said, things that have needed to be said for a long time but I believe our discussion ended on a positive note.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPositive\u2019s always good, that\u2019s what I always say. Tell me Doc, would this positive note include you telling Angel what you discovered in the scroll?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m still interpreting the text and I don\u2019t want to jump to any conclusions.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA jumping Mexican Bean you ain\u2019t; you\u2019re dodging.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLorne it would be unwise to disclose only partially translated information. Doing so would only lead to questions and concerns that wouldn\u2019t have answers. It\u2019s better for me to continue my research so that all the text can be fully understood rather than divulging information we\u2019re not yet sure of.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou may be right Professor but I\u2019m a curious cat and can\u2019t help but be quizzical. Maybe you\u2019re hoping to discover facts that will disprove what you already know to be true. Like say the identity of Connor\u2019s mother.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe already know the identity of the child\u2019s mother. We didn\u2019t need the scroll to determine that Darla gave birth to Angel\u2019s child.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut the description in the scroll isn\u2019t Darla. You know who that fate was meant for; you just don\u2019t want it to be true.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt isn\u2019t true Lorne; Darla gave us proof of that so what I want or don\u2019t want is irrelevant.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t keep this from them you know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI can for now\u2026and Lorne\u2026if you tell her, she will leave. I\u2019m not referring to the hotel, she will leave LA.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t know that and it\u2019s not for you to decide.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley couldn\u2019t recall Lorne getting so personally involved before. Any other time the anagogic demon was content to simply present his reading and let the recipient take it from there. Wesley stopped the concentrated preparation of his tea and looked at the man for the first time since the start of their discussion noting that his suit was an eerie match to his skin. They weren\u2019t friends exactly but circumstances had moved them beyond mere acquaintances.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs it for you to decide? Lorne, I know that you are Angel\u2019s friend and you feel a certain loyalty to him. I understand that, past transgressions aside I consider him a friend as well, but if you tell him, he will go to her and then whatever truths remain to be revealed won\u2019t matter. Right now Angel is desperate to rebuild his relationship with Cordelia and may try to use this information to establish a bond between them. I can assure you Lorne, Cordelia will not respond favorably to such an act.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey already share a bond as warrior and seer. Why does the possibility of those two being together frighten you so or is it that you don\u2019t want it to work out that way?\u201d<\/p>\n
The languid motion of the spoon inside the cup of now tepid tea stopped mid stir. The green face, red horn demon had just suggested he might be inclined to manipulate the scroll\u2019s translation to achieve his preferred outcome. The utensil slapped against the chrome countertop with a clanking rattle that shimmied across the cold metal.<\/p>\n
\u201cLorne if that was my dilemma I could simply sit back and let Angel do what he does best; destroy any good relationship he has in his life. Angel doesn\u2019t need my assistance to accomplish that task. We have proof of that fact also.”\u00a0Retorted\u00a0Wesley.<\/p>\n
“You\u2019re right Lorne, I have translated the description of the person prophesized to be Connor\u2019s mother but the purpose of the scroll was to prophesize the child\u2019s destiny. His parents were destined to bear the burden of preparing him for that future and my fear is that someone or something has the power to change events that were prophesied over five hundred years ago. Either that or the only strategy required to dupe Angel is putting his evil sire in front of him. Wolfram and Hart resurrected Darla once and I am not aware of any force that can prevent them from doing it again should they choose to. Until I have all the facts, I will not expose the child or Cordelia and hope that Angel will have the commitment required to protect them. Now if you will excuse me, I have a lot of reading and evidently very little time to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Well guess the big guy\u2019s not the only one you need to be careful not to get his panties in a bunch.<\/i><\/p>\n