Part 9<\/b><\/p>\n
The four beings continued to stare each other down. Amid the din of the washers and dryers rumbling, Angel tuned all his senses into the two Cordelias before him. Heartbeat, breath, perspiration, scent, Angel was focusing on it all.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, there\u2019s an easy solution to this problem,\u201d Xander grinned as inspiration struck. He reached into his suit coat and grabbed his bag of Hecate\u2019s Essence. \u201cI throw this on the both of you. Now we find out which Cordelia isn\u2019t really Cordelia, and which Cordelia really is Cordelia, and boy am I rambling.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, you are,\u201d Angel stated smoothly. \u201cBut there isn\u2019t any need for that.\u201d Angel reared back and let loose with his axe. The blade embedded deep into the chest of the Cordelia nearest him. The impact sent her flying backwards against the wall. She slumped against the wall, the axe still firmly in her chest.<\/p>\n
After a few moments, the body began to change shape, and the form of John Ramius appeared. Angel couldn\u2019t feel a heartbeat. Xander stood in shock at what just occurred, the bag of Hecate\u2019s Essence slipped from his hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was\u2026\u201d Xander started. \u201cI don\u2019t know what the hell that was.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia, the true Cordelia, was frozen in place. She stared at the heap that used to be Ramius, the being who only moments before stood before her as her doppelganger. Angel stepped forward and took the real Cordelia, his Cordelia, into his arms.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you okay?\u201d he asked<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah,\u201d she said. Cordelia looked up into his eyes and smiled slightly. \u201cMy hero.\u201d<\/p>\n
Xander was fully prepared for a smart comment, but then he noticed the complete lack of sarcasm in Cordelia\u2019s voice when she spoke that. He settled for asking, \u201cSo what do we do now?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to go home and sleep,\u201d Cordelia stated.<\/p>\n
Angel smiled at his Seer a moment before turning to Xander. \u201cWell, you heard her. We go home so Cor can sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia slapped his chest lightly before leading the way out of the laundry. \u201cDon\u2019t patronize me, Grr-Boy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel raised his hands in defense, that smile still playing on his face. \u201cI wasn\u2019t patronizing. I agree, you need to rest. It\u2019s been a long few days for you.\u201d Angel held the door open for her. \u201cBesides, I\u2019ve seen you without your beauty sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n
He received another slap for his comment.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re quickly losing all the flattery points you gained earlier,\u201d she informed him with a smirk. Angel\u2019s brow furrowed heavily. He didn\u2019t like that. Cordelia took pity and patted his cheek affectionately. \u201cYou\u2019re cute when you\u2019re contemplative.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel perked up mightily. \u201cI am?\u201d There was the dork vampire that Cordelia knew and loved. Angel nudged Xander in the ribs. \u201cShe says I\u2019m cute when I\u2019m contemplative.\u201d<\/p>\n
Xander observed the vampire critically. Angel\u2019s shirt was soaked in what Xander assumed to be pig\u2019s blood. He was grinning widely and nodding his head dumbly.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are simply adorable,\u201d Xander quipped. \u201cCan we please find the others and go?\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel was still grinning at Cordelia when Xander spoke. \u201cOh yeah,\u201d the vampire said. He looked around the hallways. \u201cYou can find them. We\u2019ll be downstairs.\u201d Xander stared after the pair as they headed to the stairs.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll just find everybody,\u201d he called out after them. He looked around before deciding to check the south hall first. After tripping over his shoelaces, he hurried off to find his friends.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Hyperion Hotel<\/em> Their bags were all packed. The battle was done. The Scoobies prepared to return home. Xander had the privilege of playing bellhop, and was busy loading everyone\u2019s stuff into his car. That left Dawn and Buffy to say goodbye.<\/p>\n \u201cSo how are you doing?\u201d Buffy asked of Angel. The three stood in the center of the lobby, the girls still surprised at the lack of black clothing that Angel was wearing.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine,\u201d Angel answered. \u201cBeen shot before and I\u2019ll probably be shot again. No big deal.\u201d He rubbed his chest at the spot of the bullet\u2019s entry. \u201cAlthough these new guns carry a hell of a lot more punch than a musket. I miss the days of inaccurate weapons and twenty second reloads. Really gave a bloke the chance to run, ya know?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Buffy agreed smiling. \u201cAnd since when do you ramble?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t ramble,\u201d Angel defended softly. \u201cI yammer sometimes. Give narratives once in a while. Occasionally I\u2019ll\u2026shut up now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re really different,\u201d Buffy stated.<\/p>\n Angel smiled proudly for a moment before deflating. Timidly he asked, \u201cThat\u2019s a good thing, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think so. Speaking of different, where is Cordelia?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s upstairs asleep,\u201d Angel said. \u201cAfter a couple of days in a nuthouse, I think she just wants some rest. I don\u2019t blame her. There was this one time in Bucharest, around 1840 I believe, I got really drunk and started mouthing off\u2026and I\u2019ll just shut up again because you both are laughing at me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou really are different,\u201d Dawn informed him.<\/p>\n \u201cC\u2019mon girls!\u201d Xander called from the courtyard. \u201cTime\u2019s a wasting! I wanna see Disneyland sometime today!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI may have a soul, but I can still kill him if you want. Please?\u201d Angel begged.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Willow might be upset if we don\u2019t bring him back. Plus, he has his uses occasionally.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen?\u201d Dawn asked. The look Buffy sent her made Dawn amend her question. \u201cOh yes, he does\u2026occasionally.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, if you ever change your mind, you know where I\u2019m at.\u201d Angel paused a moment before continuing. \u201cI\u2019m sorry we treated you so rudely at first. It\u2019s nothing against you guys. Things have just been hectic here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou should tell us about it sometime,\u201d Buffy offered.<\/p>\n Angel nodded in agreement, somewhat surprised at Buffy\u2019s maturity. \u201cI just want you guys to know that you\u2019re always welcome here. Maybe if things ever become hectic at home\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll be the first to know.\u201d Buffy checked her watch. \u201cWe better get going. Xander can get cranky if he doesn\u2019t get his Goofy fix. Say goodbye to Cordelia for us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure thing.\u201d Angel hugged both of the sisters and said goodbye.<\/p>\n And then there was silence.<\/p>\n The Scoobies were gone, Fred and Gunn were out to lunch, and he was alone. But he perked as he remembered that he wasn\u2019t alone. Angel silently climbed the stairs and crept through the upper hallway. He rested his head next to his bedroom door and listened.<\/p>\n Cordelia was still asleep.<\/p>\n Angel gently opened the door and slipped in. He then shut the door behind him and simply stood there. Angel was content to stand from a distance and watch as Cordelia slept.<\/p>\n The vampire had long admitted to himself that he was in love with Cordelia. And only a few weeks ago, Angel could almost let himself believe that maybe she loved him. Maybe they could salvage whatever was that they had been building.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you just going to stand there?\u201d<\/p>\n Angel smiled as he realized Cordelia had waked without his realizing it. She rolled over so she could face him. \u201cI didn\u2019t want to disturb you,\u201d he admitted as he walked to her. \u201cIt looked like you need the rest.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI could feel you the second you walked in. Guess I really did get the whole package when the Powers demonized me.\u201d<\/p>\n Angel sat on the bed and gently stroked the hair from her eyes. \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d he said seriously. \u201cYou don\u2019t deserve to be that tuned into me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey,\u201d Cordelia warned. \u201cThat was a moment of broodiness. I don\u2019t like that. Now, you have to tell me something. How did you know which Cordelia, er, me, to kill?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn\u2019t that hard,\u201d Angel told her. \u201cYou must know by now that you are one of a kind. I could \u2018smell\u2019 an imposter from a mile away.\u201d<\/p>\n Cordelia didn\u2019t fail to miss the entendre. \u201cOh my God, you said smell.\u201d Cordelia buried her face in her hands. \u201cI can not believe it. I feel like I need to take a bath.\u201d<\/p>\n Angel laughed and tried to pull her hands away. \u201cI\u2019m sorry. That\u2019s my vampire senses and a little bit of infatuation when it comes to you.\u201d And he could not believe he said that. Might as well say the rest. \u201cI love you.\u201d<\/p>\n That did pull her hands from her face. \u201cExcuse me?\u201d Cordelia asked. \u201cDid you just say\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI love you? Yes, I did.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWow, that\u2019s, I love you too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally?\u201d Angel asked. That\u2019s a good thing. \u201cSo now that we\u2019ve decided that, what now?\u201d<\/p>\n Yes, what now? Cordelia had absolutely no idea. \u201cMaybe we just go with the flow? Who says that we have to do anything?\u201d<\/p>\n Angel considered that. \u201cI suppose you\u2019re right, as always,\u201d he added for her benefit. \u201cYou do realize that I am absolutely the wrong person to fall in love with, right? I mean, I can\u2019t give you the things you deserve. I\u2019m tight with a buck. I\u2019m a neat freak. I tend to use antiquated slang terms. Did I mention that I\u2019m a vampire? I can\u2019t even, well, you know, without going all Manson on everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan you love me completely?\u201d Cordelia asked.<\/p>\n He didn\u2019t even have to think about it. \u201cYes. I can.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen you can give me everything.\u201d<\/p>\n Angel smiled slightly. \u201cIs it okay if I kiss you now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, it is.\u201d And so he leaned down and did just that.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t you want to know what you smell like?\u201d Angel asked between kisses.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do I smell like?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou smell like you.\u201d<\/p>\n End<\/b><\/p>\n
\nThe Next Day<\/em><\/p>\n