She filled her in on pretty much everything and at one point, Buffy felt her mind sliding into overload.<\/p>\n
Angel working for an evil law firm was pretty much a head trip all on it\u2019s own and that wasn\u2019t factoring into the equation that this Cordelia was different to what she\u2019d imagined.<\/p>\n
Sure, she was still Queen of the Snippy.<\/p>\n
They\u2019d discussed ways of telling Angel she was back and when Cordelia had suggested she employ a little tact, Buffy had called time on their conversation-de-weird.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, okay, hold up… I can deal with talking to a girl who\u2019s in a coma. I can deal with thinking that Angel might think I\u2019m crazy but dealing with you telling me to employ a little tact? Now, that is crazy…\u201d said Buffy, shaking her head.<\/p>\n
Cordelia frowned, \u201cY\u2019know, people change, Buffy. I figured you\u2019d know that as much as anybody.\u201d<\/p>\n
She did know that! God, she knew that. She\u2019d been the ditziest bitch at Hemery until Merrick had come along with her calling and now, not only was Cordelia asking her to see that she\u2019d changed but she was providing living, actual proof.<\/p>\n
Surreal wasn\u2019t even close to covering it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d she said quietly, surprised to find she meant it.<\/p>\n
The last time she\u2019d met up with Angel had been just after she\u2019d been brought back from the dead. They\u2019d kissed, sure. Buffy was fairly certain that at one point she\u2019d have risked giving him a happy just to feel something other than death and despair and, well, death again.<\/p>\n
But Angel had been different too. And when she\u2019d begged him to come back with her, when she\u2019d laid her heart on the line and pleaded with him just to help her make sense of her life, Angel had done the oh-so-noble thing of letting her down gently.<\/p>\n
He had a mission, he\u2019d told her, back in LA. He had a family. He had–Cordelia.<\/p>\n
He\u2019d told her she\u2019d changed. Buffy hadn\u2019t believed it and in doing so, she realised that maybe she\u2019d done the brunette a great disservice all on her own.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hated you in high school,\u201d she said after a beat.<\/p>\n
Cordelia arched an eyebrow, \u201cTrust me when I say the feeling was mutual.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou seemed to have everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
The brunette made a face at that. \u201cI did. Money, cars, shoes, dresses… And then Daddy got all neglecty on the tax paying front and we ended up broke.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRiches to rags,\u201d Buffy shook her head, \u201cPretty hefty comedown.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia shrugged, \u201cIt wasn\u2019t the worst thing that ever happened to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I guess not… I mean, coma and all…\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I mean… Well, I guess all that money really never did make me happy. The best time I had in high school was hanging round with you tweako\u2019s pre-rebar incident – how sad is that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGee, thanks,\u201d said Buffy, scowling a little.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, that came out wrong. All I meant was… I had everything your average girl ever dreams of and the best years of my life were spent playing bait, fighting alongside a vampire with a soul, getting debilitating visions and researching demons. Who knew?\u201d She glanced up to find Buffy looking at her oddly. \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou. You\u2019re so… Different,\u201d Buffy settled on finally. \u201cAnd I mean that as a compliment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia sighed, \u201cYeah, well… I\u2019ve seen what\u2019s out there. Kinda hard to stay the same when the majority of the world is beating down your brain with a vision to show you how awful it can be.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat made you keep them?\u201d Buffy asked, after a moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cKinda didn\u2019t have a choice,\u201d Cordelia shrugged. \u201cTried to kiss everyone and their empath-demon for a whole day before I realised I had the only thing that ever meant anything to Doyle and… The rest is history, I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy thought about that for a long moment. \u201cDoes it hurt?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat, the visions?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe coma,\u201d said Buffy, \u201cI can\u2019t imagine what it\u2019s like being… Y\u2019know, locked inside your head.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia\u2019s gaze seemed to darken. \u201cIt\u2019s better than last year, trust me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLast year?\u201d<\/p>\n
The plane bounced hard as a storm broke around them and Buffy winced. \u201cGod, I hate planes about as much as I hate driving.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia said nothing.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n