Part 13<\/b><\/p>\n
SUNDAY NIGHT<\/em><\/p>\n Angel slowly pulled the truck to a stop on a small clearing atop Friar\u2019s Point. From their spot on the ridge, Angel could look down at the entire town of Sunnydale. Off in the distance was the hospital.<\/p>\n To the right was the university. Near that was the suburbia section of the town. Hundreds of lights twinkled in the conservative homes. Angel wondered idly how many of them knew about the evil that lurked in their leafy little hamlet.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s strange how such a pretty little town can rest atop the mouth to Hell,\u201d Cordelia observed.<\/p>\n Angel leaned back in his seat and nodded quietly. Yeah, it was strange. He continued to stare off at the distant lights and smiled slightly at the baby\u2019s soft snores. He glanced over and watched Cordelia adjust the child in her arms. It was a beautiful sight. He watched as she licked her lips slightly and prepared to speak.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the past few weeks, I\u2019ve dreamed a hundred different scenarios about what it would be like when I saw you again. Funny. I don\u2019t recall imagining this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNeither did I.\u201d<\/p>\n Silence, then, \u201cI\u2019ve missed you. It\u2019s been lonely without you.\u201d Angel just nodded. \u201cI\u2019ve missed having my friend around.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs that what I am?\u201d Angel questioned. He turned and fixed Cordelia with a sad gaze. \u201cAre we even friends? Have we ever been? After I returned from my whole Darla obsession trip, you made it quite clear that we weren\u2019t. Then you almost died when you didn\u2019t tell me the visions were killing you. Friends don\u2019t keep those kind of secrets. Then Groo arrived, and by the time he left and we started to come together, you were gone. And when you came back\u2026were we ever really friends?\u201d Cordelia was silent.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what I was thinking, too.\u201d<\/p>\n The two looked off into the night. Cordelia watched an airplane as it made its decent to Sunnydale Airport. Angel focused on the faint wail of a police siren. It was Cordelia who spoke first.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve both fucked up a whole bunch, haven\u2019t we?\u201d Angel nodded in agreement. \u201cWe\u2019ve both done things we can\u2019t be forgiven for, right?\u201d Angel nodded again. \u201cI don\u2019t suppose we could both say \u2018sorry\u2019 and call it a night, could we?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cProbably not.\u201d<\/p>\n Pause. \u201cI\u2019m sorry anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n Pause. \u201cSo am I.\u201d<\/p>\n Pause. \u201cI guess that\u2019s a start, right?\u201d<\/p>\n Angel nodded. \u201cIt is.\u201d He sighed heavily and fiddled with the car keys in the ignition. \u201cWhether we were ever friends is questionable. But I do know that I loved you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI loved you, too.\u201d Cordelia gently stroked the baby\u2019s cheek as Angel watched. \u201cThings will never be the same with us. Wherever we were, no matter how good it was becoming, we can\u2019t be there again.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re right. That\u2019s because we\u2019re different people now. Different experiences. Different reactions. For all I know, different dreams. What I think what we need to do is decide what those dreams are. Where do we go from here?\u201d<\/p>\n Cordelia was silent for a moment as she considered what to say. Finally, she gazed at him and said, \u201cI still love you. I need you in my life.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I still love you. And I want you in my life.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo what do we do now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe do it right,\u201d Angel said with certainty. \u201cWe take it slow and we go through the steps.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd the first step would be?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe become friends. We know each other\u2026inside and out. So,\u201d Angel drawled, \u201cgot any brothers or sisters?\u201d<\/p>\n Cordelia barely slapped a hand over her mouth before she ripped out in laughter. Angel thoroughly enjoyed the twinkle in her eye. It allowed him to believe that everything might be okay.<\/p>\n \u201cThis could get very interesting,\u201d Cordelia decided. \u201cBut before I tell you anything, there is one thing I have to know from you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat was the deal with those three mystical gals that did the protection spell on Caritas? You know, the \u2018Mmm Angel\u2019 groupies.\u201d<\/p>\n Angel chuckled. \u201cThat is an interesting story. You see, it goes back to St. Louis at the end of the war. The second war, that is. I went down to the riverfront and\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n MONDAY MORNING<\/p>\n Angel and Cordelia arrived at the Summers\u2019 house minutes before the first rays of light peaked over the horizon. They pushed aside a piece of blue tarp that now covered the front door and entered.<\/p>\n In the living room was the entire group, eating breakfast and sipping coffee, and generally recovering from the previous day\u2019s battle. They couldn\u2019t help from noticing the way Angel gently held onto Cordelia\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy don\u2019t you go on up to my room?\u201d Angel suggested softly. \u201cYou must be exhausted.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you going to do?\u201d Cordelia asked curiously.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going to congratulate the group on a job well done. I\u2019ll be up there in a minute. I\u2019m tired as hell.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay,\u201d Cordelia smiled. Mother and child headed up the stairs to get some rest and wait for daddy. Angel watched them head up the stairs for a moment before turning back to the living room. He walked in and noticed that Hannah was conspicuously missing.<\/p>\n \u201dHow is everyone feeling?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLike we were hit by several large and massive objects traveling at an incredible velocity,\u201d Xander answered. The others agreed. He then raised a coffee mug up in salute. \u201cBut hot cocoa makes everything better. Except for this Grade Two concussion. Vicodin helps for that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry you all got sucked into all this,\u201d Angel apologized. \u201cBut I can\u2019t say enough how thankful I am for all of you. You\u2019re brave. You\u2019re strong. And you don\u2019t back down from a challenge. I appreciate everything you have done. Even the Boy Dunder over there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey!\u201d Xander shouted.<\/p>\n \u201cJust kidding. I thank you all.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo problem, mate,\u201d Spike drawled. \u201cWe love a good fight.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd cookies,\u201d Willow added. \u201cWe love cookies, too.\u201d The others shot her strange looks. \u201cWhat? I\u2019ve had a hankering for those Elfudge cookies all night. Do we have any?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d Buffy answered. \u201cSpike ate them all.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid not!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLying sack of dust. I bought a pack last Tuesday. The three of us were gone all day and you were the only one home.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe it was the dog.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t have a dog!\u201d<\/p>\n Angel desperately tried to interrupt the argument. \u201cWhere is Hannah? I\u2019d like to talk to her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn the kitchen,\u201d Kayla pointed.<\/p>\n Angel stuck around for a moment to watch Buffy, Spike, Dawn, and Willow get into a heated battle over who ate the cookies. He soon grew bored and headed to the kitchen. He found Hannah sitting at the island counter sipping on a cup of coffee. She looked worn and tired and beaten. But she was alive. That had to be a plus. He mentioned that to her.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess so.\u201d She watched as Angel took a seat next to her. \u201cAny day you don\u2019t get brutally raped and the power of an entire race of people isn\u2019t absorbed by a diabolical demon is always a good day. How are you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, considering. I\u2019m just glad it\u2019s over.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo am I.\u201d She set the cup aside. \u201cI heard that your girl saved the day last night.\u201d Angel nodded. \u201cLucky for us. It must have been pretty bad.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was.\u201d<\/p>\n Hannah fingered the rim of the coffee cup for a moment. \u201cI never stood a chance, did I?\u201d Angel looked at her curiously. \u201cWhen she appeared. Your heart belongs to her. Am I wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n Angel smiled sadly. \u201cNo. You\u2019re not. I\u2019m sorry about that. You\u2019re a beautiful girl.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry too. And thanks for the compliment. Sucks that your heart belongs to another, but hey, the whole \u2018saving my life from previously mentioned diabolical demon\u2019 is an act that will always keep you in my heart.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGlad to hear it.\u201d Pause. \u201cSo where will you go?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cProbably Washington. A group of our clan has settled in a town east of Olympia. They should welcome us with open arms especially since we\u2019ll have a new tale about the clan savior to tell. But now we have to add in a section about a Slayer and a tall brunette.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t forget about an annoying bleach blonde vampire. No story is complete without that.\u201d<\/p>\n Hannah managed a small laugh. \u201cI will. And thank you. For everything.\u201d She swatted his hand playfully. \u201cNow go to her. Don\u2019t be stupid and hang around here. Go to your family.\u201d<\/p>\n Angel smiled slightly and leaned across the table. He gently kissed her cheek. \u201cIf you\u2019re ever in danger, you know where to turn, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTo the Knight in Black Armor. My own personal Angel. I hope I won\u2019t be needing this kind of help again, but still, thank you. Now am I gonna have to drag you back to her?\u201d<\/p>\n Angel chuckled a soft \u201cNo\u201d before standing up and limping from the kitchen. He smiled to the gang who watched as he took the turn to the stairwell and went up.<\/p>\n Lilah pulled a folded bill from her pocket and said, \u201cTen says they get groiny.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll take that bet,\u201d Wesley said.<\/p>\n \u201cSo will I,\u201d Spike announced.<\/p>\n \u201cMe three,\u201d Dawn added.<\/p>\n \u201cDawn!\u201d Buffy scolded. \u201cI don\u2019t want you gambling.\u201d She then pulled a bill from her pocket and said, \u201cI\u2019ll take it, too.\u201d<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n Angel knocked gently on the door before entering. What he saw warmed his soul. There on the bed rested Cordelia, still clad in jeans and t-shirt, her body spooned protectively around the baby. Her hazel eyes opened when she felt his presence. She shot him a radiant smile.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re back,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m back,\u201d he agreed. \u201cWere you worried that I would take off?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNope. You said you\u2019d be up shortly. Why wouldn\u2019t I believe you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI could give a million reasons, but why get into a long debate?\u201d<\/p>\n Angel crossed over to the bed and gently climbed on. He delicately wrapped himself around the baby so as not to disturb its slumber. From that position, he could look across the seven-inch gap and stare into Cordelia\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cSo,\u201d Cordelia began. \u201cThe battle is won. The damsel has been saved. What now, Gary Cooper?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was thinking about riding into the sunset with Grace Kelly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSounds nice. Has the role been cast yet?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI have a girl in mind. I hope she accepts. It\u2019ll be a major part for her. Longtime commitment.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou won\u2019t know until you ask. Worst she can say is no.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTrue. So\u2026you want the part?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think I can swing it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood. Because the role was written with you in mind.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2019s the pay?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCould be better, but the benefits package is admirable.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSound intriguing.\u201d Pause. \u201cI love you, Angel.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI love you, Cordelia.\u201d<\/p>\n Within moments, both were sound asleep.<\/p>\n The End<\/b><\/p>\n