Chapter 9<\/b><\/p>\n
“Angel,” the room called out. Gunn threw his body in front of the door. \u201cCrispy vamp. Sun, man.\u201d He tensed his frame as Angel moved forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cConnor, man.\u201d Gunn said in a last ditch effort to prevent the vampire ramming into his body. The black man relaxed a little as the Angel stilled, suddenly realizing the small child in his arms.<\/p>\n
“What’s wrong with her? Stop her. Gunn, go,\u201d Angel ordered in a growl.<\/p>\n
“I’ll go,” Buffy said, closing her eyes against the rising panic in Angel\u2019s voice. “If Cordelia really was in heaven then she’ll need understanding and patience. It’s…difficult to be brought back.”<\/p>\n
Buffy\u2019s offer wasn\u2019t altruistic, it wasn\u2019t even conscious. She just had a burning need to get away from the vampire and his son. Buffy winced at Angel\u2019s stare. It was as if he didn\u2019t recognize her.<\/p>\n
\u201cBring her back.\u201d Angel nodded suddenly and turned back to the group from LA.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with Cordy?\u201d The vampire repeated harshly.<\/p>\n
“Well, she did say she was dead. I wish she’d stop saying that.” Fred blinked. \u201cAngel, maybe I should take Connor.\u201d The young woman held out her arms. The baby was crying and Fred didn\u2019t like the way Angel was looking right now.<\/p>\n
He could very well do something drastic or rash. She looked in relief towards Gunn, her boyfriend was back to blocking the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy is not dead.” Angel was as sure of that as he was sure that Connor was alive. The beautiful woman he held had a heartbeat, breath and scent, all which he recognized. It was Cordelia and she was alive. “How did it happen? What happened to her?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel.\u201d Fred urged. Connor\u2019s cries steadily growing in accompany with his father\u2019s increasing agitation.<\/p>\n
The vampire growled and handed his son to the young woman. Once done, his glare shot back to Lorne, Gunn and Wesley. \u201cTalk.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fred took the young child in her arms gratefully. \u201cWhere\u2019s his\u2026nevermind, I\u2019ll find it. It would be the one with the crib,\u201d she mumbled more to herself than to the others. She hugged the baby closer,\u201d It\u2019s okay, honey, daddy is just upset because your mommy isn\u2019t quite herself, right now. Everything will be fine.\u201d God, Fred hoped so.<\/p>\n
The joy she felt first seeing Cordelia had dove quickly into a downward spiral and Cordy\u2019s reaction to seeing Connor hadn\u2019t stalled the spin in the slightest. Cordelia couldn\u2019t be still dead.<\/p>\n
Willow just stared. She didn\u2019t know what to think about anything. She wanted to say something to Angel. But somehow, commenting on the vampire\u2019s utter ignorance on how the last several minutes had effected Buffy, the love of his life, seemed out of place at the moment and could very well get her killed. So, the redhead sat on the couch wringing her hands and looking up the stairs.<\/p>\n
When did Connor start calling Cordelia ‘mama’? How could a 15 month old who hadn\u2019t seen a person in over 12 months recognize that person as their mother, even if she was the child\u2019s mother?<\/p>\n
And Cordelia wasn\u2019t Connor\u2019s mother. But, judging from Angel and the comments Fred was making to the baby, none of Angel and Cordelia\u2019s LA friends thought it was strange.<\/p>\n
What exactly had Cordelia\u2019s relationship with Angel been? When they went to funeral the only thing anybody said was that Cordelia had been Angel\u2019s seer, best friend and the heart of Angel\u2019s Investigations.<\/p>\n
But, that\u2019s all they said. They hadn\u2019t been a very talkative bunch. Obliviously they left a few things out. Willow had to be happy that Cordelia was alive, but she couldn\u2019t help but be uneasy for Buffy.<\/p>\n
And what did Cordelia mean that she was still dead? She didn\u2019t look dead.<\/p>\n
“We’re not sure, Cordelia showed up at Caritas earlier today just saying that the Powers sent her back to complete certain tasks and that she wasn\u2019t really alive.” Wesley rubbed his forehead.<\/p>\n
Angel glared and noticed, really noticed his former friend. “What are you doing here? I warned you.\u201d Angel growled. \u201cThis is your doing.”<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia?\u201d Buffy said softly. If the other young woman had been ripped from heaven, then she needed Buffy\u2019s understanding.<\/p>\n
Buffy tried to remember that and not the sight of Angel grasping on to Cordelia in desperation or Connor calling Cordelia \u2018mama\u2019.<\/p>\n
Buffy had to remind herself Angel\u2019s freaky uncharacteristic emotional reaction was the result of shock. That\u2019s all. Cordelia had been his best friend who had died and come back. Buffy realized that the situation was completely different from when she had returned from the dead.<\/p>\n
Angel had been forewarned, therefore he wasn’t surprised to see Buffy. But when they had seen each other, Angel had smiled and hugged her for a really long time. He just had been really surprised to see Cordelia, that\u2019s all.<\/p>\n
Cordelia looked up, her body still slumped against the hard bark of the tree.<\/p>\n
\u201cWere you really in heaven? I know how difficult it is to be grabbed out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia leaned up and studied the young blonde, Buffy the One. Cordelia shook her head. She was truly sorry for the pain that Buffy had gone through just as she was sorry for the pain she would cause Buffy. Yet, Angel was her priority and Angel needed to leave Buffy and return to LA.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wasn\u2019t grabbed out, I was sent for a specific purpose by the Powers. They don\u2019t want Angel here. His destiny is in LA. He has to leave and I was sent to tell him that. You two don\u2019t belong together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy stepped back. She had wanted to be supportive and understanding but Cordelia wasn\u2019t letting her. Angel was her boyfriend. \u201cWe do too, we love each other. We\u2019re soul mates.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia shook her head. \u201cSoul mates, ssmoul mate, Angel\u2019s soul doesn\u2019t need a date. It needs to be redeemed that\u2019s what Angel\u2019s mission in LA was all about. Help the helpless and redeem his soul. But, it won\u2019t happen in Sunnyhell. Angel belongs in LA. He has to go otherwise he can never be truly happy. It\u2019s his destiny.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is happy here. Angel belongs with me. He loves ME, not you.\u201d Buffy had to believe that.<\/p>\n
\u201cMe? I\u2019m not the issue, Buffy, and neither are you, egocentric much? Angel\u2019s soul is what\u2019s important.\u201d Cordelia tried to stop her next words but the indignant expression on Buffy\u2019s face spurred her on. \u201cAnd he does love me, but more importantly he will listen to me. I\u2019m his best friend.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWas. You said you were dead.\u201d Buffy glared.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, good, somebody\u2019s been listening, I guess this means no flowers or ticker tape parade, uh.\u201d The brunette shook her head.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter. I\u2019m Angel\u2019s best friend, dead or not. He\u2019ll listen to me. You,\u201d Cordelia paused and took a deep breath, her antagonism towards the blonde slayer disappearing. \u201cI am sorry, Buffy, but the Powers don\u2019t want Angel in Sunnydale and they control his soul\u2019s redemption and his soul WILL be redeemed, if I have to\u2026.well, I\u2019m already dead, but you get the picture, don\u2019t you?\u201d Cordelia said firmly.<\/p>\n
Buffy shook her head. \u201cAngel won\u2019t leave me again. He loves me. His soul is bound.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat only means he can do the joyous pelvic thrust without the evil guy popping out, not that he\u2019s been cleared by the higher ups.\u201d Cordelia\u2019s head jerked up. \u201cDamn, stupid vampire,\u201d running back into the house.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, put Wesley down, now.\u201d Cordelia ordered as she slammed open the door.<\/p>\n
Buffy shot passed Cordelia, grabbing at Angel\u2019s arm, trying to help Gunn break Angel\u2019s hold on the former watcher. Angel\u2019s grip remained unmovable, oblivious to their actions or calls. Wesley stayed pressed against the wall, his face blue.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel.\u201d Cordelia repeated, her tone softer.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s his fault.\u201d Angel growled, his eyes landing on the young woman, his fingers still tight around Wesley\u2019s throat. \u201cHis betrayal caused all of this. I lost you because of him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you got Connor back. Angel, I chose what happened. Without Wesley, we would\u2019ve never found Connor. Angel, he saved Connor. You know that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou DIED to save Connor\u2026not him. Now, he will die for what he\u2019s done.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia walked up to the vampire, ignoring the others, her head slightly cocked. \u201cNot that I wouldn\u2019t enjoy having a friend in heaven, Angel, but you will not kill Wesley. He enabled Connor to be saved. Wesley is family. You need him. I need him. Put him down, now.\u201d Cordy\u2019s eyes remained fixed on the vampire.<\/p>\n
Buffy stepped back as Cordelia demonstrated the truth of her hold over the vampire. Angel dropped Wesley letting the man fall to the ground.<\/p>\n
“Cordy.” Angel started towards the brunette.<\/p>\n
“Angel, stop. You’re being stubborn and all melodramaticy.”<\/p>\n
“I\u2019m not melodramatic.”<\/p>\n
“You are too. But that’s okay, it’s just one of the things makes you so ‘grr’able. Now,” Cordelia stopped and scrunched up her brow. \u201cEww, that was just gross and eww, again.\u201d<\/p>\n
“Cordy?” Angel’s hands reached for the young woman.<\/p>\n
Cordelia brushed him away. “No pain, still have the perks of being demonized.”<\/p>\n
“You’re getting visions?” Angel dodged her hands and held her.<\/p>\n
“Dead people get visions? You\u2019re still part demon?” Fred said, coming back down the stairs. She suddenly smiled. \u201cI knew you weren\u2019t dead. Cordy, you really should go up to see Connor, he misses his mommy.\u201d<\/p>\n
“Fred, don’t call me that and I am dead. How many times do I have to say it? Geez. The Powers just need Angel to have a seer and I’m it for now.” Cordy retorted, momentarily sidetracked from her vision by Fred\u2019s appearance.<\/p>\n
“For now? Cordy, what do you mean? And you are Connor’s mother.” Angel interrupted.<\/p>\n
“What did you do, brainwash him with pictures and mommy chants? I haven\u2019t been around for a year. He can\u2019t remember me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Willow nodded. She was glad that she wasn\u2019t the only that thought it was strange.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy, of course, we wouldn\u2019t let Connor forget you.\u201d Fred blinked shocked that Cordelia would even think that was possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe knows you\u2019re his mother.\u201d Angel said. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t let him forget you,\u201d repeating Fred\u2019s words.<\/p>\n
Cordelia bit back the scream that was building in her throat. She closed her eyes, counting to ten. She barely got to three when Angel grabbed her.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with me? What\u2019s wrong with you?\u201d Cordelia jerked away. \u201cYou give your son another dead mother. How fair is that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cConnor is your son.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, Angel. He\u2019s your son, your and Darla\u2019s. Not mine. Never mine.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStop it, Angel. I don\u2019t have time for this. Vision, remember?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t care about\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia smacked him. \u201cYou better start caring. Why, do you think the Powers brought me back? Wesley,\u201d she shot her hand out.<\/p>\n
Wesley dug into his coat and brought out the scroll.<\/p>\n
Cordelia thrust the parchment at Angel. \u201cYou take this and remember. You have a mission; you have a Shansu to work towards. You\u2019re screwing it all up.\u201d Cordelia turned back towards Wesley. \u201cCome on, we need to go. Buffy? The slayer would be helpful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s hand shot out again. \u201cWhere are you going?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo save the victims in my vision. You can\u2019t go, daylight, duh. Gunn, please get the weapons, did you happen to bring my sword? I hope so, probably will need. It.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re not going. The other\u2019s can go. You\u2019re staying.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I\u2019m not. I have to go.\u201d Knocking his hand away.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia, what did you see?\u201d Wesley gasped, still trying to find his voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cMajor ickyness, baby sacrificing demon orgy \u2026\u201d Her hand shot out stopping Angel before he could freak. \u201cNot Connor, okay. It wasn\u2019t Connor. It was sort of demon hybrid baby, gold with really black eyes. Not Connor. I\u2019m sure.\u201d She repeated making sure the vampire understood her.<\/p>\n
Wesley stepped up. \u201cCordy, could you tell if this ritual had anything to do with the on coming apocalypse?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cApocalypse?\u201d Willow, Buffy and Angel stared at Wesley then back to Cordelia.<\/p>\n
Cordelia shrugged. \u201cDon\u2019t know. But, we still have to hurry if were going to stop demon daddy and friends from staging hellmouth\u2019s production of \u2018Caligula\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia,\u201d Angel said. \u201cApocalypse?\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia nodded. \u201cThat\u2019s also on my list of things to do. Foretell another one and help stop it. Whatever happened to the promised \u2018peacefulness\u2019 of deadness?\u201d This time Cordelia\u2019s glance rested on Buffy.<\/p>\n
The slayer stared back and slowly nodded. Feelings about Cordelia and Angel aside that was the same question she had asked herself and something she understood. Buffy just didn\u2019t have a clue as to the answer. \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Buffy said softly. \u201cBut\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRight.\u201d Cordelia sighed. \u201cLet\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel held her back. \u201cI don\u2019t want you to go.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, I don\u2019t have any choices left. The Powers brought me back for one, well two,\u201d she scrunched up her face. \u201cActually, three reasons and\u2026.Oh, look on the bright side, I\u2019m already dead, so no danger of me dying. See ya.\u201d Cordelia quickly ran out the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cMake her stop saying that,\u201d Fred looked around for Gunn, but the black man already gone following Buffy and Wesley after Cordelia. Fred determined glance fell on Lorne. The demon just shrugged. Fred snorted with disgust and turned. \u201cAngel, make her stop saying that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel blinked at the young woman. \u201cI will,\u201d going up the stairs to his son.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, good, then.\u201d Fred nodded. Finally someone gave her the answer she wanted to hear and it was Angel that had to be worth major accomplishing truth points. \u201cI feel better.\u201d She smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cUm, Apocalypse? Not a feel good thingy,\u201d Willow looked in concern at the door her best friend went out of.<\/p>\n
\u201cPooh, Angel\u2019s been through at least three, that\u2019s what Cordy says.\u201d Fred shook her head.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel\u2019s not with them.\u201d Willow ventured.<\/p>\n
Fred nudged at her glasses. \u201cThat\u2019s because Cordy said she didn\u2019t think it had started yet. Which makes sense. Cordy wouldn\u2019t have a vision of the apocalypse during the daytime. How would Angel be her warrior, then? No, it\u2019s just a demon orgy baby sacrificing ritual. Wesley\u2019s there, he\u2019ll figure that part out. And Gunn is really strong and Cordy said she was still demonized. They\u2019ll be fine.\u201d Fred smiled. \u201cIt\u2019s like old times.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lorne rolled his eyes. \u201cAnd praise be, we all know how grand those old times were. I need a drink.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chapter 10<\/b><\/p>\n
Angel smiled at his crying son, his hand gently cupping the small head. \u201cShh, Connor, mommy\u2019s back. Da will make sure that she\u2019s with us soon. I promise.\u201d He smiled wider as the little unique person that was his son looked up, his cries lessening. \u201cMama.\u201d A tiny voice asked for reassurance.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, Connor, She\u2019s here. I promise you she won\u2019t leave ever again. I won\u2019t allow it, for either of us.\u201d Angel\u2019s vowed growl was masked by the gentle kiss he laid on his son\u2019s brow.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Willow jumped up in relief as Xander and Dawn wandered in the door. It has been a half hour. Angel hadn\u2019t come back down from Connor. Willow had been stuck with Fred and Lorne all that time.<\/p>\n
Willow could swear that Fred had given no hints to her true babbling nature when they met at Cordelia\u2019s funeral. Willow felt down right linear in comparison. The other young woman jumped from topic to topic.<\/p>\n
Well, that\u2019s not accurate, Fred jumped from Cordelia\u2019s back, Angel will make everything fine, Connor\u2019s gotten big, Connor missed Cordelia. Then the young woman would sigh, hoping that the apocalypse wouldn\u2019t take too long, it was a good thing that Angel didn\u2019t sell the hotel, everything would be fine, their family was back together again- Cordy said so- Wesley was with them, then Fred would sigh again and start all over. Her circular nonsensical babbling did have a point. Once Willow figured it out she was the one sighing.<\/p>\n
Fred seemed sure that once the world ending crisis was over Angel would pack up Connor and head back to LA with his \u2018family\u2019 the most important of which was Cordelia. Willow had looked at the green demon for any contradiction to Fred\u2019s babbling, but he gave none.<\/p>\n
He only commented when Fred\u2019s rambling gaze landed on him that he really hoped so, but it was up to the \u2018Powers\u2019, all the while calling the young woman lambkins or kitten. Then he would ask for alcohol. It was weird. Willow was very happy to see Xander and Dawn.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey,\u201d Willow\u2019s other best friend sauntered in. \u201cLook who I found wandering the streets.\u201d He cocked his head towards Dawn. The teenager waved a hand and rolled her eyes, the stopped, looking back at Fred and Lorne.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know you. We met at\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHi, I\u2019m Fred, this is Lorne, in case you don\u2019t remember. I know it can be hard to remember, new faces, new places. They can get all whirly in your head. I remember by assigning numbers to each new person I meet. Like, I know you, you\u2019re Dawn- eight.\u201d Fred turned to Xander.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou got \u201800\u2019 not because I automatically thought double zero, but Cordy mentioned \u2018Zeppo\u2019 and then I did automatically think \u201800\u2019. You\u2019re Xander, the ex-boyfriend that cheated with Willow, eleven\u2019. How could you cheat on Cordy..I don\u2019t understand, do you Lorne?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhoa, leave me out of your \u2018School house non-rock impromptu\u201d Lorne shot a look at the young man.<\/p>\n
\u201cThough, I admit, it boggles the mind that anyone with half a brain and set of hormones would sing ‘Bye, Bye Dolly’ to the Princess. She\u2019s a hot-a-rama as well as being an extraordinary champion. I can think of a few undead, demons and wannabe human types that would love the opportunity, okay only one real contender\u2026\u201d Lorne glanced up the stairs and sighed, suddenly becoming quiet.<\/p>\n
Xander blinked. \u201cAh, Willow, why are they here?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere\u2019s Buffy and Angel?\u201d Dawn asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re here cuz Cordy told us to come and help stop the end of the world. Angel\u2019s upstairs with Connor, trying to convince him that his mommy is all right. Buffy\u2019s with Gunn, Wesley and Cordy stopping a demon orgy.\u201d Fred supplied.<\/p>\n
\u201cDemon orgy?\u2026Wait, Cordy? Willow.\u201d Xander turned quickly to his friend.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe end of the world? Connor\u2019s mommy? I thought Darla was like dust, twice, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe is, I\u2019m talking about Cordy. She\u2019s been Connor\u2019s mommy since that horrible night. Well, beautiful in that we got Connor, but horrible just the same. It was raining, Angel was so upset with Darla trying to kill Cordy and then of course the baby on it\u2019s way, not to mention Holtz trying to kill him. Horrible, beautiful and sad.\u201d Fred glanced up to the stairs.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot that I particularly cared for D..A\u2026R\u2026L..A, being all evil and everything, but she did stake herself, but she shouldn\u2019t have bitten Cordy. There I said it.\u201d Fred turned to Lorne. \u201cThat\u2019s how I really feel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLambkins, safe to say that\u2019s how we all felt.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWillow, why does\u2026\u201d Xander interrupted looking quickly at the pretty brunette back to Willow.<\/p>\n
\u201cFred.\u201d The brunette pushed up her glasses.<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry, I don\u2019t have your number system.” Xander replied.<\/p>\n
\u201cGee, how about short term memory then, I just told you. And if you have a question to ask me, then ask, I\u2019m here.\u201d Fred narrowed her eyes.<\/p>\n
Xander blinked. This was not the same fragile young woman that cried at the drop of a hat at Cordelia\u2019s funeral.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, again, sorry, why are you speaking like Cordy\u2019s alive?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause she is.\u201d Fred stated firmly and clearly.<\/p>\n
\u201cUM, Fred.\u201d Willow stuttered to interrupt. \u201cCordy, said she is dead.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRight, Cordy died\u2026wait did you just say Cordy SAID she was dead,\u201d Xander turned to Willow.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, but Angel said that he would fix that\u201d Fred glared.<\/p>\n
\u201cLambkins, kitten, I\u2019ll be the first\u2026 okay\u2026last.” Lorne shot a look at Willow and Xander ,”in line of\u2026\u201dLorne shot a look at Willow and Xander.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026last in line of the LA brigade family conga line, which will be first, shouting for joy if Angelcakes can fix this. But Cordy keeps insisting that she\u2019s dead, by the Power\u2019s order and I can\u2019t read her soul.\u201d<\/p>\n
Xander threw up his hands. \u201cWhat\u2019s with the present tense? I sent flowers and wore a suit.\u201d He yelled. “Is Cordy alive or dead?”<\/p>\n
\u201cAlive.\u201d Angel came back down the stairs. \u201cIt\u2019s been 42 minutes. Why isn\u2019t she back yet?\u201d<\/p>\n
Chapter 11<\/b><\/p>\n
Cordelia pointed. \u201cYucky sex death threat, there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy, Wesley and Gunn stalled looked at the trees and bushes impenetrable in their mass and closeness.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn there? Kinda of like clogged with leaves and birch.\u201d Gunn asked.<\/p>\n
Cordy glared. \u201cIn there, behind, if that makes you more inclined to do the machete thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy didn\u2019t you say so, girl?\u201d Gunn started swinging his axe.<\/p>\n
Wesley quickly followed suite.<\/p>\n
Buffy stood behind watching. Even Cordelia was swinging a sharp blade against the overgrown foliage. Buffy cringed at the voice of the sixteen year old that was still present inside, growing with a vengeance ever since Buffy saw Angel and Cordelia together.<\/p>\n
That young girl wanted Cordelia to look like idiot drawing them out on a wild demon chase. But, the older Buffy knew that wasn\u2019t happening. Buffy just wished she had brought an axe. Then she would be swiping and not thinking, reliving a high school girl’s insecurities.<\/p>\n
\u201cTunnel.\u201d Wesley called, moving forward. Gunn and Cordelia quickly moved behind him. Buffy still remained motionless. Intellectually, she knew that Wesley had been helping Angel and that Angel\u2019s now anger towards the man was real, not because Wesley had been inefficient or that some careless act on his part caused the tragedies of a year ago.<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s very real anger was because Wesley had been a trusted friend, one with strength and skill that betrayed Angel and his family. A former friend that Angel hated but would allow to help\u2026whatever, this was, because Cordelia said so.<\/p>\n
Buffy was confused and really having a hard time correlating the idiot Wesley she knew from high school, to the one that she briefly heard about when Cordelia died, to the one that went straight into danger at the beckoning of the girl supposedly he killed because of his betrayal.<\/p>\n
Gunn, Buffy couldn\u2019t comment on. He had been silent and angry during her visit during Cordelia\u2019s funeral. If the young man said a word, it was a grunt, almost beating out Angel for his stoic stillness. But, Buffy sensed his strength and could see why Angel trusted him to watch his back.<\/p>\n
Those observations aside, there was Cordelia. Not a complaint from her, since she walked out of the house towards not really known danger. Buffy knew that Cordelia had been Angel\u2019s seer, seeing awful visions of the helpless and such and being a sort of direction guide for the vampire while he was in LA, but she hadn\u2019t expected Cordelia to grab up sword confidently and lead the group in an active type role.<\/p>\n
Cordelia gave directions and Wesley and Gunn followed. Buffy noticed that Gunn had tried to engage Cordelia in banter of some sort. Buffy had been surprised that Cordelia hadn\u2019t snubbed the young man or flayed one of her stinging comebacks that she had been famous for in high school.<\/p>\n
And at her silence, Gunn, the tough man, looked sad.<\/p>\n
Buffy was sure that she saw him smile when Cordelia finally responded to that dump drain shrubbery comment.<\/p>\n
Now, Cordelia had stopped. \u201cAre you coming, or what? Slayer, help, demon frenzy, kick ass girl. Geez.\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy blinked her thoughts away and followed.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Cordelia laid a hand on Wesley. \u201cYou need to go that way.\u201d She pointed.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy, the demon mother is that way. The victim of your vision.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d Cordelia said softly. \u201cGunn and I will go. Buffy, go with Wesley.\u201d She tugged on Wesley\u2019s arm at his hesitation. \u201cWes, there is a marker or something a \u2026shit, I don\u2019t know, but it\u2019s important, like really world ending type of important, that\u2019s why you have to go. It\u2019s round, stone with writing. Get it, you need to figure out what it means and Buffy has to go with you to make sure that you get there. Go.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou heard, man, you here for a purpose- your brains, go, dawg.\u201d Gunn said.<\/p>\n
Wesley ignored Gunn and stared straight into Cordelia\u2019s eyes. \u201cHe\u2019ll really kill me this time, if you don\u2019t come back.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll be fine, I\u2019ve got demonizy powers and Gunn, that demon mommy chick is safe. Go.\u201d Cordelia smiled lighting up the small cavern.<\/p>\n
Wesley stared, reaching out a tentative hand gently landing on Cordelia\u2019s face. \u201cI missed you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGo.\u201d Cordelia ordered, her eyes suddenly becoming cold, her heart breaking.<\/p>\n
Wesley nodded in acceptance at Cordelia\u2019s look and moved in the direction she pointed.<\/p>\n