***<\/p>\n
\u201cWesley,\u201d Lilah asked in surprise.<\/p>\n
\u201cHello. Just was here checking to see if you were ready for dinner.\u201d Wesley nodded.<\/p>\n
Lilah blinked a smile forming, then stopping as suddenly. \u201cTake him.\u201d She ordered to the security guards.<\/p>\n
Wesley stood surrounded by black clad heavily armed men. \u201cWould that be no to dinner then,\u201d Wesley gestured.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you doing up here?\u201d Lilah stared at the weapons in Wesley\u2019s hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cDinner, I believe was my first idea.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBullshit. Angel just killed Linwood and Connor\u2019s gone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd that makes my hunger invalid how? I told you that Angel might very well take the boy. This is really impressive, Lilah. Linwood\u2019s dead, does that make you acting head guy, person, whatever the PC term is now a days?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t believe you. I wish I could, but I don\u2019t. Angel gets in, okay, sure, he does, but he comes to where he knows. He doesn\u2019t know about Connor on the 52nd floor. He had help and here you are bearing weapons.”<\/p>\n
Wesley shrugged putting his weapons in his coat. “Dead body- weapons just a precaution. And Angel usually does have help, Cordy, Gunn, even Fred I understand has been getting into the fight.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know Cordelia Chase\u2019s alive.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI merely misspoke, I\u2019m just so use to pairing Cordelia’s name with Angel\u2019s, you know Angel and Cordy. It flows so easily.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou bastard.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought I cleared up that misconception already.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2026.Where is Connor?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI imagine safe if he\u2019s gone from here.\u201d Again Wesley shrugged.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy are you here?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDinner?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t play me for an idiot not anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley cocked his head puzzled. \u201cBut why, Lilah, it\u2019s been such fun.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBastard,\u201d Lilah lurched forward, her hand ready to strike. Wesley grabbed swinging her around until she was surely against his chest, his dagger up against her throat. \u201cI surmise that the game is no longer afoot.\u201d He looked up from the struggling woman. \u201cDrop or she dies. I believe with the death of dear old Linwood, she\u2019s almost the next best thing to a boss,\u201d Wesley leaned into Lilah\u2019s ear and whispered,<\/p>\n
“until tomorrow anyway, when the tapes are shown of the debacle. The enemy that you\u2019ve been sleeping with, that wasn\u2019t an enemy by your assurance, not only helped the Tro-clan escape but pilfered as many highly classified secret library materials. That promotion isn\u2019t looking real promising right now, is it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou bastard,\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you a highly educated woman, one would think that you would\u2019ve developed a more concise and accurate vocabulary.\u201d Wesley whispered again. \u201cNow, tell them to drop their weapons and leave- that you have every thing under control. Then you will show me how to get to the top floor.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDie here definitely, or wait for another moment to live, it is your choice.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou wouldn\u2019t. No, Wesley.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLilah, my choice was made long before I ever met you and circumstances may change, style may change but the choice never has. Do it or die.\u201d Wesley said coldly.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey hate you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley shrugged. \u201cWho said you had to like your family. And they are that. Tell the guards to put their weapons down now. I will kill you if you keep me from going up to the top floor.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey can\u2019t defeat her, it\u2019s too late.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat would be very unfortunate.\u201d Wesley pushed the blade deeper into Lilah\u2019s throat.<\/p>\n
\u201cDrop your weapons go,\u201d she yelled to the guards. \u201cI can handle this, go.\u201d<\/p>\n
The guards hesitated, slowly lowering their weapons. Suddenly, the floor began to shake and the walls began to thunder.<\/p>\n
The guards who were before so diligent ran.<\/p>\n
\u201cLilah, this would be a good time for answers,\u201d Wesley gripped the woman tighter, the knife pressing deeper.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t have any, look, that little bitch must be doing it.\u201d She pointed up to the ceiling and the swirling blues and whites expanding breaking away the ceiling\u2019s paneling, bits and pieces of tiles burst loose, falling to the ground.<\/p>\n
Wesley glanced up his grip loosening. Lilah took advantage and shoved. She screamed for her guards but they had already gone running to the private stairway that they had come from.<\/p>\n
Lilah started to run and pivoted as the door that the guards exited ceased to exist. She ran to the elevator jabbing at the button, picking up a fallen weapon of one of the guards. \u201cGive me one good reason not to shoot you.\u201d She glared pointing the gun at Wesley.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re ride is here,\u201d Wesley nodded to the elevator as the door dinged. \u201cAnd before you pull the trigger my bolt will be released,\u201d Wesley nodded to the crossbow in his hand. \u201cI may be dead, but at least I won\u2019t suffer the agony of an arrow through my chest, makes for an unpleasant elevator ride.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBastard.\u201d Lilah tossed the gun and turned as the doors of the elevator opened to go in.<\/p>\n
Wesley saw it before she did, yelling and running. \u201cDon\u2019t\u201d<\/p>\n
Lilah shot him the finger and stepped, then fell, screaming.<\/p>\n
Wesley ran, sliding his body on the rumbling floor, his hand going out into the darkness of pitch-blackness. \u201cLilah,\u201d he yelled.<\/p>\n
\u201cHelp.\u201d Lilah screamed.<\/p>\n
Wesley pushed his body forward, looking down; the woman was attached to a metal constraint in the shaft. He reached down. \u201cGrab a hold of my hand. Do it, Lilah.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhoa, Wes, where\u2019s Angel and Cordy.\u201d Gunn huffed at his side.<\/p>\n
\u201cGunn, help me,\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSure.\u201d Gunn moved to grab with Wesley.<\/p>\n
\u201cWait a fuckin minute\u201d Gunn said as he pulled the rescue victim up to eyesight. \u201cI say drop her, man, are you thinking with your little head these days, man,\u201d Gunn protested as Lilah was pulled to the relative safety of the trembling floor.<\/p>\n
\u201cCharles, I couldn\u2019t let her die.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t see why not, people die all the time.\u201d Gunn glared at the woman struggling up to her feet. \u201cScrew the evil queen bitch, oh, right you\u2019ve been doing that. Where are Angel and Cordy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe top floor.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWes, hate to break it to you, but this is the top floor, all above is swirling cess pool of blackness, what the fuck happened? Where are Angel and Cordy? She\u2019s knows,\u201d Gunn moved closer to Lilah, \u201cThis time you will tell me what I want to know, bitch.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley moved to intercept Gunn, when he was stopped by a familiar voice echoing from below.<\/p>\n
\u201cWesley, Gunn, help would be good anytime now, Angel\u2019s being all grumpy about me being on his back.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy, I\u2019m just saying don\u2019t kiss me when I\u2019m concentrating on saving you. Okay. \u201c<\/p>\n
\u201cFine, but I just might not feel like kissing you when you\u2019ve done it. Your loss. Give us a hand.\u201d She yelled up, her head peeking up through the opening of the elevator doors.<\/p>\n
Gunn turned to Wesley as both men leaned down, \u201cThey been acting really strange lately, emphasizing in a big way- way out there strange.\u201d He grasped one of Cordelia\u2019s arms as Wesley grasped the other, pulling Cordelia quickly too her feet.<\/p>\n
\u201cHi, we killed the little evil Pollyanna, which is cool, but I think her dead body is self destructing the building. We got to go, now.\u201d Cordelia smiled at Gunn and Wesley then looked behind her. \u201cAngel?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m here, Cordy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, good, are you going to carry me down the stairs. I\u2019m not doing the elevator.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre your legs broken?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou will so regret your behavior this night, buster\u201d she glared then shrieked. \u201cThe ceiling\u2019s going- we need to run, now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStairs, that way, \u201c Wesley barely got his shout out, before Angel with Cordelia in his arms barreled past them and kicked open the doors.<\/p>\n
Wesley stopped Gunn. \u201cThey haven\u2019t actually\u2026have they?\u201d<\/p>\n
Gunn shook his head. \u201cLet\u2019s get out of this house of evil cards before we all lose.\u201d Gunn followed Angel and Cordelia.<\/p>\n
\u201cWesley,\u201d Lilah tugged on his arm.<\/p>\n
\u201cLilah, you\u2019re alive, okay, the building is collapsing we need to go now.\u201d He yanked at her pulling grip.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou saved me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I just used you, remember that always, I will. Now move.\u201d<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Angel stopped on the landing, looking up at the blinking ceiling and shimmering walls of the stairwell. Cement shook and fell, leaving blackness in its place.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, I was kidding about the carrying bit.\u201d Cordy mumbled into Angel\u2019s coat.<\/p>\n
\u201cShut up,\u201d with a hand on the metal rail, Angel vaulted down to the next landing, bypassing the steps.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, Chivalry isn\u2019t dead, we just are,\u201d Lilah stated watching the dark vampire with his buddle disappear.<\/p>\n
Neither Gunn nor Wesley responded- they just kept on moving as fast as they could down the steps.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Angel kicked open the last door, putting Cordelia down as soon as they were in the lobby. \u201cGo, find Fred and Connor.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel? Right,\u201d Cordelia nodded, running out of the building.<\/p>\n
Angel turned back into the stairwell, his speed slower than the descent but still faster than any human. He grabbed Gunn\u2019s arm that he reached, swinging the man in a firemen\u2019s hold.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhoa.\u201d Gunn grunted as Angel jumped and Gunn swore flew down the stairs. As soon as Gunn was in the lobby, Angel turned and headed back up the stairwell. Gunn stood a moment, shook his head, and ran out of the building.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
\u201cLilah,\u201d Wesley said to the vampire once he was put down in the lobby.<\/p>\n
Angel turned considering the woman who was still running down the stairs. \u201cShe\u2019ll make it, she\u2019s got more than enough lives.\u201d Angel ran out of the lobby.<\/p>\n
Wesley shrugged and with one more look towards the stairwell, he followed the vampire to the exit.<\/p>\n
Part 43<\/b><\/p>\n
Cordelia skidded to a stop by Fred.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy,\u201d Fred grabbed the other woman in a fierce hug. \u201cCharles, Angel and Wesley?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFollowing. They\u2019re fine.\u201d Cordelia turned gazing back at the Wolfram & Hart building. The structure was shaking but the black cloud of flashing lights had stopped eating away at the building. \u201cConnor?\u201d<\/p>\n
Fred pointed to the back seat.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened?\u201d Cordelia studied the unconscious boy.<\/p>\n
Fred bit her lip and fidgeted slightly. \u201cHe didn\u2019t really understand the concept of being rescued.\u201d She held up her tazer.<\/p>\n
Cordelia blew out a deep breath.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy, he hurt Angel, he hurt all of us. What if he\u2026.\u201d Fred tried to put in words the doubts she had formed while waiting for the others to return.<\/p>\n
Cordy reached out putting her arm around her friend. \u201cIt will be alright, Fred.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRight,\u201d Fred nodded. \u201cWe\u2019ve Justine, once Connor knows the truth, he\u2019ll understand and it will be okay.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia bit her lip and nodded along with Fred, both women wanting very much to believe that it would be true.<\/p>\n
\u201cCharles,\u201d Fred bounced and pointed.<\/p>\n
Cordelia\u2019s smiled but her eyes searched the area behind the young black man.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, girl,\u201d Gunn hugged Fred.<\/p>\n
\u201cGunn?\u201d Cordelia asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cGetting Wesley, Come on, get in car,\u201d Gunn vaulted in the driver\u2019s seat as the two women scrambled next to him in the front.<\/p>\n
Gunn plowed the big vehicle through the remaining people in front of the building, his hand pressed down on the car\u2019s loud horn. He swerved up on the sidewalk as Angel and Wesley ran out of the building. \u201cYoa, curbside service,\u201d Gunn yelled.<\/p>\n
Angel and Wesley jumped in the backseat, shoving Connor\u2019s limp form in between them.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou might need this,\u201d Fred handed her tazer to Wesley.<\/p>\n
Wesley held up his own tazer. \u201cThank you, but that won\u2019t be necessary.\u201d Wesley looked at Connor then to the vampire next to him. \u201cThe hard part is next, Angel. He\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s just get home then worry about it.\u201d Angel\u2019s eyes never left his son.<\/p>\n
Part 44<\/b><\/p>\n
The group straggled into the lobby of the hotel, Connor\u2019s form tight between Angel and Gunn.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe hero\u2019s are home, with the prize,\u201d Lorne strode over to the group. \u201cThe dastardly villains, still standing?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBarely, shit, what happened, up there,\u201d Gunn stared at Angel and Cordy.<\/p>\n
Both shrugged. \u201cAngel cut off the little girl\u2019s head and all hell broke loose.\u201d Cordy shrugged again.<\/p>\n
\u201cA little girl?\u201d Gunn stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly a form,\u201d Wesley corrected. \u201cA non-corporeal entity. I couldn\u2019t find its identity, though. How did you know to decapitate it?\u201d Wesley inquired.<\/p>\n
\u201cChopping heads kills pretty much anything.\u201d Cordelia explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd that was responsible for the destruction of the top floor? How?\u201d Wesley urged.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot now Wesley,\u201d Cordelia shook her head recognizing the gleam in Wesley\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, right, later then. It is very interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly to the perpetually boring,\u201d Cordelia grumbled going into the kitchen.<\/p>\n
\u201cJustine? The kid should be coming too soon.\u201d Gunn turned to Angel.<\/p>\n
Angel lifted his eyes from his son\u2019s body and nodded. Angel glanced back to his son then followed Cordelia.<\/p>\n
\u201cHere, you were pretty supervamp tonight.\u201d Cordelia held up a mug.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy,\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, it\u2019s the good stuff. I said tomorrow. You need it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel reached out his hand, brushing a strain of hair away, trailing his finger down Cordelia\u2019s cheek before taking the blood.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnother one?\u201d Cordelia asked. Angel had gulped the liquid down.<\/p>\n
Angel shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will be alright,\u201d Cordelia held out her arms, hugging the vampire, her hand gently caressing Angel\u2019s head as it rested against hers.<\/p>\n
Lorne poked his head into the kitchen. \u201cSorry for the interruption, lovebirdies, but the wayward son is awaking.\u201d<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
The group was gathered in the small office. Gunn and Wesley standing on either side of Connor. They all watched as the boy started to stir. Cordelia glided over to where Fred was holding Justine, Fred\u2019s tazer pressed against the other woman\u2019s side.<\/p>\n
\u201cJustine, the truth that\u2019s all we want, if you say anything else-remember.\u201d Cordelia said coldly, holding Justine\u2019s stare.<\/p>\n
Cordelia left to go stand next to Angel.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re human.\u201d Justine shrunk back, her eyes going to Fred. Fred yanked Justine back. \u201cI\u2019m human.\u201d Justine whispered.<\/p>\n
Fred shoved the tazer back into her side, whispering back. \u201cSo, that makes us what\u2026 friends\u2026. hardly. You left Wesley to die and Angel to suffer. I hope you do lie. I haven\u2019t seen a good torture, since Plyea.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both women turned their gaze to the boy in the chair. Connor was awake. His eyes scanned the room, stopping when they landed on Angel. He jerked starting to rise.<\/p>\n
Angel moved forward. \u201cSit\u2026Down\u2026\u201d He quietly ordered.<\/p>\n
Connor\u2019s narrowed his eyes, judging, weighing his options.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou won\u2019t make it,\u201d Angel said. \u201cYou\u2019re good, very good, but Daddy is still stronger, even with that little vacation you provided. Now sit.\u201d<\/p>\n
Connor held Angel\u2019s stare. With a disgusted grunt, he sat. He saw no weakness in his father\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n
Angel swung a chair and sat across of his boy. \u201cSo, how was your summer, mine was fun, saw some fish, went mad with hunger, hallucinated a whole bunch.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou deserved worse.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I killed Holtz- but I didn\u2019t. I tried to tell you while you were busy off shore dumping me. Holtz killed himself, actually he got your buddy Justine to do it-just to make you hate me.\u201d Angel jerked his head towards the red-haired woman.<\/p>\n
Connor studied the woman as Fred pushed her forward.<\/p>\n
Justine closed her eyes briefly, her expression unreadable as she lifted them to the boy. \u201cIt\u2019s true. Holtz planned it, asked me to do it- to use an ice pick. Holtz wanted you to believe what kind of monster that thing was,\u201d She jerked towards Angel. \u201cHe sacrificed his life to make sure you understood. He did it for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fred yanked the woman back, her tazer jammed in the woman\u2019s throat. \u201cIt\u2019s the truth.\u201d Justine yelled.<\/p>\n
\u201cFred, no, let her go.\u201d Angel ordered, his eyes still on his son.<\/p>\n
Fred dropped her hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cGet out of here.\u201d Angel said to Justine, his gaze still centered on Connor.<\/p>\n
Justine looked around startled, stumbling a little and then turning to run.<\/p>\n
Cordelia blinked at Angel and his son. She ran after Justine, grabbing the woman jerking her to a stop. \u201cAngel\u2019s letting you go, but you aren\u2019t free.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI told the truth,\u201d Justine tried to jerk her arm back.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd what a fucked up truth that was – but Connor\u2019s smart, he\u2019ll realize what the real truth is – Holtz did nothing but show what kind of monster he really was.\u201d Cordelia pulled the woman closer. \u201cIf you go after Angel again or hurt my family one more time, don\u2019t worry about Angel. Now, get the hell out of here.\u201d Cordelia pushed at the woman.<\/p>\n
Cordelia watched as the woman ran out of the hotel. She closed her eyes and went back into the office. She met Angel\u2019s gaze. For the first time since Connor regained conscious, the vampire\u2019s eyes had left his son, going to the door that Cordelia exited and remained there until she returned. Cordelia said nothing to the vampire, just settled back up against the wall.<\/p>\n
Angel wondered briefly what was going on in her mind, wondering if she understood. He turned back to his son.<\/p>\n
Connor had remained silent. He blinked as his father\u2019s attention was once more focused on him. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter. You still deserved it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I deserve is open to debate.\u201d Angel pulled his chair closer. \u201cWhat you did to me was unbelievable Connor, worthy of your parents, step-daddy included. But, it did give me time to think about us -the world. Nothing in the world is as it ought to be. It\u2019s harsh and cruel, but that\u2019s why there is us. Champions.”<\/p>\n
Angel looked briefly around the room, focusing back on his son. “Doesn\u2019t matter where we come from what we’ve done or suffered or even if we make a difference, we live as the world is as it should be, what it can be. You aren\u2019t a part of that yet – I hope you will be. I love you Connor.\u201d Angel paused momentarily. “Now, get out of my house.\u201d<\/p>\n
Connor stared, his gaze moved to the others in the room. He stumbled back, watching his father and all the occupants. None of them made a move towards him. He ran.<\/p>\n
Angel stared at the empty chair; he got up when he heard the door slam and then left the room.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think that went the way I expected. \u201c Gunn shook his head. \u201cRescue the hard headed kid, just to let him go.”<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you expect Angel to keep him prisoner.\u201d? Wesley commented as he left the room.<\/p>\n
\u201cDawg, I don\u2019t know what I expected. Hoping for a spanking.\u201d Gunn shook his head and followed.<\/p>\n
Fred and Cordelia were left in the room as an unusually silent Lorne followed the rest.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy,\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah,\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you feeling?\u201d Fred turned to her friend.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2026Connor\u2019s Angel\u2019s son, he knows what he\u2019s doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou didn\u2019t answer me,\u201d Fred demanded. \u201cI\u2019ll tell you how I\u2019m feeling- I don\u2019t trust him- I loved that little boy, I would\u2019ve done anything for him- but I don\u2019t trust that<\/em> boy. He hurt Angel, what if he does it again?\u201d<\/p>\n Cordelia closed her eyes. \u201cAngel’s right. We can\u2019t force him to stay.\u201d<\/p>\n Fred shook her head. \u201cYou saw him, I don\u2019t think he can feel anything.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe does, Fred, that I do know, I just hope it\u2019s enough.\u201d Cordelia leaned up from the wall she had situated herself.<\/p>\n Fred held her back. \u201cAnd if he tries to hurt Angel again,\u201d Fred repeated, demanding that Cordelia answer her.<\/p>\n \u201cThen Fred-we\u2019ll hurt him.\u201d Cordelia moved to go past her friend.<\/p>\n Fred nodded at the promise in Cordelia\u2019s voice, tears that Fred wanted to cry all night, started to fall.<\/p>\n Part 45<\/b><\/p>\n \u201cAngel, it\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Angel dropped his hand from the curtain of the window he had been staring out of and turned. \u201c\u2026Will be alright?\u201d He cocked his brows.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2026\u201d Cordy shrugged. \u201cThis wasn\u2019t really how my plan was supposed to end.\u201d She bit her lip. \u201cI\u2019m\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not over and Connor is away from Wolfram & Hart and he knows the truth. It was a good plan. There is nothing for you to be sorry about, you were right.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t feel right.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDidn\u2019t get your ‘alright’ ending, Cordy, that can\u2019t surprise you.\u201d<\/p>\n Cordelia sighed and sat on the bed. \u201cI was hoping, you know, good guys, goods things, why not\u2026. oh, right, the world is a cruel and harsh place, it\u2019s sucks.\u201d<\/p>\n Angel settled by the young woman, bringing her hands to his lips. \u201cYes, but they’re definite bits and pieces of amazing beauty, hope and love. It\u2019s not over, Cordy.\u201d He smiled.<\/p>\n Cordy scrunched up her face. \u201cWhen did you become a believer of the \u2018half cup full theory\u2019?<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you promised to stay with me and love me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh, then my work is done for the night.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, not quite,\u201d Angel leaned in, cupping her face. \u201cI still need reassurance.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh, reassurance, I can than do that,\u201d she caressed the strong planes of his face pressing her lips to his.<\/p>\n End of Book ONE<\/b><\/p>\n
\n