Chapter 6<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, what are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2026 I\u2019m going on the bumper car ride.\u201d Angel stalled his descent into Cordelia\u2019s little car.<\/p>\n
\u201cI said boys against girls. Get your own.\u201d Cordelia huffed and pushed on the gas. The little red car moved away from the vampire. Angel stared. He didn\u2019t want to get in a little car, not alone. He saw the ride, couples were jerked and pressed together in the tiny cars. He wanted to get into the little red car that was getting further away.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, hurry up or you\u2019ll miss your turn.\u201d Wesley and Gunn jumped in the next two available cars, each of their little vehicles heading in the direction of the waving physicist in the yellow car.<\/p>\n
Angel growled and pushed the man that had cut in front of him and jumped into the little black car. He pushed the gas heading towards the red car that had left him.<\/p>\n
Angel was almost there when the red car shot off slamming into Wesley\u2019s blue car. A loud cheer arose from Cordelia as she lightly bounced back and Wesley went skidding across the rink.<\/p>\n
Fred laughed as she turned her car into Gunn\u2019s. \u201cOh.\u2019 She said as his car pushed her across the floor.<\/p>\n
\u201cPush the gas.\u201d Cordy yelled to Fred as she straightened her little car towards Wesley again for another go.<\/p>\n
\u201cGas, right. It has been so long since I\u2019ve driven, but gas, okay.\u201d Fred pushed down on a pedal. She squealed to a sudden stop.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe other one.\u201d Cordelia yelled. \u201cOw.\u201d Her car skidded as a little green car bounced into her.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe other one. Right. One brake, one gas. Left. Right. I\u2019ve got it.\u201d Fred yelled as her little yellow car swirled away from Gunn\u2019s approach. \u201cSort of.\u201d She mumbled as her car turned in 360 degrees. Steering wheel. Brake, Gas, and Steering Wheel. She got it now. Fred straightened the little car and gunned for Gunn. Giggles erupted from her lips as she realized her dump pun.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhoops.\u201d Fred looked around as she was again spun across the rink. Wesley. How could she\u2019ve forgotten about Wesley? Okay. It really all clicked now. Fred hovered in her spot quickly computing the vectors and the speed needed to make the most Bang. She shifted and slammed on the gas going at a 45-degree angle.<\/p>\n
Wesley didn\u2019t have a chance. He went spiraling in tailspins across the track. Fred giggled. This was fun. She straightened her car, computed, and targeted Gunn.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, Fred..Whoops.\u201d Cordelia spun in her car. She scowled at the grinning driver in the same green vehicle that had sideswiped her earlier. Cordelia was about to yell something, when he disappeared or rather was bumped to the other side of the rink.<\/p>\n
Angel grinned happily and waved to Cordelia. He turned his black little car quickly as another car came near Cordy\u2019s. He jammed into it sending it flying. Just as soon as he finished with that one, he went for another car that was heading for Cordelia.<\/p>\n
Cordelia sat in her car not moving. She scowled. There was no reason to move. Angel in his little miniature black convertible had managed to bang, bump and she could swear, growl all of the other cars away from her. This was not fun. Wesley and Gunn wouldn\u2019t even get near. They were having too much fun banging and getting banged by Fred.<\/p>\n
Cordelia scrunched her face. That didn\u2019t sound right. Whatever. She got out of her car. She stood in the middle of the rink, ignoring the yells of the attendant to get back into her car. Danger? What Danger?<\/p>\n
Cordelia didn’t even pause as a green little car made a brave attempt her way or was it suicidal. She didn\u2019t stop. Why should she? The conductor yelled frantically. Cordelia rolled her eyes and kept walking. She shook her head as the oh so dangerous green little car went flying across the rink away from her.<\/p>\n
She glared at the black little car that had slowed down to escort her out of the rink. \u201cCordy, why are you leaving? This is fun.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia stared at the vampire looking up at her in his little lethal black car. Cordelia really wanted to yell, but Angel had such a cute, clueless smile on his face. It was his puppy dogface. It was the only face that she wasn\u2019t able to resist. Cordelia shook her head.<\/p>\n
\u201cGive me a ride.\u201d She pointed across the ten feet that separated her from the exit.<\/p>\n
Angel really smiled. Damn. Cordelia wished he wouldn\u2019t do that. It melted her stomach. She grumbled trying to recapture her anger at Angel for ruining her fun at bumper cars. Really what fun were bumper cars if no cars were allowed near to bump with.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou didn\u2019t have fun. I had fun.\u201d Angel\u2019s smile got bigger as she climbed into the passenger side of the little car.<\/p>\n
Cordelia slumped down in the seat. \u201cOh, Angel.\u201d She shook her head.<\/p>\n
Angel jerked the car to a stop. Oh. That meant something. He just couldn\u2019t remember what. He quickly drew Cordelia out of the car and placed her on the platform over the fence. He barely acknowledged the conductor yelling at his seer. He turned and pulled out Bob\u2019s article.<\/p>\n
OH:<\/b><\/p>\n
This word followed by any statement is trouble. Example; “Oh, let me get that”. Or, “Oh, I talked to him about what you were doing last night”. If she says Oh before a statement, run, do not walk, to the nearest exit. She will tell you that she is Fine when she is done tossing your clothes out the window, but do not expect her to talk to you for at least 2 days. Oh as the lead to a sentence usually signifies that you are caught in a lie. Do not try to lie more to get out of it, or you will get raised eyebrows Go ahead followed by acts so unspeakable that I can’t bring myself to write about them. <\/i><\/p>\n
Angel shoved the paper back into his pocket. That wasn\u2019t applicable. Or at least he didn\u2019t think it was. Cordelia had said oh. But she had said oh, Angel. That wasn\u2019t a statement and he had nothing to lie about. He hadn\u2019t done anything. What did it mean?<\/p>\n
It was going to plague him. Angel had to know. He turned and then growled. Who the hell did that guy think he was yelling at Cordelia? And she was taking it? Angel moved quickly towards the attendant.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, what in the hell to you think you\u2019re going to do?\u201d Cordelia jumped in his path.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy, he has no right to yell at you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia stared at the vampire a minute then turned towards the pale attendant. \u201cGo away. Don\u2019t worry. We won\u2019t be back. Now shoo.\u201d<\/p>\n
The young man grunted once to show his seriousness, but left very happy that he didn’t have to face the guy in black.<\/p>\n
Cordelia swung back around to Angel. \u201cYou, come with me.\u201d She tugged Angel off the line platform to an empty spot in the causeway.<\/p>\n
\u201cUm, Cordy. Why are you mad? You didn\u2019t have fun?\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia blinked. \u201cUh, NO.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, the idea of bumper cars is to be BUMPED and to BUMP back.How can I have fun, if you don\u2019t let anyone near me to BUMP.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel turned back to the rink. The little colorful cars were spinning and bumping into each other. The drivers were laughing and shouting to each other. It looked like a big cartoon traffic jam.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2026\u201d Angel shifted from one foot to another. This would probably be a good time to lie, except Angel had lost all ability to lie convincingly to Cordelia. If he tried, she would just get madder. But the truth was going to make her mad too. \u201cI thought\u2026you could’ve gotten hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia closed her eyes taking deep breaths trying to calm down. Finally, she was able to speak. \u201cAngel, I don\u2019t need protecting from a bunch of kids in little toy cars trying to have fun. Half of those dangerous drivers that you catapulted into space were under the age of twelve.”<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of those kid hit hard. You could\u2019ve\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel.\u201d Cordelia stopped and tried to start again. \u201cAngel, you know that I’m serious about learning how to fight, don\u2019t you? Don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel had no clue how they switched from bumper cars to their training sessions. \u201cYes.\u201d He said, trying to figure out where Cordelia was heading.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you realize that I\u2019m learning to fight, so I can fight, don\u2019t you? Fight demons and other bad guys.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2026\u201d Angel paused. He knew where this conversation was going and he didn\u2019t like it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s right Angel. I\u2019m not spending two hours a day getting sweaty and achy for the exercise. And I expect that you will let me fight, not waste time protecting me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cProtecting you IS NOT a waste of time.\u201d Side stepping the issue of whether Angel would ever allow Cordelia to actually use the skills he was teaching her outside of the basement. Avoidance was not lying, it was just avoiding having to lie.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is when I don\u2019t need it or when it takes your attention away from saving the real victim. So. No more unneeded, unasked for protection. Got it?\u201d Cordelia shook her head a walked away.<\/p>\n
\u201cProtecting you is not a waste of time.\u201d Angel said quietly as he followed. He was not looking forward to the fallout that was going to occur when Cordelia deemed herself ready to be on the frontlines of their battles – sword in hand.<\/p>\n
Chapter 7 <\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, Cordy.\u201d Fred came running up breathless. \u201cWesley and Gunn said that they\u2019re going to win me a big stuff bear. Do you want to come? Come on. Angel you can win something for Cordy. Wouldn\u2019t that be fun?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUm, Fred. I\u2019m sure that Cordy and Angel don\u2019t want to play silly games.\u201d Wesley said. \u201cGo do whatever you were planning to do. We\u2019ll meet you later.\u201d He waved Cordelia and Angel in the other direction.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe weren\u2019t planning to do anything. I don\u2019t know what we can do that won\u2019t set Angel off into Dorkzone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI said I was sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo you didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel scowled. He could have sworn he apologized. Then again, maybe he just assumed he had since he seemed to be always apologizing to his seer for something or another.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry that I ruined your fun at the Bumper cars.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe next time, I\u2019ll let the cars hit you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, stupid. What about the portrait?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not sorry about that- the guy wasn\u2019t any good.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHmmph.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, We\u2019ll just meet you later.\u201d Gunn said meeting Wesley\u2019s eyes. They had to get Fred away from Angel and Cordelia before it was too late.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy don\u2019t you want Angel and Cordy to go with us?\u201d Fred\u2019s brows shot up.<\/p>\n
Too late. Both Wesley and Gunn squirmed.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, why not?\u201d Both Angel and Cordelia said.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust didn\u2019t think you wanted to go that\u2019s all.\u201d Gunn looked at his feet.<\/p>\n
\u201cHmmph.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy, do want a stuffed bear? I could win you one. How about that one.\u201d Angel pointed to a five foot pink fuzzy bear hanging from a booth.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d Glancing at the booth.<\/p>\n
\u201cAw, it\u2019s cute.\u201d Fred said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI could win it.\u201d Angel said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course you could- all you would have to do is use your vamp strength to hit the weight up to the bell. Woo Woo big challenge there. Geez, Angel you\u2019re stronger than anyone out here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not my fault.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on, let\u2019s go find something with some challenge. Then you can try to win me a prize or maybe I\u2019ll win you one.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel didn\u2019t see why him being a vampire should disqualify him from winning Cordy the big bear. But at least she didn\u2019t seem to be mad at him anymore. He trailed after his seer.<\/p>\n
\u201cFred, you like the pink bear?\u201d Wesley studied the booth and the people trying to win it.<\/p>\n
Fred nodded.<\/p>\n
Wesley nudged at his friend. \u201cOne of us should be able to win.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOne pink bear coming up.\u201d The men moved together determined to bang the hell out of the weight and win the prize for Fred.<\/p>\n
Chapter 8<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cHow about this one.\u201d Angel pointed to a stuffed Panda. It wasn\u2019t as big as the pink bear, but it was pretty big.<\/p>\n
Cordelia shook her head.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy not?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDarts, Angel? Isn\u2019t that just too much like tossing pointy weapons. When\u2019s the last time you missed. Hmm?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy, that\u2019s not fair. Being able to aim has nothing to do with being a vampire.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d Cordelia moved from the row of booths into the arcade. \u201cThere.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThose are puny.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re cute. And you being a vampire won\u2019t help you at all. Do you have enough quarters?\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel looked into the glass box filled with small animals. \u201cCordy, don\u2019t you want a big one?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNope. I like the white kitty.\u201d She pointed to the squishy small kitten with a rhinestone collar.<\/p>\n
Angel grumbled. \u201cSome challenge.\u201d He fed the coin into the slot and grabbed at the steel claws control. Damn. Angel put another quarter into the machine, then another and another. Angel growled as the claw kept picking up and dropping every prize except the kitten. \u201cMore.\u201d Angel shoved some bills at Cordy.<\/p>\n
Cordelia started to giggle at the frustration growing on Angel\u2019s face. She went to the change machine and came back with more coins.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel youre going to do it.\u201d Cordelia pointed to the blue cow being towed up towards the hole in the glass.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel?\u201d She watched the vampire release the control and let the cow fall. He put another coin into the slot.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot the cat.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShh.\u201d Angel concentrated on trying to capture the stuffed kitten again. His frustration turning into low growls as his grip whitened around the control stick and more quarters went into the machine. He forced more bills at Cordelia with a low grunt.<\/p>\n
Cordelia looked at the bills in amazement. \u201cAngel, this is twenty dollars, you already wasted\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMore.\u201d Angel stared at the kitten. He could\u2019ve sworn it smirked at him. Angel was going to get that feline for Cordelia if he had to spend the last quarter on the earth or until his patience broke and his fist went through the glass. It was a close call.<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on, kitty, here kitty, kitty. Ah Ha. Gotcha, thought you could laugh at me did you. Ha.\u201d Angel slowly moved the control stick, the white kitten dangling from the steel claw.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel\u2026\u201d Cordelia amazement turned back into giggles. Angel was talking to the stuff animal. He was such a cute dork.<\/p>\n
\u201cShh. Come here kitty, that\u2019s my kitty. Upsy daisy. Gotcha. You\u2019re mine now.\u201d Angel gave a triumphant laugh as the kitten came tumbling down the hole into his hands. He brought the small stuff animal up proudly. \u201cI got it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI see.\u201d Cordelia beamed at the smile on Angel\u2019s face.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t even break the glass.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. Were you planning to?\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s eyes shifted momentarily. \u201cMaybe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia laughed.<\/p>\n
Angel smiled again. \u201cHere. It\u2019s not very big though.\u201d Angel gently handed the small furry animal to Cordelia.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s cute and you won it for me, spending tons of quarters and not breaking the glass. It\u2019s perfect. Thank you.\u201d Cordelia leaned up and kissed Angel on the cheek.<\/p>\n
Angel shuffled. \u201cDo you want another one? How about the cow? Or the lion, it\u2019s a cat. Or the puppy, the puppy\u2019s cute.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia shook her head smiling. \u201cKitty here is enough. Come on, let\u2019s find the others.\u201d Grabbing his hand.<\/p>\n
Angel frowned. He had fun. Well spending the money and standing immobile controlling a rigged metal claw wasn\u2019t fun, but Cordelia\u2019s giggles, smiles and her kiss had been fun. Angel wanted to win her another stuffed animal.<\/p>\n
Chapter 9<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cWow. Look at Fred.\u201d Cordelia laughed. Fred was walking towards them, her arms filled with the huge pink bear and the big panda.<\/p>\n
Angel scowled and looked at the puny kitten in Cordy\u2019s hand. \u201cI could have gotten those for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI love my kitty.\u201d Cordy released Angel\u2019s hand that she had still been holding and gave the vampire a reassuring hug. Angel stilled as Cordelia\u2019s body pressed into his. Her warmth encircled him. Without a thought, Angel pulled her closer, his face brushing against her hair. \u201cI wanted to give you the biggest.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPooh, who needs the biggest when I got the best.\u201d Squeezing tighter then letting go.<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s hand moved slower, not ready yet to release her.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey ya, look what Wesley and Gunn won for me.\u201d Fred bounded up.<\/p>\n
Angel moved further away from Cordelia, but one hand still rested lightly on her back.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho rang the bell?\u201d Cordelia asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat would be me.\u201d Gunn pointed to his chest.<\/p>\n
\u201cI won at the darts.\u201d Wesley looked at the two bears again. Damn. Darts took more skill than brute strength. His really should have been the bigger bear.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel gave me this.\u201d Cordelia said proudly. \u201cIsn\u2019t she precious? Kitty is squishy and has taste.\u201d Cordelia plucked at the gleaming rhinestones around the kitten\u2019s neck. \u201cShe\u2019s going to be much more comfortable to sleep with than those- not that those aren\u2019t nice.\u201d Cordelia\u2019s tone clearly indicated their inferiority.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy, you\u2019re going to sleep with it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course. Squishy.\u201d Cordelia hugged at the small animal, smiling at the vampire.<\/p>\n
Angel considered looking again at the two big bears. Not special, definitely not precious, just big. Kitty was squishy. Obviously the best. \u201cI won it.\u201d He was proud again.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s adorable. Can I hold her?\u201d Fred shoved the bears at Gunn and Wesley.<\/p>\n
Cordelia scrunched up her face. \u201cOkay, but only for a minute.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe is squishy. Aww. And look at this cute collar.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI told you.\u201d Cordelia held out her hand to take the kitten back.<\/p>\n
\u201cFred it\u2019s pink and big.\u201d Gunn held up the bear he won for her.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd look at how cute the panda is.\u201d Wesley pushed his bear in front of the pink one.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut not squishy.\u201d Angel said.<\/p>\n
Wesley and Gunn\u2019s eyes narrowed at Angel\u2019s condescending tone. Angel ignored them. It served them right for not telling him about Bob\u2019s article earlier.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, where next?\u201d The stuff kitten was safely back in Cordelia\u2019s arms.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Rocket was fun.\u201d Angel remembered how Cordelia had clutched on to him as they plunged down at an unnatural speed.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo were the bumper cars.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d Cordelia shook her head. \u201cThose jr. Rusty Wallace wanta-bes can be vicious.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel shot a look at Cordelia. She wasn\u2019t scowling, raising her brows or anything. Angel\u2019s eyes widened. Cordelia just winked at him. He smiled. Cordelia giggled.<\/p>\n
Wesley, Gunn just stared. Fred leaned into Wesley. \u201cKyerumption.\u201d She nodded knowingly.<\/p>\n
Angel heard Fred. But this time he didn\u2019t yell at her to stop saying it. This time he didn\u2019t mind. His hand slowly reached out. Cordelia\u2019s fingers automatically entwined his. Angel smiled more. Cordelia had been right. Carnivals could be fun.<\/p>\n
The group slowed then stopped in front of the attraction directly before them. Each of them looked at the sign then at each other. Their heads all shook and they moved on without looking again at the invitation to enter the \u2018Haunted House\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow about that one?\u201d Fred pointed at swirling ride ahead.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m on it.\u201d Gunn said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you want to.\u201d Wesley wasn\u2019t about to miss out by commenting that the ride didn\u2019t look much safer than the Rocket.<\/p>\n
Angel studied the ride. It was a large disc, people were standing straight up strapped individually along its side. The disc rotated, moving up and down. There was no way that you could touch the person next to you. \u201cI don\u2019t want to.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel. It could be fun. Those people look like they\u2019re having fun.\u201d Fred pointed.<\/p>\n
Angel turned towards Cordelia. The young woman hadn\u2019t said anything. \u201cCordy?\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia tore her gaze away from the ride. \u201cI\u2019m with Angel. I don\u2019t like the looks of it. But you kids go have fun. We\u2019ll\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGo there.\u201d Angel pointed. That looked fun.<\/p>\n
Cordelia glanced to the ride that Angel was pointing to. \u201cWe\u2019ll be on the Ferris Wheel.\u201d She smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cOoohh. A Ferris wheel, I want to go on that.\u201d Fred jumped up and down.<\/p>\n
Wesley and Gunn stared at the ride then each other. The ride was another two seater.<\/p>\n
\u201cFlip a coin?\u201d Wesley pulled out a quarter.<\/p>\n
\u201cHeads.\u201d Gunn said.<\/p>\n
The two men watched the coin spin in the air and fall to the ground. Tails.<\/p>\n
\u201cTwo out of three, man.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a fair toss.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on. Two out of three.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley picked up the coin. Again they watched as the coin twirled and landed. Heads.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, but no four out of fives.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJust do it. No wait, let me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cReally, Charles.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHand it over, English.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gunn rubbed the coin and threw it up in the air. \u201c Ha. Heads. I win.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gunn looked around for Fred. Fred was gone.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere.\u201d Wesley pointed to the Ferris wheel. Fred was barely visible sitting alone between two large stuffed bears.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, wait.\u201d Gunn rushed to get to the ride.<\/p>\n
Fred waved to the two men on the ground as she started to move upwards.<\/p>\n
\u201cTwo out of three.\u201d Wesley shook his head in disgust.<\/p>\n