{"id":3987,"date":"2015-07-05T22:56:37","date_gmt":"2015-07-05T21:56:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/?p=3987"},"modified":"2015-07-06T00:55:00","modified_gmt":"2015-07-05T23:55:00","slug":"bad-timing-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/2015\/07\/05\/bad-timing-11\/","title":{"rendered":"Bad Timing. 11"},"content":{"rendered":"

Part 11<\/b>: Close But No Cigar<\/em><\/p>\n

Buffy came in and set her shopping bags down by the stairs, while Dawn headed straight for the baby. For some reason, Buffy still hadn\u2019t felt comfortable enough to hold Connor. She wasn\u2019t much of a baby person but she had never actually felt afraid to pick up a child before.<\/p>\n

This child. I\u2019m just scared to pick up this child. <\/i><\/p>\n

His very existence only increased the general sense of confusion she had felt since they walked in the door. Dawn, however, had no such qualms. By the time Buffy walked over to the couch, Dawn was playing airplane with Connor and telling Cordy and Angel about their day.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t like how that sounds. Cordy and Angel.<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cSo, Cordy, my dad\u2019s new girlfriend told me I should dye my hair blonder. Whatcha think?\u201d Dawn asked.<\/p>\n

Cordelia noted Buffy standing behind the young girl, shaking her head \u2018no\u2019. \u201cWell you know, Dawnie, I really wouldn\u2019t suggest it. Not because you\u2019re too young or anything,\u201d she added when Dawn\u2019s face fell. \u201cIt just wouldn\u2019t work so well with your coloring. Besides, if you\u2019re not trying to catch the eye of any ensouled vampires, why bother with the bleach?\u201d<\/p>\n

Buffy coughed. \u201cBy the way, Cordelia, have I mentioned how much I LOVE the highlights.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cordy looked down. She was getting soft in her old age. She had walked right into that one. She snuck a peak over at Angel. Maybe he hadn\u2019t heard.Yeah, cause those vampires, it\u2019s not like they have super hearing or anything.<\/i> Angel was smirking and Cordy had the weirdest urge to stick her tongue out at him. So she did. Did he just gulp?<\/i><\/p>\n

Spike walked out of the basement. His knuckles were torn and bloody and Angel guessed he had been the one to break the punching bag. He seemed to be in a better mood though. Spike had gotten progressively moodier once Buffy left. Seemed fine now though.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo children, what are we doing this evening?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe, as in everyone except you, are going to do karaoke,\u201d Buffy replied.<\/p>\n

Cordy stood up. \u201cSpike of course you are invited to Caritas with us. After all, it\u2019s just a bunch of FRIENDS, hanging out.\u201d There, we\u2019re even for that comment about the highlights.<\/i><\/p>\n

Buffy wasn\u2019t clear on what to do. She had come to Los Angeles with very specific plans and so far nothing was turning out the way she thought it would. First of all, this was supposed to be about putting Spike behind her, about finding herself again. How could she find herself when all she saw was him?<\/p>\n

I mean, when he\u2019s always around. I did not mean that Spike is all I can see. He is not all I can see. I can see many things, things that are not Spike.<\/i><\/p>\n

Angel had just seemed so distracted. Part of what she had loved about being with him was how focused he had been on her. When she was in the room, she knew she was all he saw, all he breathed. Now, he was definitely distracted and Buffy was starting to get a good idea of what he found so distracting.<\/p>\n

Cordelia. The self-professed Dating Slayer.<\/p>\n

It was hard to see what he saw in her. Sure, when Cordelia was ruling Sunnydale High, she was attractive to boys but that\u2019s because dating her promised an upward rise in popularity. But in LA she was very small fish in very big pond, so the appeal of that was gone.<\/p>\n

And it\u2019s not like she wasn\u2019t still cute, but four years ago, Cordelia was so coordinated, so made up, so perfect looking. Every one of her features had always been exhibited to it\u2019s utmost potential. Now\u2026not so much. Gone was the icy prettiness. Gone was the calculated but powerful beauty. Angel, he was a guy who appreciated beauty. So\u2026why?<\/p>\n

Dawn\u2019s laughter drew Buffy out of her reverie. Cordelia was holding Connor, trying to get him to show Dawn how he could stick out his tongue. When he did it, throwing in a spit bubble for an encore, Cordy laughed down at him then looked up and smiled.<\/p>\n

It was like being struck by lighting. In that moment, Buffy thought she might know why. Buffy didn\u2019t even really like the girl, but that smile was like being held by someone you loved.<\/p>\n

A sudden burst of warmth and comfort. Who knew Cordelia had something like that inside her?<\/p>\n

Buffy turned to see if anyone else noticed it. Spike and Angel were both looking at Cordelia with very similar expressions on their face. Like they were shocked. Like creatures like them didn\u2019t deserve to have a smile like that directed their way. A flood of jealousy ran though Buffy\u2019s blood.<\/p>\n

But that wasn\u2019t the worst part.<\/p>\n

The worst part was not knowing whether she was jealous because Cordy was being stared at by Angel\u2026or because Spike was looking at her too.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, Angel,\u201d Buffy said, moving in front of him to break his Cordy-worship. \u201cMaybe you and I could do something tonight, before we go to Caritas.\u201d She stared at Angel beseechingly. She didn\u2019t see Spike\u2019s frown or the way Cordelia moved to lay a commiserating hand on his shoulder. She didn\u2019t hear Dawn sigh in annoyance and walk upstairs.<\/p>\n

She just waited for Angel.<\/p>\n

Angel was puzzled. Okay, so he wasn\u2019t that puzzled. He had an inkling of what was going on. Buffy was using him to make Spike jealous. Fortunately, he had better things to do than participate in that ill-fated love affair. He wanted to finish his conversation with Cordy.<\/p>\n

I can offer to make her dinner. We can go upstairs to give Connor a bath. And then we can lock the door to my room and get the hell out of this limbo we\u2019ve been in. <\/i>Angel realized Buffy was still waiting for an answer. \u201cActually\u2014.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAngel, you guys should do something.\u201d Cordelia couldn\u2019t believe she actually said that. But in a weird way, she was sorta proud. She had overcome all those \u201cfight for your man\u201d urges and just given in to the inevitable. She was like that guy, in that Casablanca movie. Who was all noble.<\/p>\n

This is the right thing to do. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, yadda yadda yadda. <\/i>\u201cGo to dinner or something. For old times sake.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCordelia, Angel is a VAMPIRE.\u201d Buffy shook her head, like Cordy had gone retarded.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. AND? What, he can escort people to prom and hang out at the Bronze but god forbid he pay for a nice sit down every now and then?\u201d Cordy was not seeing the problem here.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe doesn\u2019t eat dinner food.\u201d Buffy was having awful images of Angel sipping blood from a flask at the table.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re kidding. Wow! That explains why there\u2019s all this blood lying around all the time. Finally the mystery is solved. Thanks Inspector Gadget.\u201d Cordelia was getting pissed. Buffy was acting like Angel didn\u2019t know how to act in public. Like he was some kind of freak.<\/p>\n

Angel put his hand on Cordelia\u2019s shoulder. He leaned in and, under the pretense of kissing Connor on the forehead, he whispered for her to behave. Cordelia gave a \u201cPffft\u201d and rolled her eyes. Angel turned to Buffy. \u201cActually, dinner sounds like a nice idea. Cordy\u2019s been dying to go to this new French place. Spike, I\u2019m sure they have an excellent wine collection.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cordelia almost had a heart attack. Sweet, adorable, completely dense vampire. How do you live 250 years and not know when you are being seduced. He thought all four of them were going to dinner. Awwwww, why is that so damn cute? <\/i>Cordy saw the way that Buffy\u2019s face fell.<\/p>\n

I should be enjoying that more. <\/i>But it was hard to appreciate the Slayer\u2019s frustration. It was all futile. No matter how many twists and turns the plot took, Cordelia was still sure how the story was going to end.<\/p>\n

Angel and Buffy will overcome all obstacles and blah blah blah.<\/i> \u201cI think you two should go. I want to head home and take a shower. Spike, you care to join me?\u201d<\/p>\n

Spike got a huge smile on his face, Buffy\u2019s jaw dropped, and Cordy swore that Angel growled. \u201cNOT join me in the shower, join me in going back to my place. Heads out of the gutter people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Connor had gotten squirmy so Cordelia gave him one last squeeze and put him back on the mat. \u201cAngel, remember to tell Wesley to put on that tape we used last night.\u201d In a last ditch effort, Cordelia had put on the \u201cLast of the Mohicans\u201d soundtrack and Connor had magically settled. It had actually been sorta creepy. \u201cAnd go over diapering with him again, and make sure he is still certified for CPR.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Cordelia went over nine million details with Angel, Spike snuck up behind Buffy. She knew he was there seconds before he spoke She broke out in goose bumps as she felt his cool breath hit her neck, just under her ear.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know what you doing Slayer. You think I don\u2019t know why you came here. I suppose I should be flattered. You\u2019re so scared of what you feel for me you ran all the way to LA. Well, you can\u2019t run from me. From us. Because when you stop fighting this lost cause, I\u2019ll still be here, waiting for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Buffy felt like she had been punched in the gut. She didn\u2019t say anything, she just shut her eyes. She kept them closed until Cordelia and Spike walked out the door.<\/p>\n

It was shocking to realize that she and Angel were actually alone. And while the lobby of the hotel was no candlelight dinner, or even a romantic stroll through a Sunnydale cemetery, she was pretty sure now was a good time to try a little\u2026rekindling. Angel was sitting on the couch watching his son wriggle around on the floor.<\/p>\n

She sat down next to him, curling her legs underneath her and leaning towards him slightly. She got his attention by trailing her finger slowly down his arm. That had always worked before.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, I\u2019m really glad I\u2019m going to have some time for just us, you know, you and me,\u201d she started.<\/p>\n

From the floor, Connor made a noise. Angel\u2019s face went into worry mode and he leaned over and picked his son up. \u201cDid that sound like a cough to you?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

Actually Buffy thought the noise had sounded an awful lot like Cordelia\u2019s patented \u201cPfft\u201d, but she wasn\u2019t about to tell Angel that. \u201cI\u2019m sure it was nothing. Angel,\u201d she tried to get him to focus, \u201cI\u2019ve really been missing you a lot lately.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel gave that small sheepish smile that she had seen so many times before. \u201cI\u2019ve missed you too. We didn\u2019t get to talk all that much after you\u2026when you \u2026the last time we saw each other. You seem a lot better now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Buffy leaned even closer to Angel. \u201cI am better. Just seeing you, being here like this again, it makes everything better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel nodded absentmindedly. \u201cI think I heard that sound again. That wasn\u2019t a cough right? A cough would sound more cough-y, don\u2019t you think?\u201d Buffy sighed in answer and Angel flashed a soft shy apologetic smile. It made him look dorky and endearing and nothing at all like the soulfull brooder she fell for.<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry Buf, I\u2019m doing the over-protective thing, aren\u2019t I? I can tell, you sighed just like Cordy does when I\u2019m going overboard.\u201d Buffy\u2019s noise wrinkled. Was there some sort of rule that he had to mention Cordelia every five minutes? She didn\u2019t want to talk about what \u201cCordy does\u201d or what \u201cCordy says.\u201d It was still throwing her for a loop hearing Angel call her \u201cCordy\u201d in the first place.<\/p>\n

Calm down Buffy. Don\u2019t get sidetracked. <\/i>She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and said, \u201cEver since, you know, this fall, I\u2019ve been thinking a lot more lately, about life and love.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMe too,\u201d Angel said, surprising her. \u201cEver since this little guy came along, I catch myself thinking about how much life changes in an instant, how amazing it is when life surprises you. When love surprises you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t like surprises much. In my experience, change isn\u2019t always good. I like things I can count on. Love I can count on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel noticed the weird tone but he had no idea where Buffy was going with this. Was she trying to tell him about her and Spike? He knew they had slept together at least once. Judging by the amount of tension between them since they got there, it had probably happened a lot more than once.<\/p>\n

\u201cBuffy, you know you can tell me anything.\u201d If she needed to work through her problems with Spike, he would be there for her. He owed her that much. \u201cSeriously, I\u2019m always here,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just wanted to tell you\u2026\u201d Buffy couldn\u2019t believe it was finally going to happen. She had been waiting two days for this moment. It was now or never. There was magic in the air\u2026and it smelled a lot like\u2026dirty diapers. \u201cI wanted to tell you that I think your son needs a change.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel laughed and started babbling baby talk to Connor as he rose and started to head upstairs. Buffy followed slowly behind him, heading to her and Dawn\u2019s room to change for dinner and mull over how close she had just come to getting what she came for.<\/p>\n

Part 12<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Part 11: Close But No Cigar Buffy came in and set her shopping bags down by the stairs, while Dawn headed straight for…<\/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-3987","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-completed-fics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3987","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=3987"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3987\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3987"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3987"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3987"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}