{"id":2259,"date":"2015-06-26T22:59:46","date_gmt":"2015-06-26T21:59:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/?p=2259"},"modified":"2015-06-26T23:08:20","modified_gmt":"2015-06-26T22:08:20","slug":"angels-song-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/2015\/06\/26\/angels-song-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Angel’s Songs. 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chapter 2<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Angel awoke to the dopplered sound of Fred\u2019s tinny screams and Gunn\u2019s lecherous groans in the hall outside his door. As he drifted into the reality of shaded late-morning light and the damp smell of the coming rain, he pondered the dichotomy of the noises disturbing his first restful sleep in weeks.<\/p>\n

For a girl that weighed next to nothing, Fred sure could clomp like a Clydesdale when being pursued. Gunn, on the other hand, had perfected a feather-like jog after years of chasing down vampires who could seemingly move on the wind.<\/p>\n

The chase was consummated with Fred\u2019s high-pitched yelp which was immediately snuffed out by what Angel could only assume was Gunn\u2019s mouth over hers.<\/p>\n

On that depressing note, Angel stretched the cramped arm he\u2019d been lying on most of the night and wiggled his fingers willing the cold blood to once again fill the crushed veins. Another burst of giggles from the hall and he was on his feet and shower bound.<\/p>\n

Slipping the soap between his palms to work up a lather, he admitted to himself that he resented the fact that a girl who\u2019d been out of circulation and out of her mind for the last five years had a boyfriend in less than six months of her return. It really flashed a big, honkin\u2019 spotlight on his century-long-in-the-making pathetic relationship skills, and they didn\u2019t stand up to close scrutiny. What did she know that he didn\u2019t?<\/p>\n

Fred! His bubble covered hands stilled on his chest when the crazy idea hit that maybe Fred had the answer. Not the answer to his social retard-idity, although he wasn\u2019t dismissing that as a possibility, but the more important question about the quilt! Cordy was a girl; Fred was a girl. Cordy knew about that quilt, therefore, Fred might know about it, too.<\/p>\n

Quickly running more soap over parts of his body he couldn\u2019t play with today, he rinsed hurriedly and practically air dried rushing to his closet. Today he had a mission that he was eager to start. It was probably the toughest test he\u2019d ever been handed, but he was excited by the challenge. Because at the end of the road was a happy Cordy, and that was a goal worth pursuing for a lifetime.<\/p>\n

He could hear the strangled strains of Cordy\u2019s version of \u201cWe Three Kings\u201d coming from the lobby as he opened his door and stepped into the hallway. He couldn\u2019t help wincing; it was reflex by now. I could always buy her singing lessons if the quilt doesn\u2019t work out,<\/i> he thought, but immediately dismissed that idea since she\u2019d stake him if he even suggested it, and it would absolutely not lead to any warm mouth-on-mouth exploits.<\/p>\n

Walking away from the lobby stairs, he turned the corner and saw Fred pinned to the wall by Gunn\u2019s frame, her cheeks blossoming pink from whatever Gunn was whispering in her ear.<\/p>\n

Angel cleared his throat and tried not to listen to the nasty things he was saying to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cAngel! Hi, how ya doin\u2019? We didn\u2019t wake ya did we?\u201d Fred tried to squirm out of Gunn\u2019s cradle but succeeded only in turning around with her back to his chest, his arms still a possessive lasso around her waist.<\/p>\n

\u201cActually, you did, but that\u2019s not important. Well, it might be if you guys do it every day. You won\u2019t be, will you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry \u2018bout that,\u201d Gunn said, but his grin didn\u2019t support that sentiment. \u201cGuess we got carried away with the holiday spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fred gave another bird-like titter and then shoved an elbow in Gunn\u2019s stomach when he tried to take a bite of her lobe.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, well, I guess that\u2019s bound to happen.\u201d Angel was feeling decidedly uncomfortable witnessing their affectionate play. Hands in his pockets and eyes bobbing back and forth from the couple to the rug, he hoped he could rend Fred from Gunn soon and start his quest. \u201cSo, Fred, I wanted to ask for your help with something. Do you think you can spare a minute?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy help? Sure! I\u2019d love to help ya with something. Is it about a demon, because I\u2019ve been studying a lot and if I don\u2019t know it I think I can probably figure out where to find it. Not that you or Wesley couldn\u2019t because you\u2019re both like the gods of demon knowledge so that\u2019s probably not what you want. Oh! Do you need help with a new weapon? I\u2019ve been designing a little gadget using a car\u2019s distributor and a washing machine blade that…\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFred! It\u2019s about a quilt!\u201d Angel bit his lip trying too late to stop the words her babbling had forced him to yell to shut her up. He hadn\u2019t wanted to say anything in front of Gunn, but it was out there now and Angel was bracing himself for the onslaught of barbs from the street fighter.<\/p>\n

Fred\u2019s head tilted to the side, her eyes wide and confused.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you want to know about quilts?\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel had been looking at her mouth, but her lips never moved. He wondered when she\u2019d learned ventriloquism until he realized the voice\u2019s timbre was decidedly Gunn-like.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI said what do you want to know about quilts? Do you need to know how to make one or just where to get one, because I\u2019m the man for both. I\u2019ve got connections in the black market if you\u2019re looking for something that should still be in a museum, if you catch my drift, or if you\u2019re looking for something just a little on the rare side, like an 1863 Ohio Star in mint condition.\u201d Gunn said it all with a straight face and not a hint of sarcasm.<\/p>\n

Angel forced his mouth shut and shot his gaze from Fred to Gunn and back again certain they were under some weird spell which had put Fred\u2019s brain in Gunn\u2019s body.<\/p>\n

\u201cI understand you\u2019re a little confused right now. I recognize the look,\u201d Fred said sympathetically. \u201cI know a little something about quilts having slept under one my entire life, but Gunn\u2019s right, he\u2019s the real expert.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGunn? You know about quilts? Isn\u2019t that…\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the words girly or sissified are about to come out of your mouth, I suggest you rethink it. Ain\u2019t nothing wrong with knowing how to survive. And when the day comes that the world has shot its power wad and that big glacier is inching closer and closer to Encino, I\u2019ll be the macho Mad Max with the warm blanket and padded underwear, and you\u2019ll be freezing your manly testicles off.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel couldn\u2019t help but grin at that image. \u201cPoint taken. But how…who…\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy grandma taught all us kids. Seems if you\u2019re a girl in a house with nine sisters, knowing how to sew and embroider your name in your clothes is as important as being quick on the draw when the biscuits are passed. Didn\u2019t matter to her that I\u2019m a boy, and all it took was my trying to get out of a lesson once to know how I felt on the subject was the least of my problems.\u201d Gunn subconsciously rubbed his behind as the ghost welts started itching.<\/p>\n

Fred reached back and ran her palm sweetly on Gunn\u2019s cheek to ease the sting. Unable to resist any longer, she finally asked, \u201cSo, Angel, why the sudden interest in quilts? Oooo! Did Cordy have a vision of an evil, life-sucking one or maybe one with threads that reach out and trap its victim in a web?\u201d<\/p>\n

The pride that he took in his girlfriend\u2019s brain beamed in Gunn\u2019s smile. \u201cGirl, you are somethin\u2019 else.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUh, no. No vision. But it does involve Cordy. I want to get her a certain quilt for Christmas. It\u2019s one her grandmother used to have called an Angels\u2019 Songs quilt. Ever hear of it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWow! That\u2019s so sweet of you and romantic, too. You do know it\u2019s romantic, don\u2019t you? I mean you can\u2019t give a girl something so obviously important to her and not expect her to just fall head over heels in love with you, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe woman\u2019s got a point. That will definitely say more than \u2018Merry Christmas and pass the eggnog\u2019. You\u2019ll be making a big statement with that kind of present. Are you sure that\u2019s what you want to do?\u201d<\/p>\n

Both friends eyed Angel, breaths held and hands clasped. Their lips turned slowly upward as Angel\u2019s smile widened.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, yeah. I\u2019m sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fred\u2019s squeal of delight almost pierced his eardrum as she leapt into his arms and hugged him fiercely.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew it, I knew it, I knew it! I\u2019m so happy for you. This is going to be the best Christmas ever!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope so, Fred,\u201d Angel peeled her arms from his neck and looked expectantly to Gunn.<\/p>\n

\u201cCongratulations, man. It\u2019s about time you got off your lazy, vampire ass and made a move. Cordy\u2019s not getting any younger.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCharles,\u201d Fred slapped his chest. \u201cYou\u2019d better not ever say anything like that in front of Cordy. I don\u2019t want to date a eunuch.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the \u201ceunuch\u201d word, Angel sucked in a breath and then remembered he wasn\u2019t one anymore. But he still needed some assurance despite his friends\u2019 initial reactions to his news.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you both think Cordy will like the gift? I mean…she won\u2019t…you know…run off?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou really are the clueless dork she\u2019s always saying you are,\u201d Gunn said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAngel, Cordy couldn\u2019t love anyone else. I mean if she could, do you think she\u2019d still be hanging around with you 24 hours a day? She\u2019s not exactly ugly or stupid. Look at me. I\u2019ve only been here a few months, and I\u2019ve got Charles despite the fact that I\u2019m skinny, flat chested, wear glasses and crazy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tingles of relief gushed through him as he absorbed her insane logic, and then a determination to get started and begin the rest of his life expanded his chest. Now that he\u2019d confessed his feelings and was reassured he wasn\u2019t lame to hope, he didn\u2019t feel so alone and desolate anymore. The world was immediately filled with possibilities.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, guys. So,\u201d he clapped his hands together, \u201cwhat do you know about this quilt?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019ve heard of them,\u201d Gunn said. \u201cAnd from what I know, they\u2019re not exactly easy to come by.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel\u2019s smile flattened.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose are family heirloom quilts, not the type of quilt that gets given as a gift to friends or made for some church fair. It\u2019s not very often that one wouldn\u2019t get passed down and ends up for sale. Besides, they\u2019re very personal, and I\u2019m not sure Cordy would want some other family\u2019s ghosts.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel hadn\u2019t really considered that. He\u2019d been so excited to finally know the best gift for her, that he hadn\u2019t considered that words written by strangers might not evoke the feelings of safety and love that her grandmother\u2019s quilt had.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen we\u2019ll just have to find the one quilt that will,\u201d he mumbled to himself. \u201cGunn, these contacts you have, how long would it take to find one particular quilt?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d say at least a few weeks to know one way or the other. Tell me everything you know about this quilt, and I\u2019ll give my aunty a call.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour aunt is in the quilt black market?\u201d Angel still couldn\u2019t believe there was such a thing much less run by bun-wearing, gray-haired old ladies.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be judgin\u2019. Woman\u2019s gotta make a livin\u2019 and quilts is what she knows best.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel shrugged and chocked it up to learning something new every day.<\/p>\n

Herding Gunn and Fred into his room for privacy, Angel recalled everything Cordy had told him. As he spoke, he couldn\u2019t help get a sinking sensation in the pit of his stomach that this was a hopeless cause. The only thing working in their favor and which kept his hope from completely slipping away was the knowledge that this is what they did for a living \u2013 helping hopeless causes. And if anyone deserved to be the recipient of the Powers\u2019 goodwill, it was their seer \u2013 a thought that should have given Angel peace of mind but somehow didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

The next few weeks tiptoed by on snail\u2019s toes. For the most part, it was uneventful. It seemed as if the demon world had all converted to Christianity when they weren\u2019t looking, and horned creatures everywhere were, at this very moment, shopping for the perfect virgin skin coat for that special slime someone.<\/p>\n

After a few days without visions, Angel patrolled and unbeknownst to the gang had actually picked a few fights among some mostly innocuous demon worshippers just to pass the time. Feeling a little guilty afterwards, he had advised them about a much nicer hellbeast to raise and the perfect sacrifices to garner its favor.<\/p>\n

It hadn\u2019t helped much. He was still going nuts waiting to hear from Gunn\u2019s aunt.<\/p>\n

Oh! And sweet little Fred? He wanted to strangle her daily. If she wasn\u2019t sighing and making goo-goo eyes at him and Cordy, she was saying something rife with double entendre or innuendo.<\/p>\n

Take this morning for example\u2026<\/p>\n

Angel was sitting on the couch polishing his broadsword while Cordy read a book. Fred bounded down the steps and practically skipped to Cordy\u2019s side hitching herself up on her desk.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, Cordy, whatcha doin\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n

Cordy\u2019s eyes didn\u2019t leave her place in the book. \u201cFending off the lewd advances of Jude Law and Brad Pitt while polishing my toenails.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLooks like you\u2019re just readin\u2019 a book to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen my clever plan\u2019s working.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel smiled and almost cut his finger off imagining the lewd advances he\u2019d like to be making.<\/p>\n

Fred\u2019s heels pinged against the desk drawers as she swung her feet back and forth in rhythm with the music on the radio.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love this song, don\u2019t you?\u201d She began singing along with the annoying voice of whoever recorded the song, piercing his eardrums with \u201cAll I want for Christmas is my two front teeth, my two front teeth, my two front teeth\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot so much, Fred. That\u2019s one Christmas song they can put in a time capsule and bury under molten rock for all I care.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s cute. Not that I\u2019d ever want teeth for Christmas. Okay, maybe if I was like a hundred years old \u2013 no offense Angel,\u201d Fred yelled over her shoulder to him, \u201cand all my teeth had fallen out, then teeth for Christmas would probably be pretty spiffy. I mean it\u2019s got to get pretty boring drinking all your meals through a straw. Can you imagine mashed up turkey and dressing or pumpkin pie and whipped cream from a blender\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

That did it. Cordy put her palm on the page and slammed the book shut. Plastering her fakest smile across her face, she decreed yammer time was over.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you trying to find out what I got you for Christmas, Fred? Because if you are, go pester someone who\u2019s actually likely to cave like Angel.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, no, I don\u2019t want to know. I like to be surprised. Besides, Angel wouldn\u2019t tell me. He\u2019s really good at keeping secrets. Aren\u2019t you, Angel?\u201d<\/p>\n

She turned her toothy grin to him as if she were as innocent as a new born lamb; a lamb his claws ached to slaughter. Angel\u2019s whole body stiffened waiting for Cordy\u2019s interrogation to begin.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, Fred, we got how good Angel is at secrets from the whole Darla episode. Oh, that\u2019s right, you weren\u2019t here. Well, take my word for it; we are all aware of his abilities in that arena.\u201d<\/p>\n

He would have preferred a cross examination complete with hot pokers to the disappointment and bitterness he heard in her statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut that was a bad secret. We\u2019ve all got bad secrets we don\u2019t want anyone to know about. I\u2019m talking about good ones – exciting secrets that you\u2019re just bustin\u2019 to tell everybody. Those are really hard to keep inside, but Angel\u2019s really good at those. Take your Christmas present for example…\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFred!\u201d Angel was the magic bullet out of nowhere as he clamped his hand over her mouth and pulled her away from Cordy\u2019s desk.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, really? Angel has a present for me?\u201d She rose and backed up the still muzzled Fred and her captor, Angel, until his shoulders folded around one of the counter columns.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know Fred\u2019s a little wacky. She probably has me confused with Gunn, what with the whole crush thing she used to have on me. Ow!\u201d Angel pulled back his hand and shook out the pain Fred\u2019s incisors just inflicted.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t have you confused with Charles, and you do so have a gift for Cordy. It\u2019s a great present! You\u2019re going to love it, I just know you will.\u201d Fred\u2019s eyes sparkled with joy and anticipation.<\/p>\n

Cordy humphed. \u201cWell, if he does have something for me, that\u2019s surprise enough in itself. I think I\u2019ll just count my blessings and not worry about what the gift is because more than likely I\u2019ll be exchanging it.\u201d She turned back to her desk and resumed reading, seemingly totally disinterested in Angel\u2019s secret.<\/p>\n

Angel relaxed but took Fred\u2019s arm and marched her up the stairs for her daily talking to, once again narrowly avoiding disaster in the shape of a tiny physicist.<\/p>\n

And now the two weeks were over at last. He couldn\u2019t wait any longer. If they came up empty handed, he\u2019d have to spend the last week before Christmas wracking his brain for something else to get her.<\/p>\n

He was pacing in his room when he sensed Gunn just outside his door. He opened it to see Gunn\u2019s knuckle an inch from his nose before it was jerked back just before impact.<\/p>\n

\u201cDamn, dog, don\u2019t do that. I almost knocked your lights out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure, fine, whatever. What did your aunt say? Did they find it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Gunn sighed and shook his head. \u201cNaw, man, I\u2019m sorry. There\u2019s not an Angels\u2019 Songs quilt to be had between here and the Jersey shore much less Cordy\u2019s family one. Hell, she even checked with the Chinese and Russian quilt mafias – and those bitches are mean – in case there was anything overseas. Whatever happened to that quilt we\u2019ll probably never know.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel\u2019s hopes for a smooth transition between the dork he was into the suave lover he wanted to be were crushed. \u201cWhat do I do now?\u201d<\/p>\n

Fred\u2019s tiny head peeked around the doorframe under Gunn\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n

\u201cAngel, Charles told me. I\u2019m sorry. I shouldn\u2019t have said anything to Cordy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s okay, Fred. She said she\u2019d probably exchange anything I got her so I guess she\u2019s not expecting much. She can\u2019t be disappointed if she doesn\u2019t know what I planned to get her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI just called my mom hoping maybe she and her quilting bee could maybe make one for you, but she said they\u2019d need at least a month to do something with all that embroidery and with people already busy making Christmas presents for their own families\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Fred. I didn\u2019t even think about making one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was Gunn\u2019s idea.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI asked my aunt first, but I got basically the same story. Not enough time. I thought maybe Fred\u2019s mom could somehow manage it, but I guess not.\u201d<\/p>\n

The three looked equally dejected and the heavy silence made their chests cave at the same time.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey!\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel and Gunn jumped back, hackles raised for an attack.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t we make it?\u201d Fred bounced up and down on her toes, the woman suddenly comprised of one big ball of enthusiasm.<\/p>\n

\u201cFred, I don\u2019t think\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGirl, I love you, but you\u2019re\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, listen! Charles knows how to make quilts, I\u2019m a genius at design, and Angel\u2019s got all that vampire speed that\u2019s just itchin\u2019 to be put to good use. With the help of some \u2013 okay maybe a dozen or so \u2013 people who actually know how to sew, we could do this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel looked at Gunn, both men trying to catch up with Fred\u2019s train of thought and decipher the possibilities.<\/p>\n

\u201cC\u2019mon guys, it\u2019s for Cordy and true love!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGunn\u2019s expression changed from a definite \u2018no way\u2019 to \u2018slim chance it could work\u2019 and that was enough for a desperate Angel.<\/p>\n

Angel grinned and grabbed Fred\u2019s shoulders, planting a wet kiss on her forehead. \u201cOkay, let\u2019s do it. What do we need to do?\u201d<\/p>\n

Gunn started ticking off the essentials.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need material, thread, all the quilting tools \u2013 straight edges, curves, scissors, needles, hoops, batting, thimbles \u2013 damn!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? What\u2019s the matter?\u201d Angel tensed. He knew it was too good to be true.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell this is an Angels\u2019 Songs quilt. It\u2019s got to have actual words on it. What are we going to put on it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the easy part, Charles. It\u2019s supposed to be what family members want to tell their loved ones about how they feel.\u201d Fred looked at Angel and Charles expectantly.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what I\u2019m saying. How do we know what Cordy\u2019s family would\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

The idea clicked for both men at the same time.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re Cordy\u2019s family,\u201d Angel said.<\/p>\n

A wonderful heat tickled his fingers and toes as the Christmas gift that would have been merely wonderful just became perfect. This would be even more special for Cordy, having them all tell her just how much she meant to them. And if, God forbid, any of them died, she\u2019d always have a piece of them with her, surrounding her with their love.<\/p>\n

He couldn\u2019t wait to pick up pen and paper, fabric and scissors, needle and thread; and never in his 250 years did he think those words would ever cross his mind.<\/p>\n

***
\nWell, this was a new hell, and it was called JoAnn\u2019s Fabrics. And yes, Virginia, there is piped-in Christmas music in hell, too.<\/p>\n

Angel\u2019s arms were stretched out while the nice sales clerk, Caryn, hummed along with Gene Autry\u2019s \u201cRudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer\u201d and continued to pile high what looked like torture devices but he was assured were necessary tools to make a quilt.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you having a cutting mat?\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel just stared at her which was difficult to do with the ugly fluorescent lights burning his retinas.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, of course you don\u2019t. Well, I suggest you get two. A large and small, especially since you\u2019re in a hurry. You\u2019ll want several people cutting at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cExcuse, me…Caryn, is it? Why do I need all these safety pins? And I think they\u2019re defective. They\u2019re all bent.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re supposed to be bent. It\u2019s easier to pin the layers of the quilt together once you\u2019re ready to actually quilt. You can use the pins, or some people use spray adhesive \u2013 but that makes putting the needle through more difficult if you use too much \u2013 and some use these plastic clips with this drill-like contraption. See?\u201d<\/p>\n

She held up something that looked exactly like a drill-like contraption and mimed a demonstration.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou push this button and it shoots a clippy thing through all the layers of the fabric. It probably would be faster for you, but since this is your first quilt, I think you should go the old-fashioned safety pin method. Less chance of screwing it up.\u201d She winked and Angel was partly insulted and partly grateful for her consideration of his skills.<\/p>\n

As she continued to load him down with razor sharp cutting tools, rulers of all shapes and sizes, marking pencils, chalk, straight pins (both flat and round) and seemingly hundreds of tiny objects he neither knew existed nor their names and uses, Angel looked pleadingly around for Gunn and Fred eventually spying them several aisles away fingering fabrics. He desperately wanted to cry out for help but decided he would forego drawing attention to the vampire shopping in a fabrics store. He just hoped his frustrated glare would cause the hairs on their necks to prickle enough for them look up and notice his distress.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat size thimble do you need?\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel\u2019s attention went back to the young clerk.<\/p>\n

\u201cHuh?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat size thimble? How big are your fingers?\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel tried to shift the bulky and unwieldy items in his arms without dropping them, but the dull hollow of plastic of various densities and shapes bouncing onto the tile floor rang through the store before he could free his hand to show her. With one knee bent to help support the supplies in his right hand, he held up his fingers and spread them for inspection.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I see. Big ones then. I\u2019m not sure we have anything that will fit someone of your…er…stature. Oh! You\u2019ll have to use one of these flexible rubber ones. It should adjust.\u201d<\/p>\n

She put something on the stack that looked like a miniature condom and Angel hastily tilted the pile until the embarrassing item was hidden under some of the other less offensive packages. Although he was hard pressed at this point to imagine any of this not being embarrassing.<\/p>\n

\u201cExcuse me, young man, is this yours?\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel craned his neck to look back over his shoulder at a woman whom he could only think to describe as the perfect Mrs. Santa. Silver-white hair cropped short but softly layered and waved around a sweet, oval shaped face. Her apple cheeks were bright with precise circles of red and her eyes sparkled with wonder and delight. She held up a package of various colored marking pencils that she\u2019d just rescued from the floor.<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess. I\u2019m not really sure. You can just put it on top of the pile.\u201d<\/p>\n

She moved around to his side and placed them gingerly on the shaky mountain in his arms doing her best not to cause a landslide.<\/p>\n

\u201cLooks like this is your first quilt. Must be someone really special for you to go to all this trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite the situation and his extreme discomfort, the thought of the woman he was going through this torture for calmed him and brought the blood rushing to his face as he smiled broadly.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe is. Very special.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDoesn\u2019t she know that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n

Caryn tossed a pair of embroidery scissors at him that ricocheted off the backboard of his chest and landed precariously on top of the miraculously re-exposed mini condom.<\/p>\n

The old woman\u2019s girlish giggle relaxed him and forced his lips to curl up despite his determination to be ill at ease in his surroundings.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt just seems to me that if she doesn\u2019t know how special you think she is, it\u2019d be a lot easier to just tell her. Is it really so difficult for you to say the words?\u201d<\/p>\n

The nice warm feeling she\u2019d brought with her arrival immediately scattered with her logic. Angel didn\u2019t want to hear sensible. He wanted and needed THE ideal moment this gift was going to create, because without it he was sure Cordy wouldn\u2019t be all that receptive to his theory that they were right for each other. He needed to soften her up \u2013 make her vulnerable to his limited charms. Without it, he would screw it up \u2013 of that he was positive.<\/p>\n

While he was tempted to rudely dismiss the interfering woman, he truly didn\u2019t want to draw more attention to himself. So, he smiled sweetly and calmly said, “You don\u2019t understand, it\u2019s her Christmas gift. I have to give her something unique and…perfect.\u201d<\/p>\n

She nodded sagely and mumbled a quiet, \u201cAh,\u201d before beginning on her way again. She\u2019d only taken one step before she turned wagging a knowing finger at him as she spoke.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust remember, there\u2019s nothing more perfect than a man telling the woman he loves that she\u2019s the one. The one and only – forever.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before he could form a coherent thought much less a response, she was around the corner of the aisle and out of sight.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow\u2019s it going?\u201d Gunn, a roll of batting held in the cradle of one arm like a fluffy football, slapped him on the back bringing his mind back but jostling him enough to almost making him spill everything.<\/p>\n

Regaining his iffy balance, he let out a small \u201cwhew\u201d before continuing. \u201cI\u2019m not sure. What does it look like?\u201d<\/p>\n

Gunn quickly thumbed through the items in his arms and gave his approval. \u201cLooks like it\u2019s enough to get started with.\u201d He winked at Caryn and she let out a sigh of relief similar to Angel\u2019s before she headed back to her usual perch at the register. \u201cIf we\u2019ve forgotten anything, I can always come back for it. Fred\u2019s over at the table getting the fabric cut, so we\u2019re almost ready to head out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood. Listen, Gunn, are you sure we can do this? I mean I don\u2019t want to put you guys through this if it\u2019s too much trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not gonna shine ya. It won\u2019t be fun and none of us will be sleeping much until Christmas, but I think it\u2019s worth it for the look on Cordy\u2019s face. And if it gets the two of you to finally admit you\u2019ve both got the wild monkey love for each other, then I\u2019m willing to do anything to make that happen. The tension is killin\u2019 me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMe, too,\u201d Angel said, letting out a frustrated sigh.<\/p>\n

\u201cSee? I knew you were about to pop, and I know I don\u2019t want to be around when that happens.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen what happens?\u201d Fred snaked one arm around Charles\u2019s waist and pressed the quilt fabric they\u2019d chosen tight against her chest with the other.<\/p>\n

Angel lead the way to the check-out line and said over his shoulder, \u201cWhen I lose it and just take Cordy up against the weapons cabinet in front of God and everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh. OH! Is that gonna happen soon?\u201d Fred\u2019s eagerness to witness that scenario was loud and clear.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re trying to avoid that from happening by making the quilt. Remember?\u201d Gunn chided.<\/p>\n

She pouted and her once bright walk became a shuffle. \u201cShucks. I think it\u2019d be pretty hot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel couldn\u2019t disagree. \u201cYes, but it would also be pretty dusty once Cordy staked me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fred frowned. \u201cWell, there\u2019s that.\u201d She steeled her spine and jutted out her chin, her frown immediately lifting into a brilliant smile. \u201cSo, quilt it is then!\u201d<\/p>\n

She marched into line in front of Angel and began unloading his burden onto the counter. Looking at the pile of fabric, batting and tools that was almost as tall as she was, she frowned as a terrible thought occurred to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou did get the credit card back from Cordy, didn\u2019t ya?\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel\u2019s head dropped to his chest, but it couldn\u2019t muffle out his soft, \u201cDamn.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chapter 3<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chapter 2 Angel awoke to the dopplered sound of Fred\u2019s tinny screams and Gunn\u2019s lecherous groans in the hall outside his door. As…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2259","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-completed-fics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2259","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2259"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2259\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2259"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2259"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2259"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}