Chapter 18<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cAw, shit,\u201d Gunn quickly looked around the room for any signs of Cordelia.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere did she go,\u201d Angel stalked up to Wesley.<\/p>\n
The former watcher stood rubbing his face. \u201cI don\u2019t know, Angel.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s dark gaze bore into the man prepared to find fault with him.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, Wesley didn\u2019t do anything,\u201d Fred twisted her hands. \u201cCordy was just sitting there. Maybe she went out for some fresh air or something.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, right.\u201d Xander answered. \u201cNothing like a midnight stroll on the Hellmouth, it can be so relaxing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe took her sword.\u201d Gunn called from the counter.<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s low growl vibrated in his chest and throat. \u201cPhone.\u201d He held out his hand to Fred.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel\u2026\u201d Fred bit her lip, shrugging, holding her palms up to the air. \u201cIt\u2019s…still..um\u2026at the house.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel narrowed his eyes, growled again and turned to Wesley. \u201cPhone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley pulled out his cell phone and handed it to the vampire without a word. Angel nodded and headed for the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cMan, I\u2019m with you.\u201d Gunn picked up his axe.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll find her.\u201d Angel disappeared into the night.<\/p>\n
\u201cI guess that was a no, then.\u201d Gunn put the axe down.<\/p>\n
\u201cWesley, we should keep on\u2026\u201d Fred pointed to the books.<\/p>\n
Wesley just stared at the door praying that nothing happened to Cordelia. Angel already blamed the former watcher for the young woman\u2019s death that wouldn\u2019t have a chance of changing if anything else happened.<\/p>\n
And the thing was, Angel with all his anger, couldn\u2019t blame Wesley more than the former watcher blamed himself.<\/p>\n
\u201cWesley,\u201d Fred called again.<\/p>\n
\u201cDawg Wes, Cordy said she needed your brains, so get brainin.\u201d Gunn called. \u201cAngel will call if he needs us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2018Us\u2019. Wesley studied the black man. Gunn was including him. Wesley studied the two people that along with Angel, Connor and Cordelia once comprised his family. They\u2019re expressions weren\u2019t condemning.<\/p>\n
They hadn\u2019t been since they all left Caritas together with Cordelia. They were opening the door to him. Wesley nodded taking the chance.<\/p>\n
Crystal tugged at Wesley\u2019s arm. \u201cIs he always like this?\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley adjusted his glasses. \u201cExcuse me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel- is he always so scary?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh no, Angel\u2019s not scary, he\u2019s sweet.\u201d Fred went to reassure the young demon.<\/p>\n
Even Gunn and Wesley\u2019s jaws dropped at Fred\u2019s comment. \u201cWhat? He is. It\u2019s just well you know, he gets\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngry, scary and frequently violent when Connor or Cordelia are threatened.\u201d Wesley finished for Fred, his voice free from any bitterness. It was the truth.<\/p>\n
Fred shrugged, pushing at her glasses. \u201cLike I said, it\u2019s sweet how protective he is over them. Connor is his son and well..Cordy\u2026well they have Kye-rumption.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley returned to his books and Gunn to his game knowing already where Fred was going. They both had heard it enough and didn\u2019t need to be convinced.<\/p>\n
\u201cKye-rumption?\u201d Crystal asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cKye-rumption, when two great heroes meet on the field of battle and recognize their mutual fate\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry, having a hard time imagining Queen Cordy as any type of hero\u201d Xander interrupted.<\/p>\n
Xander\u2019s comment brought both Wesley and Gunn\u2019s heads back up. Gunn got ready to cut the young man a new asshole, but noticed Fred\u2019s expression. His girl would take care of it.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s a hero- all with the visions and the courage and it\u2019s Princess not Queen.\u201d She snapped.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy saved my life. She\u2019s brave and she said she helped them,\u201d pointing to Wesley, Gunn and Fred, \u201chelp the helpless- and Angel too. She is a hero.\u201d Crystal shot daggers at Xander.<\/p>\n
Fred smiled at the young demon. At that moment, Fred really liked Crystal. She was smart.<\/p>\n
Xander stepped back warding off the women\u2019s glares with his hands. \u201cFine, fine, Cordy\u2019s turned into Wonder Woman\u2026 but two heroes, fated, not that I\u2019m big fan but that\u2019s Buffy and Angel\u2019s twisted star crossed story, believe me I wish it wasn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fred returned her glare to the young man. \u201cYou\u2019ve never seen Angel and Cordy spar. Kye-rumption and MORIA. That\u2019s the gut physical attraction between two larger than life souls. Angel and Cordy love each other, it\u2019s destiny.\u201d Fred claimed it utter confidence and belief.<\/p>\n
At that moment, Buffy really hated Fred.<\/p>\n
Chapter 19<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cLorne,\u201d Angel said into the phone.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngelcakes, hello, no luck yet on the info gathering.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHave you heard from Cordy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve lost the princess again?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll find her. Call if you hear anything. I\u2019ve got Wesley\u2019s phone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSure, lets try to keep this one in one piece okay, Angelcakes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel growled.<\/p>\n
The vampire tried to think. Xander was right; Cordelia wouldn\u2019t just go wandering out for a sight seeing tour of Sunnydale. Angel couldn\u2019t imagine one place that Cordelia would want to revisit. There wasn\u2019t much that she liked in her hometown. But she was on foot and somewhere with her sword.<\/p>\n
Angel started his car. If Cordy had a vision and didn\u2019t tell him or decided to go back to the portals by herself he would kill her.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Cordelia stood outside the house. She could see Lorne through the kitchen window. Cordelia didn\u2019t feel like being x-rayed from the inside out. Her eyes turned upwards to the darkened windows of the second floor.<\/p>\n
It was a pretty good guess that room with the choo choo train curtains was Connor’s. Cordelia just hoped that the window wasn\u2019t locked; she really didn\u2019t want to break it. Cordelia\u2019s body rose in the air.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Angel stalked around the cavern, his eyes narrowing every once in awhile at the sparks of electricity emitting from the swirling black voids, trying to damn them back to their hell dimension with the force of his will.<\/p>\n
He growled as the swirling voids just crackled in response.<\/p>\n
Angel jerked away disgusted. There was no sign of Cordelia. The only positive was the vortexes didn\u2019t look big enough to suck anything in them but air and insects. Angel felt slightly more assured that she hadn\u2019t disappeared into another dimension.<\/p>\n
But where was she?<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Lorne hummed to himself as he waited for someone, anyone to answer the phone. Angel was asking the impossible. His contacts just didn\u2019t like phones.<\/p>\n
Lorne hung up. Connor was crying again. Angel had been right. The little cutie pie couldn\u2019t stay asleep. Lorne pushed his body from the chair, preparing another melody for the child. He stopped as the baby monitor spoke words of faith being restored and music that could lighten a sorry soul.<\/p>\n
\u201cMama.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHi, honey.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lorne sat back down and picked up the phone.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Angel answered on the first ring.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngelcakes, she\u2019s here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLet me talk to her,\u201d Angel growled in relief.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s a tad busy and I don\u2019t want to disturb her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t care.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, actually you do, believe me crumbcake you don\u2019t want me to disturb her and the little one definitely doesn\u2019t want me to.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s with Connor.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMama’s with her baby. What\u2019s missing from the picture, daddykins?\u201d<\/p>\n
Lorne looked at the phone, listening to the dial tone. Looked like Angel got that one right on the first try.<\/p>\n
Chapter 20<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cWow, look at you. You\u2019ve gotten so big.\u201d Cordelia leaned over the crib.<\/p>\n
\u201cMama,\u201d Connor pulled his awkward chubby body up on the rails, his hand waving at Cordelia.<\/p>\n
Cordelia caught the little hand bringing it to her lips. \u201cI wish, honey, I wish,\u201d smiling sadly. \u201cShouldn\u2019t you be asleep? Not tired? I\u2019m tired. Hey, I can float. Watch.\u201d<\/p>\n
Connor giggled as Cordelia raised a few feet in the air. \u201cCool, uh. Much better than last time. Oh, Connor, I missed you,\u201d putting her feet back on the ground, reaching into the crib to pick the baby up. \u201cWow, not only big, but heavy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia rubbed her tear stained face against the small child\u2019s head. \u201cWhat? Was that a yawn? I think it was. Come on, baby, let\u2019s just lie down for a little while for some major baby snuggles. How about that?\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia curled her body around Connor. The small boy clutched on to Cordelia telling her everything in the secret language of babies, smiling as his eyes fluttered close. \u201cSleep, baby,\u201d Cordelia yawned and squirmed deeper in the softness of the bed.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Angel said nothing to Lorne as he took the stairs two at a time, pausing only when he got to the door of Connor\u2019s room. He was about to call out for Cordelia but stopped, her name choked in his throat. Angel stared. If he tried he could almost imagine that they were back in his suite in the Hyperion before everything went so horribly wrong.<\/p>\n
Angel moved quietly not wanting to disturb either one. He couldn\u2019t risk that a wide-awake Cordelia would push him away again. Say things that he didn\u2019t want to hear and wouldn\u2019t believe. This is what Angel would believe in, Connor and Cordelia, together, alive and with him.<\/p>\n
The vampire dropped his coat on the chair and lay down next to Cordelia. He tensed as the young woman murmured and moved. Still sleeping, Cordelia scooted towards Angel\u2019s body. Angel relaxed, gently pulling Cordelia and Connor into his embrace. Angel closed his eyes allowing the smells and sounds of the precious lives around him lull him to sleep.<\/p>\n
Cordelia stirred, feeling the hard big body behind her. She should get up and leave. She curled in closer pulling Angel\u2019s arm tighter around her. She sighed as she felt his face nuzzle into her neck. Cordelia\u2019s hand fluttered over Connor\u2019s pouchy belly. Cordelia ignored the warnings of her waking brain and went back to sleep finding the peace and contentment that should\u2019ve been only promised by heaven.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Lorne gave a silent prayer that the Powers knew what they were doing. With one last look at the small family on the bed, Lorne closed the door.<\/p>\n
Chapter 21<\/b><\/p>\n
Buffy\u2019s heart fluttered in hopeful beats. Angel\u2019s car was there. That meant the vampire was there.<\/p>\n
She had been worried when Angel or Cordelia hadn\u2019t returned. She had wanted to slap Fred again, when the young woman had pooh ha\u2019d her concerns, saying that she was sure that Angel had found Cordelia. If Angel hadn\u2019t by now, he would\u2019ve called for help.<\/p>\n
No, Fred was confident that they were somewhere together talking and stuff. It was the \u2018stuff\u2019 part that had put an ache in Buffy\u2019s chest.<\/p>\n
But Angel was home, which meant that he hadn\u2019t left her and he wasn\u2019t off doing \u2018stuff\u2019 with Cordelia. Buffy ran past Willow and Dawn to get in the house. Maybe, Angel had listened to her and realized that she was right.<\/p>\n
Buffy looked around the darkened living room. No vampire, just a demon sleeping on the couch. She ran upstairs, Willow and Dawn followed more slowly.<\/p>\n
Angel wasn\u2019t in their bedroom. She turned immediately to Connor\u2019s room. Buffy stumbled back as she saw the sight before her. She couldn\u2019t recognize the beauty of the scene all she saw was her pain and rage. Angel had left her; he just hadn\u2019t left the house.<\/p>\n
Buffy\u2019s anger boiled. This was her house Angel was her boyfriend. That was her life that she saw on that small bed. Cordelia had no business being there, not with Angel\u2019s body wrapped protectively around her and the small child.<\/p>\n
\u201cGET OUT\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel immediately rolled off the bed placing his body in between Cordelia and Connor and whatever threat that had awoken him.<\/p>\n
Cordelia jumped up cradling Connor trying to soothe his cries.<\/p>\n
\u201cGet out,\u201d Buffy repeated her eyes on Cordelia. \u201cYou don\u2019t belong here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBuffy, \u201c Willow pulled at the slayer.<\/p>\n
Cordelia blinked biting down her retort. Buffy was right she didn\u2019t. Cordelia nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cShh, honey.\u201d Cordelia placed Connor back in his crib. \u201cShh,\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGET Out.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBuffy,\u201d Angel said moving to block the slayer\u2019s path towards Cordelia and Connor.<\/p>\n
Cordelia swung around. \u201cStop yelling. You\u2019re upsetting Connor with your bellowing. I\u2019ll leave, but not until he stops crying. So shut up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy looked at the red-faced teary-eyed little boy. God, she wished the baby would stop crying \u2018mama\u2019 and reaching for Cordelia. It was unbearable.<\/p>\n
\u201cBuffy, go.\u201d Angel said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is my house.\u201d Her eyes blazed.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, it is and we will leave as soon as you get out of this room,\u201d Angel pushed the blonde woman, shutting the door with a slam.<\/p>\n
Buffy stared. She let Willow and Dawn drag her back into her own bedroom and lead her to the bed. She blinked up at her friend and sister.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh god, what did I just do?\u201d Covering her tears with her hands. Willow and Dawn slumped down on either side of Buffy holding the sobbing young woman.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Cordelia leaned up as soon Connor cries had diminished to short little gasps, his tiny fist shoved in his mouth, his bleary wide eyes still fixed on Cordelia. \u201cHoney, it\u2019s okay.\u201d She watched as Angel stuffed Connor\u2019s baby bag.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, it\u2019s late. Connor\u2019s tired. Stay with him, here. Buffy only wants me gone not you and Connor. Angel,\u201d She said again as the vampire kept packing. \u201cAngel, she\u2019s right- I don\u2019t belong here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel raised his dark eyes, the silence and intensity of his stare was deafening. \u201cYes, but neither do Connor and I. So, we\u2019re all going,\u201d finally speaking.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel,\u201d she paused at the knock on the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngelcakes, Princess.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel jerked open the door throwing the baby bag in Lorne\u2019s arms.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re leaving then?\u201d Lorne readjusted his hold on the bag and took another bag from Angel.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCould see that one coming,\u201d Lorne spared a glance for Cordelia. \u201cPrincess, careful your soul\u2019s showing.\u201d The demon left the room carrying his burdens to Angel\u2019s car.<\/p>\n
Cordelia\u2019s gaze followed the demon out the door only to be dragged back to Angel\u2019s dark eyes.<\/p>\n
Cordelia blinked and picked up Connor. \u201cSo, where exactly are we supposed to go at this time of night,\u201d refusing to acknowledge Lorne\u2019s parting remark or the silent tears welling up in her hazel eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cHotel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFine, but it better have room service.\u201d Cordelia strode past the vampire to follow Lorne.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Lorne softly hummed to Connor, lulling the baby back to sleep. \u201cSpoke to Gunn, they\u2019re camping out at the Magic Shoppe. How about dropping the little one and me there, you kiddies need to have a talk. And then maybe, Princess you can tell all of us what the Powers are really up to.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI told you.\u201d Cordelia stared out the window.<\/p>\n
\u201cRighto, except the part where your soul isn\u2019t residing in heaven but swirling around in a broken live color show right here on earth.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShut up, Lorne.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNifty new power, but you need to practice more,\u201d ignoring Cordelia\u2019s demand.<\/p>\n
Cordelia didn\u2019t even bother to glare; she just curled her body up against the side of the car door. Wishing that she had resisted the impulse to see Connor or at least had listened to the warnings that had gone off when she realized that Angel had joined them in their sleep.<\/p>\n
Angel said nothing, but turned down the street that led to the Magic Shoppe. His only thoughts were that he was going to get the truth out of Cordelia if he had to lock her up and keep her there until after the world ended.<\/p>\n
Chapter 22<\/b><\/p>\n
Cordelia stayed in the car while Angel got them a room. So much for room service. Oh, she didn\u2019t care. All she wanted to do was run and hide from the vampire. The only problem was she knew it was too late. Angel hadn\u2019t said a word to her since they left Buffy\u2019s.<\/p>\n
Cordelia wished that she could believe it was because the vampire hadn\u2019t understood Lorne\u2019s \u2018soul\u2019 statements. Cordelia damned herself for being weak. But, another part was grateful that Angel would force her the truth out of her. Cordelia really wanted his arms around her. It\u2019s the only place that Cordelia truly felt safe.<\/p>\n
Cordelia glanced around the dingy room, not really seeing anything. She sat on the bed, her elbow on her knees, studying the ugly dull pattern of the bedspread and waited. She flinched as she heard the door lock. Cordelia half expected to hear the broken old dresser being shoved against the only means of escape.<\/p>\n
Cordelia didn\u2019t want angry Angel; she wanted the vampire that had held her and Connor. No, she didn\u2019t want that one either. Cordelia bit her lips looking at the vampire, focusing on the mouth that cut into a straight angry line. Cordelia wanted the one that would kiss her and make love to her.<\/p>\n
Cordelia was no longer fearful of a broken babbling champion. Angel was safe from the visions. Crystal was red marked for that fated smackroo. Hell, even if there was a risk, Cordelia might chance it.<\/p>\n
The heat that was growing in her belly was slowly taking form as slick moisture pooling between her legs. Cordelia squirmed. She didn\u2019t have a clue if the onslaught was due from her finally allowing the acknowledgment of the realization that had hit her like a ton of bricks when Angel first held on to her so desperately or was it just a condemned man’s last grasp for a piece of life before the cries \u2018dead man walking\u2019 pounded in his brain causing him to go numb, or was it both.<\/p>\n
Cordelia didn\u2019t know, all she knew was at that very moment she wanted Angel with a longing she only read about it in bad romance novels. Who knew that desire that ripped at your nerves, boiled your blood and made you dizzy was real. Cordelia sighed.<\/p>\n
She wasn\u2019t going to get that Angel, not until she experienced angry Angel. Hopefully, it wouldn\u2019t be for long. She wouldn\u2019t fight him, so maybe it wouldn\u2019t be. Cordelia waited for Angel to speak.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re not dead.\u201d Angel had never believed it, but now he had proof. Cordelia had lied.<\/p>\n
Cordelia took a deep breath. \u201cNo.\u201d she said in a small voice.<\/p>\n
Angel stopped the growl that was forming. He had expected Cordelia to try to keep up the pretense.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy? Cordelia, look at me. Why, did you lie?\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia gave a long slow blink up to the vampire. \u201cI though it would be easier.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEasier? Easier for who?\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia looked away. \u201cFor me, for you, for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat doesn\u2019t make any sense.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe.\u201d Cordelia was so damn tired and she wanted him so much. \u201cBut, the lie doesn\u2019t change anything, Angel. The Powers didn\u2019t give me a second chance. I\u2019m alive only because I screwed up.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was your seer, I was supposed to give my vision to someone before I died. I didn\u2019t. It didn\u2019t seem to matter to them that I didn\u2019t know the rules or that there wasn\u2019t exactly anybody around on Quor-toth to kiss,\u201d she grumbled. \u201cLike I would\u2019ve kissed the demon that was trying to kill Connor. Great seer, it would\u2019ve made. Geez,\u201d rubbing her red eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re my seer, you had a vision.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly to start the end of the world battle. Once done, I\u2019m dead again after I transfer the visions to Crystal. But this time, Skip says I\u2019ll get to go to heaven.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou weren\u2019t in heaven? You lied about that too?\u201d Angel turned suddenly. \u201cWhy weren\u2019t you in heaven? You didn\u2019t go to hell, you couldn\u2019t have. I knew I should\u2019ve made Willow do the spell.\u201d Angel stood stunned from visions of Cordelia battling the horrors of hell. The Powers couldn\u2019t have sent her there. She was a seer and champion. She was a heart full of goodness and love. They couldn\u2019t have.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, Angel you shouldn\u2019t have. And I wasn\u2019t in hell, just limbo. Boring place.\u201d Cordelia wished Angel would stop wearing a hole in the carpet or glaring and just kiss her. But at least he wasn\u2019t growling anymore.<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s renewed pacing stopped. \u201cTell me exactly what happened from the begining.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia was lost in wonderings. What would Angel\u2019s kisses feel like? Would they be different when she wasn\u2019t possessed or completely clueless as to what he really meant to her. Would the knowledge of love make them even better?<\/p>\n
\u201cTell me.\u201d Angel said again.<\/p>\n
Cordelia blinked up bringing her hand down from her lips. What had Angel growled?<\/p>\n
\u201cTell me,\u201d this time even louder.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m talking aren\u2019t I, Geez.\u201d Cordelia said in a building frustration. Cordelia dragged her hands once more across her face and told the vampire everything.<\/p>\n
Angel sat on the bed as he listened. He stood up as soon as she stopped.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou won\u2019t give your visions to anyone and I\u2019m not going back to LA. We\u2019re taking Connor and leaving tonight for anywhere other than the Hellmouth or LA.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, end of the world, your mission?\u201d God, Angel was so stubborn.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe world never ends and fuck my mission. You\u2019re alive and you\u2019re going to stay alive.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, the Powers aren\u2019t just going to let me stay alive because we refuse to do what they want. My fate is done- yours isn\u2019t. You need to go back to LA. You need a new seer so your soul can be redeemed. Bigger picture, here, buster.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. I won\u2019t give you back.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t have a choice on that issue, Angel, neither do I. Skip says I won\u2019t go to hell but that may change if I turn away from what they want.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia saw the rage in the vampire build back up. Something in the room was about to be destroyed and it would take even longer for him to touch her. She had to end this somehow.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, the Power\u2019s didn\u2019t take me away from you and they\u2019re not keeping me away. I died because I just did. I saw a way to save Connor and I took it. It was worth it, Angel. I don\u2019t regret it and I would do it again.\u201d Cordelia paused, taking an exhausted frustrated breath.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just now the knowing- knowing that I\u2019m going to die, the knowing that you love me, seeing my family, feeling their love\u2026.I had to lie, Angel, I thought keeping everyone away would make it easier. But it hasn\u2019t, it just makes me mad and scared, but mainly just tired,\u201d and incredibly horny she wanted to add.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, I don\u2019t want to die again. I don\u2019t want to leave you and Connor. But, I\u2019m going to have to.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia’s eyes rose to the pacing vampire, her voice soft. “Please, Angel, I\u2019ve wasted enough time. Don\u2019t you waste more by being angry. We don\u2019t have a future, but we can have now. Just love me, please.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel stopped. The rage or the thoughts on how to prevent all that Cordelia had said didn\u2019t disappear, but they were stalled and pushed aside as he heard her plea. Angel was on the bed in an instant, his arms engulfing the young woman, his lips descending on her face and mouth.<\/p>\n
Angel drank at her lips as a man who had been traveling a desert dying, finally stumbling on a life giving spring. Cordelia\u2019s lips attached on Angel\u2019s giving and taking with the same need. Angel moved quickly, his hands raising and pulling her clothes away. He needed to lose his senses in the body under him. Angel leaned up, his eyes caressing every inch of the beautiful woman, slowly his fingers reached out to touch the path that his eyes had made.<\/p>\n
Cordelia gasped at the chills that covered her body at his every touch. She pressed his hand closer into the soft flesh of her breast, the other hand reaching up to brush the strong planes of his face, gently tracing the full lips closed in concentration.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about damn time. Good thing about that pesky soul being bound, uh,\u201d she said softly, jerking as Angel\u2019s wide thumb stroked at the hardened tip of her breast.<\/p>\n
Angel leaned further up, his thumb leaving her nipple to begin wide caresses along the length of her body. For a brief insane moment, Angel thought about it. Angelus would never let anyone or anything take this body from him. Angel knew that it was his soul that loved Cordelia beyond thought itself, just as he knew that his demon needed her scent as a mortal needed to breathe.<\/p>\n
Angelus wouldn\u2019t kill her and the torture, pain and terror would only take as long as\u2026Angel closed his eyes, Cordelia couldn\u2019t be turned she already had her demon. The insane thought fled as quickly as it had come. Angelus wasn\u2019t even a possibility in this lovemaking.<\/p>\n
God, Angel wished he could bury himself in Cordelia\u2019s body with joy. But, to do that he would have to be oblivious of everything Cordelia had said. He would have to be able to touch her and see dreams and hope, not the specter of broken dreams and promises. And while, Angel refused to accept that Cordelia\u2019s fate was already decided, he couldn\u2019t forget it.<\/p>\n
He would do what Cordelia asked and not waste anymore time. Then he would find a solution. Angel would find his hope and then he would have his joy. But for right now, he would just love the woman he needed to live.<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s lips reached for the trail that his hands had left. Angel’s mouth moved with an urgency, kissing, tasting, and swallowing. There had to be a way to take Cordelia fully into his body, to keep her there safe with him always. In a frantic push, Angel grabbed at his clothes ripping them away. He had to feel her warm ALIVE flesh up against his.<\/p>\n
Cordelia moaned clutching on Angel\u2019s shoulders as he thrust into her, claiming her to her core. Her long legs tightened, her hips jerking closer, her inner walls squeezing, her body doing everything to keep the vampire inside her, bringing him even deeper.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love you,” whimpering, Cordelia’s teeth clamping down on the cool flesh.<\/p>\n
Angel growled wanting to cry out at the unfairness of it all. Words that should have brought his dead heart alive did nothing but make him move faster, burrow deeper, clutch tighter in desperate need to make this real and forever.<\/p>\n
Cordelia\u2019s nails pierced into the hard muscles that tensed and strained above her. Cordelia wanted to run her hands all over the cool skin but she had to hold on, so her lips did what her hands couldn\u2019t. Her frantic kisses touched everywhere they could reach, her voice leaving moist low gasps along Angel\u2019s chest and neck. Cordelia cried out as her body tensed pushed to the edge.<\/p>\n
Angel cupped Cordelia\u2019s ass jamming her hips while he thrust forcefully, pushing her the rest of the way. Angel caught her scream as her inner walls contracted rapidly around him, her body refusing to be alone in its release. Angel growled, this time Cordelia reached up pulling his lips and head back down. Angel tensed, his body shuddering as the warm depths squeezed and released, pumping until he exploded. Angel\u2019s body continued to twitch and jerk as his dead seed filled Cordelia. He could almost imagine the cold lifeless semen coming to life warmed by the heat of Cordelia\u2019s womb.<\/p>\n
Their bodies lay tightly intertwined, still connected. Angel\u2019s hands began to move again as the moist tears on Cordelia\u2019s cheek rubbed and burnt his chest.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy,\u201d Angel had to tell her that everything would be all right. This was forever.<\/p>\n
\u201cShh, Angel,\u201d whispering, her body now rubbing along Angel\u2019s. \u201cJust let me love you.\u201d She leaned up still straddling his body.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t.\u201d Angel grabbed at her hips refusing to let her break the connection of their bodies. He needed it.<\/p>\n
Cordelia sat up further, her hands lightly on his, moving them off her. \u201cI wasn\u2019t planning on it.\u201d Her tears still evident in her hazel eyes but a smile danced on her lips. She brought up his hands kissing each then leaning down taking both to the bed, her lips breezing over his chest, neck and chin, stopping only to take small teasing nicks and bites. Cordelia\u2019s hips moved jerking further into Angel\u2019s groin, her inner muscles claiming his body again.<\/p>\n
Sparks teased along Angel as each touch and squeeze pumped life back into his gloved cock. With a groan, he wrapped his hands in her hair pulling Cordelia\u2019s flushed face to his. His mouth swallowed her as his tongue searched to discover every nook and cranny. Angel expanded his fingers trying to grasp as much skin as they could, pressing and kneading along Cordelia\u2019s spine.<\/p>\n
Cordelia whimpered arching into his touch, her hips moving now in a rhythm, leading Angel in a slow dance. Angel trailed his hands to the small of her back pressing her closer changing the tempo. Cordelia moved faster, her toes clenched on the bed, her calves and knees scratching along Angel\u2019s hips and side she as rose and fell. With each descent, Cordelia plunged further over Angel, taking him fully into her depths. Angel\u2019s slid his hands around her belly, reveling in the gleam of moisture that covered her firm flesh, staying only for moment before ascending to the heavy full mounds swaying with the rhythm of her movements.<\/p>\n
Angel reached up as Cordelia leaned down bringing her breast to his lips.<\/p>\n
Cordelia keened as his tongue swirled and lapped at the hard tip of her nipple, she gasped as her hands trailed up his arms to splay against his hard chest. Angel\u2019s lips moved higher resting on the delicate curve under her chin, he jerked and flipped them both. His thrust became deeper finding more purchase in Cordelia\u2019s hidden depths, groans and growls escaping from the cool lips attached to the warm skin.<\/p>\n
Cordelia tightened her grip as the spiral in her nerves reached their breaking point. Angel moved his finger to her clit, teasing and pushing with each thrust. Waves of heat and pleasure flowed upward taking Cordelia\u2019s nerves beyond their limits. The pleasure stalled and stretched forcing tears to pool in the corner of her eyes. \u201cAngel,\u201d she whimpered waiting for that final touch that would cause everything to fall crashing down to her toes.<\/p>\n
Angel growled giving her what they both needed. His growl became louder forming into a shout of her name as he shuddered collapsing on the soft cushion of Cordelia\u2019s body. Cordelia\u2019s release of breath came out at a strangled cry, her nerves imploding onto themselves. Tears and moist kisses traveled along Angel\u2019s shoulders, chest and neck. Angel jerked to the side, his lips nudging at her until Cordelia raised her head and allowed him to capture her mouth. The kiss was deep, sweet and everything.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, god I need you, so much\u201d Angel choked into her cheek.<\/p>\n
Cordelia lifted the vampire\u2019s head gazing at him with so much love it hurt even more for Angel to see it. \u201cYou\u2019ll be okay, I promise.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour promise is to never leave me, that was your promise.\u201d His choked whisper was coated in anger.<\/p>\n
Cordelia held him, shaking her head at the flash of gold in his eyes. \u201cI love you.\u201d She said softly, curling her body up against his.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was your promise.\u201d Angel whispered again, holding Cordy even tighter. \u201cYou promised.\u201d The anger was gone only leaving naked fear that he might not be able to ever have his dream.<\/p>\n
Cordelia held him closer, saying nothing. There was nothing more to say.<\/p>\n