20<\/u><\/p>\n
She found it vaguely amusing, the way his feet moved from left to right, his body restless as he paced a groove into the carpet. Willow shut her eyes momentarily, letting a yawn escape.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo what you\u2019re saying is,\u201d Wesley placed a hand on his chin, still pacing, \u201cYou need to extract Angel\u2019s soul in order to restore it?\u201d<\/p>\n
Willow nodded. \u201cThe only thing we can do to the soul while it\u2019s inside him is remove it. Once that\u2019s done, it\u2019s a separate entity entirely, which means we can then perform the spell needed to lift Wolfram and Hart\u2019s clause.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd the clause concerning its permanency?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the tricky part.\u201d Willow said, her stomach dropping. \u201cRemoving the soul is a risk in itself because if the restoration spell fails – \u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll be dealing with Angelus and a broken-hearted Cordelia.\u201d Wesley dropped into the seat beside her. \u201cI should have insisted on no emotional attachments whatsoever. Why on earth did I tell her to pursue him?\u201d<\/p>\n
Willow\u2019s eyebrows shot up. \u201cYou did what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNever mind\u2026\u201d Wesley hurriedly picked up a piece of scripture. \u201cYou were saying?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce the soul is in the orb,\u201d Willow pointed at the round glass object resting neatly on the table atop a sheet of velvet, \u201cI should be able to remove the clause binding him to Wolfram and Hart\u2026if that scroll is where you say it is.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe home office.\u201d Wesley confirmed. \u201cIt will be.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood.\u201d Willow tapped the sheet he held in his hands, the one she\u2019d received from Jenny Calendar. \u201cThen this will restore his soul permanently. It\u2019s the original gypsy curse.\u201d When Wesley glanced up she continued. \u201cMinus one pesky little detail.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo he\u2019ll be able to achieve perfect happiness?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf it works, yes.\u201d Willow took the sheet from him, folding it and sliding it into her bag.<\/p>\n
Wesley looked her in the eye. \u201cAnd if it doesn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
Willow sighed. \u201cIt\u2019s up to you. But if I know you guys, you\u2019re not gonna let an evil vampire wander the streets to terrorize the city and pile up a body count. No matter how anyone<\/i> feels about his alter-ego.\u201d She hoped she looked apologetic. \u201cBesides, he\u2019d go after *her* first.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley appeared to be in deep thought. \u201cI suppose I just wonder if it\u2019s worth the risk at all.\u201d<\/p>\n
Honesty was the best policy. \u201cEither you risk it, or he\u2019s stuck in that hell hole forever.\u201d Willow lay a hand atop Wesley\u2019s shoulder. \u201cIt\u2019s his decision, Wesley. We\u2019ve done all we can do for now.\u201d<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
Buffy tightened her hold on him and for the fifth time since she\u2019d crawled into his bed, Xander wondered exactly what had happened tonight. She\u2019d walked in looking pale, frightened, as though she\u2019d seen a ghost \u2013 he\u2019d tried to coax something out of her but she\u2019d refused to tell him what was wrong.<\/p>\n
All she\u2019d wanted were his arms. Xander glanced down at her, frowning when he saw her eyes were wide open, staring dazedly into the distance.<\/p>\n
\u201cBuffy\u2026\u201d He murmured, pushing a strand of hair away from her face, \u201cAre you ever going to tell me what\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n
She swallowed, once, twice, closed her eyes and released a breath. For a few minutes Xander thought she was just going to ignore him. Then she spoke, and it was the last thing he expected.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia died.\u201d<\/p>\n
His heart plummeted into the depths of his stomach, loss for a girl and friend he\u2019d many a night fantasized about gripping at his chest. His voice came out broken. \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy glanced at him, as though suddenly aware of her surroundings, his expression, her own demeanour \u2013 everything. She raised a hand to his face, shaking her head. \u201cNo\u2026I mean\u2026she\u2019s alive. We don\u2019t know how or why but she\u2019s fine now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Xander lay entirely still, confused, shocked, relieved\u2026WHAT? \u201cWait\u2026what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019d died.\u201d Buffy bit her lip, pulling once again on his arms. He brought them around her. \u201cThat thing, it killed her but she\u2026she came back somehow. We didn\u2019t know what to think, we were just so happy\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Xander sat up, bringing her with him. \u201cShe came back to life? Are you sure she was even dead? Maybe she was just knocked unconscious?\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy\u2019s eyes teared up. \u201cHer heart stopped, Xander.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was impossible. Unless\u2026 his heart dropped horribly in his chest. \u201cDid Angel maybe\u2026did he\u2026ya know?\u201d<\/p>\n
She looked lost. So much for the subtle approach.<\/p>\n
\u201cWas he with her all the time? Maybe he\u2026maybe he was so devastated that he\u2026you know, did something crazy to make sure she didn\u2019t die?\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy still looked confused. \u201cWhat do you mean? Like what?\u201d<\/p>\n
Xander swallowed, knowing he was way out of line but unable to help but ask. \u201cDid you see any marks on her neck?\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy made a face. \u201cI wasn\u2019t looking. Why would there be – ?\u201d She stopped suddenly, her eyes widening before they rolled dramatically and the girl he\u2019d loved since he\u2019d known her returned to her usual relaxed demeanour.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t be ridiculous, Xander.\u201d<\/p>\n
He frowned, tightening his hold on her. \u201cIt was just a theory.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, a lame one.\u201d Buffy snuggled into his chest, sniffing to rid herself of the last of her tears. \u201cWe\u2019re gonna have to look into it tomorrow.\u201d She reached for his hand, curling her fingers in his and squeezing. \u201cI\u2019m just so relieved\u2026I\u2019m just happy you\u2019re here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Xander kissed her forehead. \u201cAnd I always will be.\u201d<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
He found her just outside the balcony doors, a hand pressed tightly to her chest as she stared out into the night at nothing, the moon casting a glow over her and painting her skin ivory. Her heart beat steadily, though her breathing was hitched, and that was what had Angel walking faster towards her, his hand settling gently on her shoulder.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy?\u201d<\/p>\n
She swallowed, looked up at him, and her eyes were glazed with unshed tears. Immediately he tensed, cupping her face in his hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia took a single, deep, shuddering breath, suddenly stepping forward and burying into his arms. Angel wrapped her up tight, resting his cheek against her hair. \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter, baby?\u201d<\/p>\n
He felt a tear wet his jumper before she replied. \u201cIt\u2019s just\u2026been a surreal night.\u201d<\/p>\n
Of course. He felt stupid for not knowing right away. He\u2019d been an ass for walking away from her but his own feelings had been in shambles – terror and heartbreak, and then sudden shock and relief.<\/p>\n
Cordelia had been fine when she\u2019d run after him outside the warehouse, happy at his revelation albeit a little drowsy, but in the car on the way home and now \u2013 she\u2019d been unusually quiet and it had to have hit her hard.<\/p>\n
She had died tonight. Angel had felt her breath cease and her heart stop beating as he\u2019d held her in his arms. It was a miracle that she was still here, still with him \u2013 he had no idea what he would have done if anything had happened to her \u2013 and yet the experience was still traumatic, even worse for her than for him.<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t everyday that you watched someone you loved die and come back to life, nor was it a common occurrence to die yourself and be graced with another chance to live. The consequent strains and emotions of said event were clearly choosing now to hit home. Angel tightened his arms around her. \u201cYou okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
She nodded into his chest and he felt the blessed thumping of her heart beside his as he held her close, offering her comfort in the best way he knew how. Cordelia pulled away just slightly, wiping her eyes and touching her chin to the base of his throat, looking up at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d He asked thickly, the horror of losing her still fresh and now revived in his memory.<\/p>\n
She sighed, warm breath making his eyes flutter. \u201cI\u2026\u201d She bit her lip, staring imploringly at him, \u201cKiss me?\u201d<\/p>\n
His eyebrows shot up at the request but he didn\u2019t hesitate, leaning forward and gently placing his lips on hers. She caught him by surprise, pressing her mouth hard against his, desperately clinging to his lips and kissing him in a way that made him forget anything and everything but her and this moment in her arms.<\/p>\n
When she pulled away to breath she tucked her face into his neck, breathing him in as if to reassure herself that he was really there. Cordelia squeezed his hip, tightening her grasp on him. \u201cDon\u2019t go tonight, okay?\u201d She pressed a kiss to his adam\u2019s apple. \u201cJust, stay with me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course.\u201d He kissed her forehead, amazed by her combined strength and vulnerability. \u201cI love you, Cordy.\u201d<\/p>\n
She smiled then, just the tiniest quirk of her lips but it lifted his heart to heights unknown. \u201cI love you too, Angel.\u201d<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
\u201cGood Lord, I\u2019m coming!\u201d Wesley wrapped his robe tightly around his body, hurriedly making towards the door. The banging continued, and it was only when he yanked open the door that he saw the lack of colour present in Faith\u2019s face.<\/p>\n
\u201cFaith!\u201d He moved aside to let her in. \u201cWhat on earth – ?\u201d<\/p>\n
She held up her hand, silencing him. \u201cWe have a problem, Wes. Well, we HAD one and it\u2019s kinda solved now but we don\u2019t know why, and – \u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re rambling.\u201d Wesley led her to the couch, sat her down. \u201cNow, calm down and start at the beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n