{"id":5227,"date":"2015-07-14T17:08:11","date_gmt":"2015-07-14T16:08:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/?p=5227"},"modified":"2015-07-14T17:08:29","modified_gmt":"2015-07-14T16:08:29","slug":"atonement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/2015\/07\/14\/atonement\/","title":{"rendered":"Atonement."},"content":{"rendered":"

Title: Atonement<\/b>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/a>\"Atonement<\/a>
\nAuthor: <\/b>Lysa
\nPosted: <\/b>04\/04
\nRating: <\/b>PG-13
\n<\/b><\/a>Email<\/a><\/b>
\nCategory: <\/b>Post-Episode Fic
\nContent: <\/b>C\/A Friendship
\nSummary: <\/b>Cordelia forgives and forgets\u2026or does she?
\nSpoilers: <\/b>AtS Season 2, Episode 39: Disharmony
\nDisclaimer: <\/b>The characters in the Angelverse were created by Joss Whedon & David Greenwalt. No infringement is intended, no profit is made.
\nDistribution: <\/b>Anywhere\u2026please let me know.
\nNotes: <\/b>Challenge by JennieC:<\/b> S2 A\/C Friendship, scene after clothes, convo why she lets him off the hook. Frankly, this challenge scared me a little considering that it is centered around a moment that tends to stir up a lot of emotion in C\/A fans. So, thanks for that excitement, Jen. Hopefully, I came up with something believable. Smoochies to Helen<\/strong> as well who gave me some feedback after a couple of sneak peeks and left me with a few great suggestions (which I snapped up immediately). There may be more UST in this than pure friendship, but I’ll let you decide.
\nThanks\/Dedication:<\/b> To Jen<\/strong> of course!
\nFeedback:<\/b> Always welcome<\/p>\n

\n

Wesley scowled watching Angel follow Cordelia back to her desk, designer clothes and accessories layering it in a swathe of color.<\/p>\n

Not five seconds after advising Angel to give her time and space to adjust to the vampire\u2019s presence again, to allow their friendship to heal rather than force it and upon hearing his agreement to give her the room she needed, Wes witnessed what he considered a blatant attempt at buying back Cordelia\u2019s friendship.<\/p>\n

Worse, it seemed that Cordy was enthralled by the pile of designer wear and had forgiven Angel all of his sins within an instant of seeing his gift.<\/p>\n

Standing statue-still in the doorway, Wes let his anger stew. This simply wasn\u2019t right. Angel both deserved and needed to crawl his way back into Cordelia\u2019s affections, not to take this easy path of least resistance into her good graces.<\/p>\n

It had been a very long time since Wes considered any action of Cordelia\u2019s to be shallow, but this came close to that description. To forgive Angel for his wrongs in exchange for a brand new wardrobe\u2026there had to be more to this than he was seeing.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you braved the big bad world of Rodeo Drive,\u201d Cordelia seemed amused by the idea as she sifted through the pile until she pulled out a blouse to go with the skirt already draped across her arm. \u201cHow\u2019d that go?\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel leaned up against the desk, his eyes trained on her every move. \u201cI\u2019d rather take out a nest of Raskthor demons on my own than go back there again.\u201d<\/p>\n

She paused to glance over her shoulder at Wesley, raising her eyebrows and adding a cheeky grin. Holding the blouse up for their inspection, Cordelia\u2019s eyes sparkled as she explained, \u201cVera Wang chiffon, definitely to die for.\u201d<\/p>\n

With that, Cordelia darted into the adjacent cloak room that Angel Investigations used as a storage space for files and office supplies. Angel\u2019s grinning face was still focused on the closed door as he listened to the sounds of off-key humming and the rustle of clothing.<\/p>\n

Unable to just stand there without saying anything, Wesley cleared his throat to catch the vampire\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re looking rather pleased with yourself,\u201d he commented drolly as Angel spared a brief glimpse at his tight expression.<\/p>\n

Wesley doubted he\u2019d ever seen Angel smile so damn much. It was almost eerie.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe I am,\u201d admitted Angel, his arms crossed over his chest. \u201cI want her happy, Wes. I want her to forget the past few weeks. I want her friendship again, her smile, her warmth. I want h\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWanting rather a lot, aren\u2019t you?\u201d Wes squared his jaw. He wasn\u2019t a fool. Cordelia and Angel\u2019s friendship had always been on a separate level. That\u2019s why his actions had cut Cordelia so deeply and why Wesley felt certain it would take a long time to heal those wounds.<\/p>\n

The dark eyes that pierced him with an unblinking stare gave away nothing. No hint of emotion showed now that the smile had dipped down into a straight line. Then he spoke and it became clear to Wes that Angel\u2019s easy acceptance of his earlier advice had been a cover for his desperation.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t interfere,\u201d the low-pitched words came out as a warning audible only to the Englishman in the few feet separating them. Wes cleared his throat.<\/p>\n

There was a smidgeon of danger in that voice. Having dragged himself back from the dark edge of the emotionless void he\u2019d found himself in, Angel was still too close to it for comfort. Wesley had no time to respond as the cloak room door was flung open to reveal Cordelia modeling her first outfit.<\/p>\n

His thoughts were a little unfocused after that as Wes was sidetracked by the seer\u2019s infectious smile and appearance.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo\u2026am I gorgeous or am I gorgeous?\u201d Cordelia spun around in a slow circle. The diaphanous chiffon topped a silk lining that clung to her curves as its plunging neckline knotted in the valley of her breasts.<\/p>\n

As she turned, the daring open back provided peeks at the curve of her spine while the soft red skirt followed the line of her hips smoothing over her rounded bottom and ending abruptly several inches below.<\/p>\n

Edible,<\/i> Angel ate her up with his eyes realizing that his imagination hadn\u2019t done half as good a job as reality did in filling out that blouse. He\u2019d only bought that one because it felt so soft and he figured Cordelia would like the way it clung to her skin.<\/p>\n

He hadn\u2019t counted on the fact that he might like the way it was clinging or that the slit in the back would make him want to slip his hand inside sliding it over the delicate curve of her spine.<\/p>\n

\u201cN-Nice,\u201d he managed to comment much to Cordelia\u2019s annoyance.<\/p>\n

Wes reminded himself that he was supposed to be a little irritated by this situation, not standing here admiring the way Cordelia looked. \u201cGorgeous,\u201d he agreed before adding, \u201cconsidering the price.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s about time Scrooge dug deep into his pockets,\u201d shrugged Cordelia. \u201cBesides, he owed me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI meant the price you\u2019re<\/i> paying, Cor,\u201d corrected Wesley garnering a sharp look from Angel who stared over Cordelia\u2019s head as she stood between them.<\/p>\n

You could cut the air with a knife. Cordelia put her hands on her hips as she strolled closer, \u201cWhat\u2019s that supposed to mean?\u201d Too engrossed in gauging Angel\u2019s pressure-cooker temper, Wes missed the knowing gleam in her eyes.<\/p>\n

Despite the anger glinting in Angel\u2019s eyes, Wesley couldn\u2019t stand letting Cordelia be set up this way. \u201cYou\u2019re being inveigled into forgiving Angel his actions in return for a few froo-froo items of clothing,\u201d he advised a little tautly, arms crossing defensively and chin lifting in a silent challenge to the simmering vampire.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not true,\u201d Angel denied on a growl stepping up behind Cordelia, so close that she felt his shirt brushing against the exposed skin of her back. His hand came up to encircle her arm, just holding on and half expecting her to jerk away from his touch as she had been doing ever since he returned.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is the truth, Angel?\u201d She was still looking into Wesley\u2019s eyes as Angel\u2019s fingers absently tucked the short strands of her hair behind her left ear, the touch of his cold fingertips innocently meant if a little proprietary.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just\u2026want you back in my life again,\u201d he told her. \u201cThe way it was before.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hearing that, Cordelia tilted her head so their eyes caught and held. With an edge to her voice, she returned, \u201cIt won\u2019t ever be that way again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, it will,\u201d Angel sounded determined to make it so. Hazel eyes flickered in silent acknowledgement of the needy resolve she saw in those dark depths.<\/p>\n

Wesley knew that Cordelia was right. No matter how desperate he was to recapture the relationship they had before, Angel would never be able to return their friendship to its previous status. There were too many emotions bared raw by his betrayal and abandonment.<\/p>\n

What little Angel had revealed about his entanglement with Darla and the fact that he\u2019d purposefully kept Cordelia in the dark about the fact that he\u2019d slept with his sire made Wes realize there was far more going on here than wanting to get back to the status quo.<\/p>\n

Breaking away from his hold and the invisible bonds he was even now trying to reattach, Cordelia walked over to her desk, glancing down at the clothes strewn across it. At random, she plucked a red dress from amongst the pile of colorful garments holding the smooth fabric against her and running a hand down its length.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs this all just a scam to get your way? Do you think I\u2019m really that shallow?\u201d<\/p>\n

The last question was aimed at Wesley as well as Angel and the Englishman started to look more than a little nervous at being included in her escalating ire. Spluttering at the idea that Cordelia was irritated with him, Wes commented,<\/p>\n

\u201cN-No, I\u2019m certain that Angel thinks he has a good reason for trying to buy back your friendship, but that doesn\u2019t mean you plan to accept it.\u201d<\/p>\n

In for a penny, in for a pound,<\/i> thought Wes cringing a bit at the duplicate looks on both faces. Why the devil didn\u2019t I just keep my mouth shut and let them get on with it? Cordelia is more than capable of holding her own, even against Angel.<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cStop saying that,\u201d Angel demanded through gritted teeth, his words a soft growl. \u201cI just wanted to do something nice. Cordy made a big deal about the clothes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cordelia nodded with a reminder, \u201cHe gave mine away.\u201d<\/p>\n

Not that the clothes had been new, but some of them were one of a kind even if they were bought second hand or left over from her credit-happy Sunnydale days. It was just the thought that Angel had gone into her room here at the Hyperion after firing her as if ensuring that no trace of her existence remained within the walls.<\/p>\n

He\u2019d attempted to erase her from his life for reasons she still did not fully understand.<\/p>\n

During the few times they\u2019d crossed each other\u2019s path, Cordelia barely recognized him as the friend she\u2019d considered part of her L.A. family. Along with Wes and Gunn, Angel meant so much to her. Only, he\u2019d discarded them all like used Kleenex.<\/p>\n

Her champion had fallen long and hard from the pedestal she\u2019d been building up for him, a flawed and fallible being after all.<\/p>\n

Not that he hadn\u2019t reminded her of that time and again or even proved it to her on a daily basis. Cordelia just allowed herself to overlook those flaws because that\u2019s what friends did, when they weren\u2019t making fun of them, of course.<\/p>\n

The fun died a fiery death the day Angel fired them. It certainly wasn\u2019t there the night he came to their new office demanding one of the reference books and Cordelia felt it necessary to try to stop him. She\u2019d never seen such a look in his eyes, certainly not directed at her, when he\u2019d blocked her against the bookshelves and his voice caused vibrations to shiver from her head to her toes.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t make me move you,\u201d he\u2019d threatened and Cordelia read the dare in his eyes. Angel didn\u2019t want her cooperation. He wanted to see how far she\u2019d push him and just how far he\u2019d let her go before taking what he wanted\u2026the book. Though for a single heart-stopping moment, she\u2019d wondered if that had been all he\u2019d wanted.<\/p>\n

If Wesley hadn\u2019t been there, Cordelia doubted she would have handed over the book Angel had come for. She would have defended their claim to that book just to prove to herself that Angel was a lost cause.<\/p>\n

But he wasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

\u201cAngel hurt my feelings,\u201d Cordelia sounded out the words, her lips pressing together as the tip of her tongue darted out to moisten them. His careless disregard for their friendship stuck like a bitter pill in her throat. He\u2019d woken her heart when she thought it immune to such feelings, made her feel cherished and safe and a part of something she\u2019d never really had before.<\/p>\n

Only he\u2019d thrown all that away, along with her clothes.<\/p>\n

Wesley looked pained that he had reminded her of that. Sad that her gleeful smiles had faded back to the clouded expression she\u2019d been wearing for weeks. She\u2019d not even been able to say Angel\u2019s name much less talk about her feelings. Maybe that was why Wes was so confused about her willingness to accept the clothing.<\/p>\n

As Cordelia\u2019s hazel eyes flitted back to him, Angel wanted to reach out and touch her, just a soft sweep of his thumb over the sad tilt of her mouth. He wanted her smile back, but the reminder that he\u2019d been such a bastard made him wonder if Wes wasn\u2019t right.<\/p>\n

Maybe he didn\u2019t deserve her smile.<\/p>\n

No matter his excuses, Angel knew the clothing was more than just a way to replace the ones he\u2019d given away. It was the first step in his search for forgiveness.<\/p>\n

Cordelia\u2019s joy and ready smile had catapulted him straight to a place where hope actually existed. Now he wondered if everything Wesley had cautioned him about this morning wasn\u2019t right on-target. He\u2019d cut corners trying to win back her affections the one way he thought would make a difference, by mutely recognizing and appealing to the feminine side of her nature.<\/p>\n

What if he\u2019d just ruined everything? Angel knew he couldn\u2019t bear that and the need to swallow convulsively was suddenly overwhelming.<\/p>\n

Cordelia stressed to them both, \u201cBroken trust takes more than a few clothes to repair.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know that,\u201d he croaked bitterly glancing down at the piles of dresses, blouses, skirts, shoes and matching handbags. The urge to sweep them onto the floor came difficult to resist realizing that the carefully selected items now appeared to be a bribe rather than a supplicant offer of atonement.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I\u2019ve already forgiven you, Angel,\u201d she took a step closer, still hugging the dress to her frame, her fingers curling along his sleeve.<\/p>\n

Angel\u2019s head lifted slowly as if he wasn\u2019t quite certain that he\u2019d heard those words correctly. A glance at Wesley showed him to be equally surprised. \u201cYou have?\u201d<\/p>\n

A glimmer of mirth crept back into her eyes as Angel met her gaze. \u201cYep, big guy. I have and you have Harmony to thank for it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHarmony?\u201d Both Angel and Wes repeated in unison.<\/p>\n

Cordelia snorted at the fact that they sounded like a pair of squawking parrots. Then she turned serious again, telling Angel, \u201cWhen Harmony showed up and I found out that she was a vampire, I figured she could fill the void you left behind.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was back,\u201d Angel pointed out he could fill his own void. No substitutions needed and certainly not by the Harmonies of the world.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, you were back,\u201d nodded Cordelia pulling her hand away before his own could capture it, \u201cbut I wasn\u2019t letting you in.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, you weren\u2019t,\u201d he agreed having felt the bitter cold of being shut out from her affections quite acutely.<\/p>\n

Fingering the soft material of the dress in her arms, Cordelia asked him, \u201cDid you realize that I\u2019ve known Harmony my entire life? We\u2019ve been friends of sorts since we were in diapers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Angel admitted. He\u2019d never really given Harmony much thought even when they were all in Sunnydale together and he wasn\u2019t really getting the connection that Cordelia seemed to be making. Except for the fact that they were both vampires, he had nothing in common with the ditzy blonde.<\/p>\n

One thing, he reconsidered. Cordelia herself was their common bond.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I had such a thing as a best friend back then, it was her,\u201d Cordelia explained with a wry smile. As far as she was concerned, that didn\u2019t say much for her past choices.<\/p>\n

Wesley suddenly began to feel out of place in the midst of this conversation hearing Cordelia\u2019s revelation. He thought about going back into his office, but was afraid that any movement would distract them from actually opening up to each other.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I figured\u2026hey, she\u2019s still my best friend in a way. Better than you who\u2019d dumped me onto the streets,\u201d accusation sounded in Cordelia\u2019s voice. Upon hearing it, she added quickly, \u201calong with Wes and Gunn.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel didn\u2019t like the comparison in the least, nor the reminder that came with it. \u201cI told you why I\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Holding up her hand, Cordelia staved him off as she cut in, \u201cI\u2019ve heard the excuses, Angel. I didn\u2019t like them the first time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure you\u2019ve forgiven me?\u201d Angel wasn\u2019t so certain and doubt played in his eyes as he asked the question.<\/p>\n

\u201cI said so,\u201d Cordelia stressed. \u201cSheesh! You might find out why if you\u2019d just go back to brooding in the dark corner for another minute or two so I can finish saying what I\u2019m trying to tell you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sliding a glance at Wesley, Angel caught him standing with his hand draped over his mouth smothering his laughter. There were few people who could tell Angel to shut up and get away with it and they were both standing in this room.<\/p>\n

Glaring at his new boss, Angel felt the tug of a smile at his lips as he realized that whatever road she\u2019d taken to get there, somehow Cordelia had forgiven him.<\/p>\n

Turning his attention back to Cordelia, he listened attentively. \u201cI wanted to trust her the way I\u2019d trusted you. Only it bit me on the ass again. Not literally, of course, but I realized something when she was standing in front of me with my crossbows trained on her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI would have killed her, Angel,\u201d Cordelia\u2019s resolve sounded clear despite the glassy shimmer in her eyes, \u201cdusted her just like that, my one-time best friend. Harmony\u2019s betrayal hurt especially because you\u2019d warned me that she would do it and I refused to trust you.\u201d<\/p>\n

A bitter tone crept into her voice as Cordelia added, \u201cBetrayed twice by vampires I considered my friends. What a record.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt won\u2019t happen again, Cordy,\u201d Angel\u2019s solemn promise sounded in her ear and she realized just how close they were standing. Closing her eyes for an instant, she took strength in those words and in the familiar sensation of his hard-bodied presence.<\/p>\n

\u201cDamned skippy! I\u2019ll kick your ass all the way to Santa Monica,\u201d lightening her threat with a grin. Then she added, \u201cStanding there with Harmony made me realize that if it was you, I would never have done it.\u201d<\/p>\n

That had Angel frowning. \u201cYou would. You always said\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf it was Angelus, maybe,\u201d Cordelia clarified, adding when he made a move to speak, \u201cokay, then, yes, in a heartbeat. Soulless you is a whole lot different than you just being a coldhearted bastard.\u201d<\/p>\n

Though to be perfectly honest to herself, Cordelia guessed there would be a lot less of the crossbow action and more likely a thick set of chains, a gag and a line of witches with a certified history in re-ensoulment.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh,\u201d Angel responded only slightly mollified by the news.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I let Harm go,\u201d she continued where she\u2019d left off. \u201cThat vampire was never my friend, Angel, not really, but you were once and I knew the difference, that\u2019s all. I went home thinking about everything that happened. Just a couple of days ago, I\u2019d been so certain we weren\u2019t friends and that I\u2019d never allow myself to think of you that way again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cordelia had come right out and told him so, Angel remembered. \u201cWhat\u2019d I do?\u201d It had to be noteworthy, but he couldn\u2019t think of a thing except for his big show with buying the clothes and she\u2019d supposedly already made up her mind by then.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d like to know the answer to that one,\u201d Wes held up his index finger like he was asking the teacher for attention. So much for staying out of it.<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cNothing special,\u201d she explained to Angel, \u201cat least nothing out of the ordinary for you. I don\u2019t think you were back five minutes before the PTB came knocking with a vision. Vampire you may be, but you\u2019re still the man with the mission. You\u2019d come back to us when it would\u2019ve been easier just to walk away forever.\u201d<\/p>\n

He\u2019d never have walked away; Angel couldn\u2019t tell her the reason. Even at his worst hour, Angel had watched them from afar. Watched her. Apart from him, she\u2019d been safer. Less of a target. Less likely to be touched by the darkness that followed him, surrounded him and threatened to swallow him whole.<\/p>\n

\u201cI watched over you sometimes,\u201d he got out.<\/p>\n

Cordelia knew that and turning him away at the hospital afterwards was firmly etched in her mind.<\/p>\n

She\u2019d asked for silence, so Cordelia made no notice of it now as Angel struggled for the words to further explain himself. Long before he managed to come up with anything that sounded reasonable, Cordelia said, \u201cI remembered a promise I made you back at my apartment. You know the one.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel nodded. \u201cWe were talking about the Shanshu prophesy. I thought I was so damn close to it. Only now I wonder if I\u2019m not further from it than I was then.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t sign on to this mission. It wasn\u2019t my choice, but if it had been I wouldn\u2019t change it,\u201d Cordelia let the dress drop back to the desk as she faced Angel. \u201cWhen I made you that promise, when I told you I\u2019d be with you until it happened, I wasn\u2019t just talking about the good times\u2026cos, geez, there are so many of them compared to the demony uprisings and apocalyptic plotting.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had some good times,\u201d Angel caught the sarcasm, but started ticking off a mental list preparing to recite it if necessary.<\/p>\n

Agreeing Cordelia gave him an indulgent smile. \u201cI set myself up for it, Angel. I never expected you to push us away. Any of us, but especially me. I\u2019m Vision Girl, after all and not some clinging vine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Though I\u2019m sticking to you like Saran Wrap from now on just to keep you out of trouble.<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cCor\u2014,\u201d he started up, but got no further as her hand swept up covering his mouth as she leaned close to make her point. Stunned, Angel drank in the warmth of her palm and didn\u2019t so much as move a muscle, not even a twitch.<\/p>\n

\u201cRealizing that you might have made wrong decisions concerning certain nameless blondes and knowing that the PTB still consider you their champion despite the oh-so obvious bad choices you\u2019ve made recently,\u201d Cordelia barely stopped to take a breath, \u201cI decided that I could forgive you. Nobody\u2019s perfect, Angel, but you\u2019ve tried harder than anyone I know to be good\u2026until you forgot that you could be.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cordelia kept her hand in place adding an arched look aimed squarely up into his face. Returning her gaze, Angel realized that forgetting to be good wasn\u2019t hard with Cordelia around. Then introspection aside, he dragged his mind back to what she\u2019d said.<\/p>\n

Angel couldn\u2019t deny that. He\u2019d needed to forget, made himself go back to that place where feelings didn\u2019t matter. Until Darla helped him remember just how little he felt for her despite the ultimate intimacy. It was nothing in comparison to how much he felt as a result of a single touch of Cordelia\u2019s hand. Her friendship meant everything to him, made him feel again.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t pretend to understand how or why all of this happened, but I believe you\u2019re sorry,\u201d Cordelia accepted that as the truth.<\/p>\n

As his large hand enclosed her wrist, Angel pulled her hand away from his mouth and down to his chest where his fingers threaded through hers to hold her there. \u201cI am sorry, Cordy. Words just didn\u2019t seem to be enough, so I\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBought out Rodeo Drive?\u201d That arched brow came accompanied by her bright smile spreading warmth across her face like the rising sun he could never see.<\/p>\n

\u201cLooks that way,\u201d Angel ruefully glanced back down at her desk. \u201cI suppose it\u2019s not too late to return them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPfft! After giving my clothes away, you owe me, buddy,\u201d Cordelia grabbed the red dress and headed back toward the cloak room. \u201cLa, la, la, la, la! I have new clothes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel couldn\u2019t stop the smile from tugging at his lips again the moment Cordelia\u2019s infectious glee filtered back through the barrier of the door. Then sensing Wesley\u2019s eyes boring into the back of his head, Angel commented, \u201cGive it up, Wes. She likes the clothes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you, too, apparently,\u201d Wesley muttered. \u201cCordelia has thought through her way to forgiving you. I still say you got off too easily.\u201d<\/p>\n

Maybe,<\/i> Angel admitted silently.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust be careful,\u201d added Wesley trying to caution Angel into taking things slowly with Cordelia. \u201cShe may have forgiven you, but that doesn\u2019t mean you can pick right up where you left off.\u201d<\/p>\n

Keeping his eyes on the door, Angel asked distractedly, \u201cWhere was that, Wes?\u201d<\/p>\n

Cordelia burst out of the cloak room half dressed and holding the top of the red gown to her chest. \u201cI\u2019m stuck. The zipper won\u2019t budge.\u201d<\/p>\n

She turned her back to Angel, expectantly peeking over her shoulder and waiting for him to respond. He met her gaze for a moment, eyes darkening in anticipation. Then his fingers slipped inside the gown moving along the open zipper and along the silky bare skin of her back until they stopped at the junction of flesh, cloth and metal near the base of her spine.<\/p>\n

Fixing the problem, Angel slid the zipper into place, smoothing his hands up over her shoulders as he did so, his thumbs rubbing the nape of her neck just long enough to elicit a purring response. Then realizing what he was doing, Angel dropped his hands to his side, \u201cHow\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFelt good,\u201d Cordelia responded with a sigh. \u201cWhy\u2019d you stop? My neck is still sore from wrestling with Harmony.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sensing Wesley\u2019s scrutinizing stare again, Angel cleared his throat. \u201cI meant your dress.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, it\u2019s perfect,\u201d Cordelia gave a little laugh over the misunderstanding. Trust her to stay focused on where Angel\u2019s cool fingers pressed little magic circles into her skin. \u201cDid you check the labels on my clothes before you gave them away?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Angel tried to keep his answer simple.<\/p>\n

When Cordelia turned around and he confirmed the fact that the dress did indeed fit quite perfectly over her luscious curves, Angel wondered what he\u2019d been thinking when he bought that particular red dress. It had looked almost demure on its display mannequin, but that certainly wasn\u2019t the case now.<\/p>\n

Cordelia was too curious to let go her question even if Angel was a little distracted by the fact that she\u2019d left her bra in the cloak room so it wouldn\u2019t spoil the lines of the dress. \u201cHow\u2019d you know my size?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI-I just know you,\u201d Angel forced his gaze to go a little higher, away from the soft, yet firm curves of her breasts and managing to make it to the turn of her throat as she glanced toward Wesley.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that some kooky vampire thing?\u201d Cordelia rolled her eyes at the idea. \u201cCenturies of fashion experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

A wry look appeared on Wesley\u2019s face as he wondered whether Cordelia was truly that clueless or just being purposefully blind to the way Angel responded to her. The worrisome thought already pounded in his head. \u201cNo, in my opinion, it has nothing to do with Angel being a kooky vampire.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cordelia laughed at Wesley\u2019s dry comment despite the serious look he was sending in Angel\u2019s direction. His harsh stare had no effect and Wes found himself giving into the fact that he had more to wonder about than Cordelia\u2019s reasons for forgiving Angel his wrongdoings.<\/p>\n

Reading between the lines, he found the truth a little glaring. It was the same for Angel, realized Wes, except he\u2019d shown it with this extravagant purchase of clothing, all hand-picked with Cordelia firmly in mind.<\/p>\n

Wes straightened up from his position in the doorframe, his spine feeling a little stiff from staying in one spot for so long.<\/p>\n

Watching them, eyes wide behind the frames of his glasses, Wes realized that it wasn\u2019t the vampire who\u2019d made a grasping gesture of atonement, but the man.<\/p>\n

The End<\/b><\/p>\n

Lysa<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

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