{"id":3543,"date":"2015-07-04T14:24:09","date_gmt":"2015-07-04T13:24:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/?p=3543"},"modified":"2016-01-13T23:11:58","modified_gmt":"2016-01-13T23:11:58","slug":"falling-cherries-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/2015\/07\/04\/falling-cherries-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Falling Cherries. 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

Title: Falling Cherries \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/a>\"FC<\/a><\/b>
\nAuthor: <\/b>Frazi<\/strong>
\nPosted: <\/b>05\/12\/04
\nEmail<\/b><\/a>
\nRating: <\/b>PG-13 for mild language
\nCategory: <\/b>Light, humor, post\/pre-ep
\nContent: <\/b>C\/A
\nSummary: <\/b>Pre-IWRY. When Angel accidentally hurts Cordelia, he realizes how important she really is (I know \u2013 I couldn\u2019t think of anything better
\nSpoilers: <\/b>S1, I Will Remember You
\nDisclaimer: <\/b>The characters in the Angelverse were created by Joss Whedon & David Greenwalt. No infringement is intended, no profit is made.
\nDistribution: <\/b>
\nNotes: <\/b>Answer to Califi\u2019s<\/b> challenge of which the high points are as follows (See at end of fic.)
\nThanks\/Dedication: <\/b>To Cali<\/b>. If I didn\u2019t lurve you as much as I do, I might just get time to breathe! LOL! Lucky me.
\nFeedback: <\/b>Please.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Circles in the sand, damned history repeating itself. Hakunamatata indeed! Remind me never to let Cordelia drag me to a Disney movie again.<\/p>\n

Not only did the damned coddling kitties stir up the demon to whining proportions no one else could comprehend, but sitting in that dark theater; how\u2019s a vampire supposed to ignore the smell of fresh blood and with the added bonus of Cordelia Chase wearing a perfume that smells like a cherry garden. Cherries.<\/p>\n

Red juicy, succulent cherries. Succulent like\u2026<\/p>\n

Shaking my head I glared at my slightly tipped desk surface. Okay. Getting back to the task at hand. My damned desk is crooked. CROOKED dammit. As if the tiny little thing wasn\u2019t annoying with the drawers that always seemed to get stuck and the splinters that caught a vampire unawares.<\/p>\n

~Stop being such a cranky bitch Sully. You went, you came, you conquered. Good thing you didn\u2019t see the blonde vampire layer.<\/em>~<\/p>\n

Jumping to my feet I frowned. Where was that damned stake anyway?<\/p>\n

Reaching to open a drawer I gave a tug and growled. Stuck again. Today was NOT my day! With a slightly more powerful yank I managed to pull the drawer open enough to allow me to pick up the old windup clock.<\/p>\n

Okay. Plausibility wise, if I do this Angelus would shut up and I won\u2019t have to daydream about the damned cherry garden. I nodded. Good plan Angel.<\/i><\/p>\n

Placing the clock on the hardwood surface I watched one of its legs standing up from the left. I sighed exasperated.<\/p>\n

Never letting Cordelia Chase go furniture shopping with Doyle again.<\/i> Neither of them could see straight, I concluded.<\/p>\n

~Plus the bastard is always touchy feely. Want me to rip those spikes out of his face any time soon?~<\/em><\/p>\n

Pencil. Where\u2019s the damned pencil again? Standing back I placed the pencil on the slightly tilting surface.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not THAT tilt-y Angel.<\/i> I mimicked the soft lilt in my secretary\u2019s voice and rolled my eyes. The damned thing couldn\u2019t even hold my nice old clock and that was an antique.<\/p>\n

I was still engrossed in wondering where I should put the pencil to figure out the angle when I heard the voices outside my office.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen did he get back?\u201d I could practically hear the lower lip caught between the woman\u2019s teeth.<\/p>\n

~Succulent cherries?~<\/em><\/p>\n

Shaking my head I glared at the pencil before putting it strategically on one corner.<\/p>\n

\u201cLate last night,\u201d Doyle replied with a sigh. Why did everyone seem to sigh when they talked about me?<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, he seemed fine.\u201d Poor simple Doyle. He didn\u2019t know where this was going. I sighed. Then frowned. Dammit, now they\u2019ve got me doing it.<\/p>\n

“He saw Buffy. He was in Sunnydale for three days, tracking her and that thingymagiggy you saw in your vision.\u201d I nearly glared at my door. Did they NOT know about vampire hearing? The LEAST they could do was whisper dammit! I\u2019m insulted.<\/p>\n

And she\u2019s doing it.<\/p>\n

She\u2019s sighing! And I can just feel her sad hazel eyes gazing at me with pity. I let the pencil roll and glared in its wake. It rolled until it hit the edge of the clock and stopped. Pity, I did not want.<\/p>\n

I mean I DID go back to Sunnydale WITHOUT breaking down and going to see Buffy. Didn\u2019t that deem some respect?<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere is the crabby scowl, the morbid gloom? This just means that it cut deeper then usual. Batten down the hatches, here comes Hurricane Buffy.”<\/p>\n

I nearly stood up there and turned to stare at her. Buffy? Come here? Then I shrugged. It sounded plausible enough. The slayer did have a nasty temper and I DID strategically avoid her while I was taking care of the vision.<\/p>\n

Please don\u2019t get me wrong. Buffy is Buffy. She\u2019ll always be special, but somewhere along the year I\u2019ve been away from her. I\u2019ve gotten tired. I\u2019m tired of being dealt the short straw and I know I deserve every bit of misery on my life-plate, but after I left Sunnydale I promised myself I wouldn\u2019t buy pain.<\/p>\n

No purchase of misery from the moment I stepped into the City of Angel. Egotistical as it sounded; yeah. This is my city. And I\u2019m through with catching the sticky end of the lollypop and being left with a squeezed out tube of toothpaste.<\/p>\n

I decided to ignore the conversation in the hallway as I proceeded to check the short leg and calculating how much I would have to lift it.<\/p>\n

“You think?\u201d<\/p>\n

Cordy\u2019s answer was again a sigh. A rather exasperated one and yes dammit I\u2019m still listening. First there\u2019s the sighing and now there\u2019s exasperation and the damned desk is STILL tilting. Reaching into the open drawer I pulled out the stake. You\u2019re going down; I told the desk silently with narrow eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe he’s over her.”<\/p>\n

“You have so much to learn little Irish man.”<\/p>\n

I ran my forefinger over the tip of the stake. I was still wondering if this stake was going to be enough when I heard Cordelia\u2019s gasp.<\/p>\n

“Oh, my God!”<\/p>\n

I blinked as my Seer and Secretary ran into the office, her hazel eyes wide and trained on the stake and Doyle paler than usual.<\/p>\n

“Don’t do it, Angel!” Cordy nearly vaulted over my desk to reach me and I raised an eyebrow. Okay, maybe I wasn\u2019t the only one mentally imbalanced in this office.<\/p>\n

~You know what they say sully. Class attracts class.~<\/em><\/p>\n

Doyle was shaking his head as I watched them, cautiously confused. “Listen to me, man, it’s not worth it.”<\/p>\n

And again I\u2019m wondering what the hell they talk about. More now than usual. “It’s not?”<\/p>\n

Cordy was beside herself, hands clasped together, brow creased worriedly as she looked me straight in the eyes. “No! You can’t let her get to you like this. You’ll meet someone else. Just give it some time.”<\/p>\n

Doyle held out his hand. “Why don’t you let me have that?”<\/p>\n

And that was when it hit me. My funny-man Seer and Hyper secretary thought I was going to stake myself.<\/p>\n

~BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA! Are they fucking daft? You need balls for that Sully!<\/em>~<\/p>\n

Ignoring the need to make good on their suspicion, I held back the fast approaching grin. \u201cBecause I need it to level my desk. \u201c Lifting the edge of the desk with one hand I stuck the end of the stake under the leg and stood back dusting my hands.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe floor is uneven.\u201d And then I couldn\u2019t help smirk at them. \u201cYou two thought\u2026”<\/p>\n

Instantly, Cordelia\u2019s mouth widened into a bright innocent smile as she pointed to her associate. “Doyle did. You know how he jumps to conclusions, – ’cause you saw Buffy.”<\/p>\n

Of course, it is Doyle whose pulse goes flying every time the slayer is mentioned and prospect of visiting Sunnydale is brought up. I eyed the woman for a second then decided to let it slide.<\/p>\n

She\u2019d never admit it and I\u2019m not the bastard to throw people\u2019s insecurities in their face.<\/p>\n

~That would be me<\/em>.~<\/p>\n

“It wasn’t a social call. I was there to protect her. I stayed out of sight. She didn’t even know I was there.” Maybe I was trying to reassure her, but I also wanted her to know that I hadn\u2019t caved. I had conquered. Albeit, I\u2019d been tempted, but self-preservation caught up with me just in time.<\/p>\n

Yeah I\u2019m a vampire who wants to live it up happily a little longer. Big surprise.<\/p>\n

My secretary frowned as if not entirely convinced I was telling the truth. Actually, she looked down right shocked. What WAS it with people dammit? Did they not know I have some remnant of control over myself still?<\/p>\n

“Really?\u201d<\/p>\n

~Well you LOOK like a wuss, what do you expect?<\/em>~<\/p>\n

I met her eyes candidly before nodding.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you avoided her.”<\/p>\n

I glared at her. What; was it written in bright blue letters on my forehead? How the hell did this young woman always know what I was all about? Of all the people I\u2019d wanted to figure me out, Cordelia Chase was not one of them.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s like giving a damned bazooka to a four year old. Too much ammunition in the hands of\u2026 of\u2026<\/p>\n

~Succulent Cherries?~<\/em><\/p>\n

So I took the coward\u2019s way out. I hedged and tried to make it as if I hadn\u2019t been dying to come back home to my little family. Yeah family. I\u2019m only a vampire dammit and we\u2019re all about ownership.<\/p>\n

This was my family. My seer. My secretary. My friends. My office. My purpose and my city. My. My. My! Addressing the concern on Doyle\u2019s face and the suspicion on Cordelia\u2019s I offered the first explanation that I figured they\u2019d buy.<\/p>\n

“Look, Buffy is always going to be a part of me, and that’s never going to change. But she’s human and I’m\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

~Looking at cherries? Switching diets? Bored with bleach?<\/em>~<\/p>\n

I frowned and pulled my eyes away from hers. She always seems to catch the lies there so I watched the curves of my boots instead. \u201cAnd I\u2019m not. And that’s also never going to change. We said our good-byes, no need to stir any of this up again.”<\/p>\n

And when had Buffy ever not reminded me my little shortcomings? Vampire. Bloodsucker. Demon.<\/p>\n

“You don’t want to ‘stir’, but if my ex came to town and was all stalking me in the shadows and then left and then didn’t even say ‘hello’ I’d be\u2026”<\/p>\n

“A little upset.\u201d<\/p>\n

My head snapped up and met green eyes a tad more antagonized than upset.<\/p>\n

\u201cWouldn\u2019t you?\u201d She leaned there in the doorway and I waited. Waited for the gut-wrenching feeling of longing ache. Waited for the sinking feeling in my chest, the tingling in my limbs and the twitching of my fingers.<\/p>\n

And I waited.<\/p>\n

And waited a little more.<\/p>\n

Waited still and I guess I was still waiting before Cordelia looked between us too with a forced smile before fixing it on the slayer.<\/p>\n

“Buffy! – Buffy’s here – in town.\u201d She looked at me pointedly as if asking me to say something and still I waited. I saw hazel eyes widen emphatically before she turned to Buffy. I was still waiting. \u201cWhat brings you to..”<\/p>\n

“I came to see my father.\u201d I supposed everyone thought I only had eyes for the slayer, but I was waiting dammit and the silly elation didn\u2019t come. The only feeling in my still veins was uneasiness and weariness.<\/p>\n

\u201cThought I’d stop by,” she finished before pushing away from the doorframe to stand straighter.<\/p>\n

My secretary let out a fake laugh and I almost wanted to reach out and wrap her in my arms. Yeah baby, I know how uneasy this is,<\/i> but that wouldn\u2019t have gone well.<\/p>\n

Not just yet. So I let Cordy beam with false bravado. “What a surprise!”<\/p>\n

And Buffy didn\u2019t even look at the ex-cheerleader. For some reason it seemed to irk, but I was frowning at the lack of empathy on my part and blaming my demon before Buffy finally looked at the brunette rolling on the heels of her feet, apparently antsy.<\/p>\n

“Cordelia, how are you?”<\/p>\n

“Good. I’m good. You?”<\/p>\n

Yeah baby, say it with a little more feeling<\/i>, I urged silently, but again decided not to voice my coaxing. Wouldn\u2019t help matters.<\/p>\n

There was still the issue of one irate ex-girlfriend in my doorway.<\/p>\n

“I’ve been better.” And didn\u2019t that just make me feel all happy and welcoming inside. Her green eyes were watching me. Accusing and I was supposed to say what exactly?<\/p>\n

\u2018Hi Buffy, I\u2019m avoiding you and now you\u2019re here making me feel horribly guilty and aggravated that you put me in the spot.<\/i>\u2019<\/p>\n

I mean don\u2019t people realize that when someone\u2019s avoiding them, confronting them won\u2019t make them feel better about having to eventually face you? It only irritates you further.<\/p>\n

~Eat her.<\/em>~<\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t trust myself to speak. I was afraid I\u2019d agree with Angelus.<\/p>\n

Cordy watched my mute state and looked at my Seer in blind panic before grabbing his arm and dragging him next to her with a grin.<\/p>\n

“Uh-huh. Well, this is Doyle.\u201d She patted his arm, her worried Hazel eyes watching me for an instant before looking at Buffy. \u201cAnd he gets visions of people in trouble.”<\/p>\n

The Irish demon cleared his throat and tried his brightest smile at the slayer. “Nice to meet you.”<\/p>\n

Drop it man, you\u2019re coming out even more morbid thanI feel right now.<\/i><\/p>\n

And still I didn\u2019t speak. What the hell was I supposed to say? Sorry? This was the exact fucking reason I hadn\u2019t seen her.<\/p>\n

Cordy grabbed my Seer\u2019s arm and proceeded to drag him out of the office. \u201cAnd this is us leaving you two alone.” And I panicked; opening my mouth to ask her stay.<\/p>\n

Beg her to not leave me here to deal with Buffy, almost dragging her back bodily.<\/p>\n

Buffy closed the door.<\/p>\n

The damned smell of cherries was gone.<\/p>\n

And I can\u2019t meet her eyes because suddenly the only thought my dead old brain is capable of is finding a way to bring them back. Anyway.<\/p>\n

Desperate measures even.<\/p>\n

~She\u2019s looking at you Sully. And it\u2019s creeping the fuck out of me. Tell her to piss off already, I\u2019m in the mood for fruit.<\/em>~<\/p>\n

Clearing my throat, I moved out from behind the desk, although even instinct inside me told me to stay where I was. Far away from her. Where I wouldn\u2019t have to touch her. Where I wouldn\u2019t have to be given the choice of wanting to touch her.<\/p>\n

And it scared the hell out of me because it wasn\u2019t for the same reason I\u2019d left Sunnydale. “Well, umm, it’s good to\u2026can I get you anything?”<\/p>\n

“How about – an explanation?\u201d<\/p>\n

Okay so small talk was out of the question. It took all of my inner strength not to growl or show my weariness. \u201cBuffy\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho do you think you are coming to my town and following me around behind my back?”<\/p>\n

My eyes snapped up to meet hers. Why did she always put me at the defensive? It was always me trying to explain myself, my actions, my decisions and my shortcomings. Vampire. Demon. Bloodsucker.<\/em><\/p>\n

And I\u2019m sucked back into the vicious circle. “I’m sorry.”<\/p>\n

“What is this? Some new torment you cooked up just for me?”<\/p>\n

Then I\u2019m sighing. Yes I see why they do it. The need to suddenly expel air mimics trying to expel the exhaustion and irritation. And it saddens me that that is all I\u2019m feeling.<\/p>\n

“No, I don’t want to torment, Buffy\u2026”<\/p>\n

“What is it? You can see me, but I can’t see you? What are we playing here?” I look up and frown at her. Again with the interrupting dammit.<\/p>\n

You know all that time away from the love of your life and suddenly having nothing left in the world really gives you a perspective on what you want out of life. The simple things come back without the heartache and blindness that being in love brings.<\/p>\n

Of course technically the veil lifts when you find that perfect place that calms and soothes and puts all your worries to rest. When you\u2019re with the one you love and think of forever. Not having the liberty of having that with Buffy had given me options. And I\u2019m a fucking vampire dammit. My mind tends to wander.<\/p>\n

Just as it does while she talks and I\u2019m thinking of sniffing cherries. The whole damned situation seems like such a farce right now because let me tell you, when you\u2019re wandering through dark streets alone without a purpose and a friend in the world you do a hell of a lot of soul searching.<\/p>\n

And when you find them all you do the next logical step. We move on with our lives and we leave the pain and hurt behind.<\/p>\n

“We’re not playing Buffy. At least, I’m not playing anything. I wrestled with this decision\u2026”<\/p>\n

“Which you made without me.”<\/p>\n

And this time I did glare at the interruption. “I tried to do what I thought was right. It’s complicated how this all happened, Buffy, you know? It’s kind of a long story.”<\/p>\n

“Your new sidekick had a vision, I was in it, you came to Sunnydale?”<\/p>\n

Can I just say the word \u2018sidekick\u2019 just bristled all kinds of new little chords inside me? “Okay, maybe not that long.” I ran a hand through my hair hoping to lighten the atmosphere with humor, but it didn\u2019t help.<\/p>\n

How the hell does Cordy do it anyway?<\/p>\n

~Flawlessly you ignorant piece of shit.<\/em>~<\/p>\n

“You didn’t feel that I was important enough to even tell me that you were there.”<\/p>\n

I dragged the strength in me to look at her face, to see it twisted into a saddened frown. A part of me felt bad, I admit. It was a lousy, nasty, cowardly thing to do, but we\u2019re already gone over survival instincts remember? There only so much emotional beating a vampire can take.<\/p>\n

“I’m trying to explain.\u201d I tried to keep the exasperation out of my voice, but the look on her face said I didn\u2019t succeed as well as I planned. \u201cIt’s because I felt that you’re important that I didn’t tell you.”<\/p>\n

“I’m a big girl now, Angel. I’m not in High School anymore. A lot has happened in my life since you left.”<\/p>\n

Smug little girl. “I know. Mine too.” I crossed my arms and leaned back against my desk evasively.<\/p>\n

“And I don’t need you skulking around, trying to protect me.\u201d I wondered if I should remind her it was the vision, but she looked all self-primping, so I chose my patented silence as she continued her little tirade.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnless, of course, I’m in some gigantic fight to the death, which – I was last night. That was you, helping me, wasn’t it?”<\/p>\n

~She really is dumber than she looks isn\u2019t she?<\/em>~<\/p>\n

Afraid I might admit the state of my annoyance and her ignorance of the fact that when my Seer had visions I had no choice BUT to go to PTB bidding; I tried my usual. I hedged some more. “I was in the neighborhood – skulking.”<\/p>\n

When she didn\u2019t seem to entertain my deadpan humor I rubbed my throbbing temple and clamped down the sudden need to run out of the office. Wouldn\u2019t that have been all brave and warrior-like? The PTB would be disgraced for their immortal lives.<\/p>\n

“I’m sorry if I handled this wrong. I mean, what else was I supposed to do?” And again I wondered why all I did to this woman was apologize?\u00a0For things that happened. Things I did. Things I was.<\/p>\n

Vampire. Bloodsucker. Demon.<\/em><\/p>\n

“I don’t know Angel.\u201d She ran a hand through her hair and seemed to match my weariness for an instant before her green eyes clouded with empathy that froze me in my spot.<\/p>\n

~Oh for the love of Hades; here it comes.<\/em>~<\/p>\n

\u201cI just know that when you’re around, whether I see you or not, – I feel you – inside – and it throws me.”<\/p>\n

I took a deep steadying breath. Yes goddammit; even we need it at times like his. Still male you know. \u201cThrows me too.\u201d Just not for the same reason anymore.<\/p>\n

I hadn\u2019t realized or seen the softening in the young woman because I was still merrily hyperventilating inside my head. The breathing didn\u2019t tip you off? There are only two things vampires breath during.<\/p>\n

Being interrogated is one of them.<\/p>\n

~Angel the Shagless vampire<\/em>.~<\/p>\n

I growled softly under my breath.<\/p>\n

“So let’s just stick to the plan. We keep our distance until a lot of time has passed. Given enough time we should be able to\u2026” She stumbled over her words, green eyes misty and asking me for things I didn\u2019t have any more.<\/p>\n

She was standing there asking me to sweep her into my arms share forbidden kisses but those damned forbidden kisses had been my undoing. I was sick and tired of forbidden things. They hurt and stole you from yourself in a way you could never find back. And I\u2019d just barely found myself again.<\/p>\n

When she still looked at me, hoping, expecting, I provided the word that eluded her. “Forget?’<\/p>\n

Soft disappointment streaked across her pretty features before she nodded. “Yeah. – So, I’m gonna go – start forgetting.”<\/p>\n

I nodded.<\/p>\n

And then her green eyes narrowed. \u201cI\u2019m going.\u201d<\/p>\n

I nodded again.<\/p>\n

Green eyes darkened and she stood there. \u201cStart the forgetting you know.\u201d<\/p>\n

And I raised my eyebrows, unsure of why she was still in my office, and I admit I must had looked slightly condescending, but this was my office dammit and there\u2019s also only so much emotional melodrama a demon can take.<\/p>\n

I wanted her to go so I could wallow in misery that usually followed her wake. I didn\u2019t need to anticipate the brooding session I knew I was going to have after this. The sooner she left, the sooner I could get back to my life.<\/p>\n

\u201cLeaving?\u201d<\/p>\n

I blinked. \u201cAren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Green fire licked at her eyes. \u201cExcuse you! Weren\u2019t you the one who came after me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe vision Buffy. It was the vision. I wouldn\u2019t have come back to Sunnydale otherwise. I promised myself and you.\u201d<\/p>\n

I really hadn\u2019t wanted to point out the reason I\u2019d dragged myself back to my past, but she wasn\u2019t leaving and I had a feeling things were about to get a lot hotter than my male taste allowed.<\/p>\n

And she stood there, one hand on her mouth as if physically struck by my words and instantly I felt the guilt building in my chest. Guilt that hadn\u2019t visited me in a while.<\/p>\n

Guilt that had been replaced with grins and smirks and laughs.<\/p>\n

~And Cherries.~<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBuffy don\u2019t. Don\u2019t make this harder than it already is.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs it?\u201d Suddenly she\u2019s not hurt or the same lovestruck woman standing in my doorway or the one I left in Sunnydale. Suddenly she\u2019s angry and she\u2019s the slayer and it stirs all kinds of wrong instincts in me.<\/p>\n

No. Will not eat her. Will not eat her.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYes it\u2019s hard for me to do this again and again.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

I couldn\u2019t help the growl of frustration. \u201cNo. Picking up the damned pieces every time you blow through my life.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYOU were the one who left.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI had no choice Buffy! We were making each other miserable. Wasn\u2019t that indication enough that it wasn\u2019t meant to be?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMeant to be!\u201d She stared at me incredulously. \u201cBefore you left, WE were meant to be!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell this is now.\u201d I raked my hand through my hair and shook my head. \u201cIt\u2019s not like I\u2019ve forgotten Buffy. Those are memories I wouldn\u2019t part with for anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not a fucking memory \u2013 I\u2019m standing in front of you!\u201d She snapped.<\/p>\n

I met her eyes, tired of hiding behind false facades of calm. \u201cWhat do you want Buffy?\u201d<\/p>\n

The young woman\u2019s face twisted with confused fury before she started the pacing, her hands clenching and writhing against each other. \u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n

She threw up her hands as she wore a path in my office floor. \u201cSince you\u2019ve been gone, I\u2019ve been trying to make sense of what I felt for you. I\u2019ve been trying to get past the insane need to be near you. But it\u2019s been hard Angel.\u201d She looked up at me and I saw her for what she was, a young girl with the weight of the world on her shoulders.<\/p>\n

But we all have our fights. I\u2019d come to understand ours wasn\u2019t the same. It looked like she didn\u2019t. Yet.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt gets easier down the road,\u201d I shrugged, my hands sliding into the pockets of my pants. The damned smell of Cherries had nothing to do with it. Nope.<\/p>\n

~Keep tellin\u2019 yourself that wussy.<\/em>~<\/p>\n

And I realized that Buffy was not a fool. \u201cIs there someone else?\u201d<\/p>\n

My head jerked up and I stared; my mouth opening then closing as I stood there struck dumb by her question.<\/p>\n

And she seemed to suddenly go cold. \u201cOh.\u201d<\/p>\n

But there wasn\u2019t. Not yet. I tried to find the right words, but with me that\u2019s never easy. My foot likes to lodge itself firmly in my throat. Panic welled in my belly. And I pushed the maddening urge to reach out and shake the woman firmly.<\/p>\n

Anything to get the confusing thought out of her head and mine. Talk about putting ideas into someone\u2019s head.<\/p>\n

~As if Sully. Cherries haven\u2019t been on your fucking mind.<\/em>~<\/p>\n

The firm line of her features as not as confident as she probably means it to be. \u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no one\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t lie to me!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBuffy there isn\u2019t\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you denying it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll I\u2019m saying is\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you denying it dammit, it\u2019s not a multiple choice!\u201d<\/p>\n

And for a second I wonder if I should even bother with this verbal sparing its only grating on my already tender nerves. \u201cWill you listen\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWHO!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBuffy!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWHO!\u201d And then she was stepping closer and the demon was snarling, the ripples skating precariously under my face.<\/p>\n

\u201cAhem? Angel, sorry to interrupt, I know you\u2019re all cozy and in the moment, but this invoice\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Turning to the door like a whiplash, and gold-rimmed eyes I nearly snarled at the mahogany head sticking in through the slightly ajar door.<\/p>\n

“Don’t you ever think to knock?\u201d I was livid and antagonized and unable to see the widening of her hazel eyes as I shot at her. “You forget what you’re here for.”<\/p>\n

As soon as the words had left my lips and I saw the instant flash of pure hurt on her fine-boned features, I cringed.<\/p>\n

~Fucking hell Sully! You have LOUSY aim! THAT is the secretary! The vapid slayer is behind you!<\/em>~<\/p>\n

The fangs and ridges instantly melted. “Cordelia…” I took a step toward her, but froze at the blank, icy expression on her face.<\/p>\n

“And now I\u2019m going to lunch.” Without another word or even a glance in my direction the door clicked shut.<\/p>\n

Like an idiot I stood there, torn between running after her and leaving Buffy upset and still angry. Looking up into her disturbed features I cursed silently.<\/p>\n

Leave it to me to find some way to suck the happiness out of everything. \u201cBuffy\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s her.\u201d<\/p>\n

And I was slapped.<\/p>\n

But I didn\u2019t know if I should be angry or if I should be shocked or if I should just admit the damned scent of cherries branding my senses. Taking the last vestiges of the honesty left in the situation, I met her gaze.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s nothing going on between myself and Cordelia. There hasn\u2019t been anyone since you, Buffy. But I don\u2019t forget that you\u2019re not mine and I don\u2019t forget that I\u2019m a vampire and you\u2019re a slayer.\u201d There was a flash of regret and denial in her eyes before she averted her gaze, but I had to tell her the truth. I owed her that much.<\/p>\n

\u201cCordelia\u2019s my friend. One of my best.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBitchy little Cordy is suddenly Angel\u2019s best friend?\u201d She snorted softly. \u201cAlert the presses.\u201d<\/p>\n

I frowned. \u201cDon\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking up, I saw guilt chase shame across her pretty features, her lower lip pouting as she thought. Finally with a ragged sigh, she raised her gaze back to mine and the conflict of emotions had calmed considerably.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot fair Angel. Your forgetting is no way near mine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u201d I watched her carefully. \u201cAdmit it Buffy, it\u2019s not fun wallowing in misery. After a while even that gets old. And then you don\u2019t have a choice but to go forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fearful she voiced her question. \u201cWhy her?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy not?\u201d I shrugged. \u201cShe\u2019s tactless and inexperienced, but she\u2019s also compassionate and fiercely loyal.\u201d I couldn\u2019t\u2019 help the exasperated throwing up of my hands. \u201cI mean for god\u2019s sake; You put up with Xander don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Although no way was I comparing Cordelia to that annoying pain in the butt.<\/p>\n

Her nose wrinkled. \u201cTouch\u00e9.\u201d<\/p>\n

I shook my head at the stung look on her face. \u201cThat wasn\u2019t a point. Just stating a fact.\u201d<\/p>\n

She was silent for a moment then looked up with a deep breath and most resolve than she\u2019d shown the past few minutes. \u201cSo this is it. We\u2019re moving on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Suddenly the prospect was as frightening for me as it seemed to her and for a moment I wondered if I was right, but the flashing pain in those hazel eyes kept haunting me. \u201cYes \u2013 this is it.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the silence that followed, my office door was thrust open. \u201cAngel?\u201d Looking up I regarded the alarm on my Seer\u2019s face as he stood there.<\/p>\n

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

I winced. \u201cAs Cordelia puts it Doyle. I\u2019m the king of bad timing.\u201d<\/p>\n

He glared. \u201cWhat did you say to her?\u201d<\/p>\n

I shook my head before grabbing my coat. \u201cSomething I didn\u2019t mean. Which isn\u2019t all that new. Where\u2019d she go?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t bother going after her Angel. She quit.\u201d<\/p>\n

I froze. \u201cShe what?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Irish demon stood there with his arms crossed and his blue eyes flashing with anger. \u201cYes bossman; she quit.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe can\u2019t quit!\u201d I snapped, the unwarranted fury mingled with the budding fear as the prospect of Cordelia Chase leaving finally sank in.<\/p>\n

~YOU, you pansy assed prick! You did this! YOU! YOU! YOU!~<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThat woman always does what she wants and what she wants is to never see you again.\u201d Doyle crossed his arms. \u201cWhat did you say to her?\u201d<\/p>\n

I sighed, rolling my shoulders to adjust the coat as I looked at Buffy, who was silent. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter. I\u2019m going to apologize to her. I\u2019ll bribe her dammit. She can\u2019t quit! I won\u2019t let her!\u201d I glared at him. \u201cWhere\u2019d she go?\u201d<\/p>\n

Doyle let out a sigh. There. He\u2019s doing it again and he\u2019s looking at me like I\u2019m a clueless little school boy. But then I figure I might as well be. Cordelia Chase does not woo easy.<\/p>\n

\u201cHome Angel. She told me she was going to buy Rocky-Road, go home for a bubble bath, and sue you for harassment in the work place tomorrow morning when she sends for her paycheck.\u201d<\/p>\n

I raised an eyebrow. \u201cShe figures she\u2019d get a paycheck AND a lawsuit?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s Cordelia,\u201d Buffy pointed out with a roll of her eyes.<\/p>\n

~Slutty\u2019s got a point.~<\/em><\/p>\n

I\u2019d have to take the sewers. The lengths I went to. \u201cWell first she\u2019ll have to deal with quitting without notice.\u201d Meeting Buffy\u2019s eyes I took one last look at the woman who\u2019d taught me to love unconditionally and walked out of my office.<\/p>\n

Over my shoulder I called out, \u201cDoyle, give Buffy a tour!\u201d<\/p>\n

Buffy Summers looked up at the Irish man staring after Angel as if he\u2019d been given a death sentence. \u201cWell don\u2019t start jumping for joy yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Blushing slightly Doyle turned to the blond slayer and gave her his most winning smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrancis Doyle at your service madam.\u201d<\/p>\n

A snicker shot out of the woman.<\/p>\n

He smirked. \u201cMe mother had a wicked sense of humor.\u201d<\/p>\n

Buffy smiled back. \u201cSo did mine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Continue<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Title: Falling Cherries \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Author: Frazi Posted: 05\/12\/04 Email Rating: PG-13 for mild language Category: Light, humor, post\/pre-ep Content: C\/A Summary: Pre-IWRY….<\/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-3543","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-completed-fics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3543","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=3543"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3543\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3543"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3543"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3543"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}