Part 67<\/b><\/p>\n
Duncan paused a moment outside Angel’s door. The immortal didn’t want to disturb Cordelia if the young woman was sleeping.<\/p>\n
But, he did need to talk to her and now that the vampire was gone, it would probably be the only opportunity to get her alone. His decision was made a he heard Cordelia cry out.<\/p>\n
“Cordy,” Duncan moved quickly to the bed, trying to gently wake her from whatever dream that made her scream.<\/p>\n
Cordelia thrashed on the bed, making small gasping breaths, and tears squeezed out of her closed eyes.<\/p>\n
“Cordy,” Duncan said louder, his touch on her shoulder more firm.<\/p>\n
Cordelia blinked, confused by the presence of the Immortal sitting on the bed.<\/p>\n
“Where’s Angel?”<\/p>\n
“He had an errand. He’ll be back. You’re were dreaming?”<\/p>\n
Cordelia shook her head. “It was nothing.”<\/p>\n
“You screamed.”<\/p>\n
“Oh.\u201d She rubbed her forehead. “Don’t remember it.”<\/p>\n
“I don’t believe you.”<\/p>\n
Cordelia narrowed her eyes. “I’m fine.”<\/p>\n
“Cordy, you aren’t fine. I saw what those visions did to you.”<\/p>\n
Cordelia bit down her annoyance. Duncan was her friend and concerned. But, she didn’t like the way he said the word visions., has if the visions were a bad thing. Duncan knew how much losing them had upset her.<\/p>\n
Moreover, he’d wanted some sort of explanation and she didn’t want to talk to anybody about what happened after the Quickening, not yet. She’d already told Angel.<\/p>\n
She hadn’t even wanted to really tell him, but he deserved to know. They were his visions, his missions that she failed to see. It didn\u2019t’ matter that he hadn’t been there. His need to grieve for Buffy was a far cry from his deliberate cutting himself off from the mission because of his obsession with Darla.<\/p>\n
Angel had left expecting that she would continue with the mission and she had failed him, her family, the victims, everyone. Cordelia didn’t want to talk about it. It hurt too much.<\/p>\n
“Mac, I get that you’re worried, but I am fine. The dream was nothing but a mini replay. No pain, just video. Okay.”<\/p>\n
“Cordy, you’re crying.” Duncan brushed at the telling tears with his thumb.<\/p>\n
Cordelia wiped roughly at her tears and Duncan’s hand. “I’m fine. Really.” Leave me alone, go away, she wanted to shout at the top of her lungs; instead Cordelia took a deep breath. “Duncan, it wasn’t anything I hadn’t felt before only this time with the benefit of being Immortal, I don’t have any lingering pain hangover. It’s gone. I feel great.\u201d<\/p>\n
“Why are you ignoring what happened to you?”<\/p>\n
“Believe me, I’m not ignoring it. The days of ignoring my visions are over, thank god.” Cordelia hugged her knees into her chest, gently rocking back and forth.<\/p>\n
“You shouldn’t even have them, you heard what Methos said- Immortals and the Powers don’t mix. The Powers’ don’t use Immortals.”<\/p>\n
“Duh,” She pointed to her head. “Wrong. The Powers didn’t take the visions away, Gabriel some how did.”<\/p>\n
“Well, they should. You can’t waste your life, keep going through that pain tying yourself to a vampire. Cordy, you’re young you have your whole life to live. Angel can’t enjoy it with you. He’s got this mission. He can’t take you to San Francisco, Paris; he can’t even take you for ice cream during the day. What kind of life is this? You deserve so much more.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel stood in the open door, the truth of what Duncan was saying sliced through his rage at the Immortal’s words. He waited to hear Cordy’s response. Knowing that whatever she wanted, he would do, even if it meant tearing up his own dead heart.<\/p>\n
Cordelia was flabbergasted. Her mouth opening and closing. Finally she blinked. “You act as if I had a decision to make. I don’t, Duncan. This is my life no matter how long it lasts. I\u2019m not leaving LA. I never wanted to leave. The only reason I considered it was because I thought Gabriel was Angel’s seer and that he wouldn’t need me anymore. But he does…”<\/p>\n
“Because of the visions.”<\/p>\n
Cordelia shook her head vehemently. “I used to believe that but the visions are just after market extras.”<\/p>\n
“A car? You\u2019re comparing yourself to a car?”<\/p>\n
“A nice one of course, Pleeaase.\u201d She rolled her eyes.<\/p>\n
Angel relaxed a bit as he continued to listen.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy, I can take you away from all this.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAh,\u201d Cordelia coughed. \u201cIf I wanted to leave, I could do it myself. Geez. I don\u2019t want to leave, I can\u2019t. This is where I belong.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDuncan, you don\u2019t seem to understand. The visions are a part of me, they are needed for Angel\u2019s mission, but even if I didn\u2019t have them, I would stay. Angel needs me, I need him, I love him, and he loves me. I\u2019m not going anywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a vampire.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd\u2026yeah\u2026so what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo what? Cordy,\u201d Duncan asked in shock.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, right, the no sun, the dead thing, well, so what. That creepiness got comforting a long time ago. I love him. He\u2019s got his issues sure, won\u2019t dance, miser from Dickens, bad jokes, moody, goes from stuttering to growling in an blink of an eye, clueless on so many things, still lame on pop culture after the disco era, can I just say eww to that\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel cleared his throat drawing attention to his presence. He heard enough, in fact he heard way too much.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel,\u201d Cordy shot up. \u201cWhere\u2019d you go?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI had an errand to do. Why are you awake? I left you asleep.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI had a dream.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA nightmare,\u201d Duncan corrected, glaring at the vampire. \u201cA nightmare of your visions, of your life here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia blew out a breath of air. \u201cIt was nothing, I told you\u2026just\u2026just go now. I\u2019m fine.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMacLeod, you heard Cordy, go.\u201d Angel stood at the door, pushing back his need to throw the Immortal around the room a few times before he kicked him down the stairs, maybe through a window or two.<\/p>\n
Duncan looked once more at Cordelia.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am tired. I\u2019ll talk to you later. Bye. And thank you for your concern.\u201d She smiled.<\/p>\n
Duncan nodded and went towards the door. \u201cI want a minute of your time.\u201d He said lowly to the vampire.<\/p>\n
Angel nodded and followed the Immortal out of the bedroom, shutting the door behind. \u201cSomething on your mind?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThese visions, she can\u2019t have them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe does.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe shouldn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t disagree but she does and she wants them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor you. God, how selfish are you? I saw what they do to her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou saw once that makes you an expert. I have been with her since she first received them. I watched her accept them and the pain. I watched her grow to embrace the mission with more heart than anyone in this whole hotel. I saw what they meant to her, just like I saw what they did to her. Regardless, she doesn\u2019t want to give them up and they won\u2019t just go away. Believe me, if they could, I would\u2019ve made it happen long before now. But they won\u2019t. \u201c<\/p>\n
\u201cYou could just leave her or tell her to leave, if she doesn\u2019t have a champion, there is no need for her to be a seer to one.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI left one woman that I had loved because it was the \u2018best\u2019 for her. She died without me being there; she was a champion, a woman full of life, and a responsibility that would bury most. She died saving the world. I wasn\u2019t there. But, that was okay, because I did make the right decision, here-now, it wouldn\u2019t be. I won\u2019t leave Cordy, I won\u2019t let her go.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re selfish.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel narrowed his gaze at the Immortal\u2019s response. He had been as honest with the man as he could. Buffy\u2019s death was still a heartache he would have to live with. But, he had explained that Cordelia was different that he couldn\u2019t, wouldn\u2019t give her up, especially not when the woman fully accepted him and didn\u2019t want to go.<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s voice got cold. \u201cI\u2019m a vampire, selfishness is in my nature. Try to get Cordy to leave again- I will kill you. But maybe you should listen to her answer. She loves me and I love her. Evil has yet to separate us, a good intention friend, well, good luck.\u201d Angel shook his head and entered the bedroom.<\/p>\n
Duncan wanted to grab his sword and go after the vampire but the voices that reached him before the wooden door shut him out made him stay still.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, are you going to tell me where you\u2019ve been or do I have to use all my energy pouting, pleading, browbeating, and guilting you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSeducing might work.\u201d<\/p>\n
Duncan cringed before the locked door, still listening.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, you want to pillow fight? Okay.\u201d Angel\u2019s voice was light’ so different from the threat in the hallway.<\/p>\n
\u201cJerk,\u201d<\/p>\n
Duncan left at the sound of Cordelia\u2019s laughter.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
\u201cDuncan isn\u2019t going to get her to try to leave again is he?\u2019 Fred asked the Immortal sitting next to her on the couch.<\/p>\n
\u201cProbably.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe shouldn\u2019t do that. Cordy belongs here. She and Angel love each other.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you think she\u2019ll go?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo way.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen there is nothing to worry about,\u201d Methos\u2019 finger ran over the wrinkles Fred\u2019s frown made.<\/p>\n
Fred gulped at the tender, teasing gesture. \u201cUm\u2026well\u2026it won\u2019t make. Angel will be mad.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re all grown ups and Mac, while past behavior might dispute, is a very honorable good person with common sense. He\u2019ll back off when he\u2019s satisfied that Cordy will be safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel will always keep her safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Methos shrugged and peered into the young woman\u2019s eyes. \u201cWinifred Burkle, would you care to join me for a late dinner tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSure, I\u2019ll go get\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was asking you.\u201d Methos grabbed at the woman who jumped.<\/p>\n
\u201cMe? Alone?\u201d Fred squeaked.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, you and not Caritas.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA REAL restaurant? I can\u2019t. I have to\u2026\u201d she looked at her jeans and blouse. \u201cCordy\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou look very pretty and we\u2019ll go casual. Come on, you can tell me the dynamics of your lethal toaster.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou really want to know?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m five thousand years old, I wouldn\u2019t asked if I didn\u2019t want your company or learn the secrets of the deadly appliance.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh.\u201d Fred blinked. \u201cA real restaurant?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow about that Mexican joint that I\u2019ve seen you longingly gaze at through the window, just down the block.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fred\u2019s eyes widened. \u201cThey\u2019re menu boasts of the best white sauce in LA.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShall we test them?\u201d<\/p>\n
Fred debated white sauce, salsa, tacos, and burritos against major aloneness with handsome man nervousness. \u201cOkay.\u201d She nodded firmly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI lost to the food, didn\u2019t I?\u201d Methos chuckled as he led the woman out.<\/p>\n
\u201cUh?\u201d<\/p>\n
Part 68<\/b><\/p>\n
Angel was on the bed before Cordelia could throw the pillow that was in her hands. He grabbed at it and threw it to the floor.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot fair.\u201d Cordelia pouted.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy bed, my rules.\u201d Angel sat up smugly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI could just leave.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNope, not possible,\u201d Angel pulled the playfully slapping woman underneath him.<\/p>\n
\u201cBully.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel leaned up, pushing back the tangle of hair that had resulted from their brief pillow fight. \u201cI will let you go if you want to leave.\u201d He said seriously.<\/p>\n
Cordelia scrunched her face and slid up under his body to sit up. \u201cDo you want me to?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not the question, I heard Duncan, and he was right in a lot of things. You\u2019re Immortal now, you could do anything you wanted, Paris, San Francisco, where ever.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe visions?\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel twirled a strand of the brown silk in his fingers. \u201cYou aren\u2019t bound to my redemption, you got the visions from Doyle, now you are Immortal, if you leave and if what Methos\u2019 says is true the Powers won\u2019t expect you to stay my seer.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe won\u2019t ever really know and that\u2019s not what\u2019s important right now. I want you to stay, I want you right here in my bed, beside me forever, with or without the visions -preferably without. But, Cordelia what do you want? Is it just the visions?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought you said you with your vampy creepy hearing heard.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want you to stay if you don\u2019t want to, I especially don\u2019t want you to if it’s out of a misguided sense of duty to me. I won\u2019t hold you to your promise, I will understand if you leave. You\u2019ve fulfilled that first promise more ways than what was even hoped for. You\u2019ve always been there for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was pretty lame ass.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, this is your lame ass attempt to let me leave for my own good. Angel, it would work better if you\u2019d stopped touching me as you remind me why I should go.\u201d She looked down at the strong hands caressing her hip and her breast.<\/p>\n
Angel jerked pulling up his hands. Shit, he hadn\u2019t even realized.<\/p>\n
Cordelia laughed, pushing the hands back to their original positions. \u201cI\u2019m not so tired and I\u2019m not leaving you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy,\u201d Angel sat up his hands leaving her at her laughing tone.<\/p>\n
\u201cSense of humor, Angel. Geez, will you ever maintain one? Get these flashes than poof, gone.\u201d She scrunched up her face, relenting at the puzzled expression on Angel\u2019s face.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love you. YOU. Vampire, champion, dork, silly, brave, strong, stupid, idiot\u2026.\u201d Cordelia was forced to stop as Angel\u2019s hand covered her mouth.<\/p>\n
\u201cNevermind.\u201d Angel swept in capturing Cordelia\u2019s lips. Cordy sighed into the embrace, moving her mouth in contrast with Angel\u2019s taking on his tongue in a magical duel.<\/p>\n
Thrust, parry, swirl, and turn. Cordelia\u2019s body melted more into Angel\u2019s as their lips fought, comforted, teased, and pleasured.<\/p>\n
Cordy jerked up. \u201cOff.\u201d She pushed at the vampire that was nuzzling her neck.<\/p>\n
\u201cUh?\u2019 Angel was sure that everything was going very well, very very well.<\/p>\n
Cordelia leaned into the vampire, staring into his confused desire filled eyes. \u201cYou believe in promises, vows.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah,\u201d Angel answered tentatively.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I vowed that I would touch, taste, own you like you did to me, so on your back vampire.\u201d Cordelia pulled and pushed the stunned vampire against the bed.<\/p>\n
\u201cCor\u201d Angel begged as she teased down his thighs, separating them fitting her kneeling body in between his bent knees.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat, this was only your trick.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re playing with a man\u2019s patience. We don\u2019t have any, we\u2019re pathetic that way,\u201d Angel tried to sit up.<\/p>\n
Cordy laid a gentle but firm hand on the vampire\u2019s chest. \u201cSuffer.\u201d Her lips mumbled as her head deftly dove, nuzzling, kissing, nipping, tonguing the cool skin under Angel\u2019s chin and down his throat and further.<\/p>\n
Cordelia slapped and flicked at Angel\u2019s hips as they jumped when her tongue and teeth wet and grazed along his chest, resting teasingly on his nipples.<\/p>\n
Cordelia giggled and leaned her chin on his stomach. \u201cI think I finally realize why guys like nipples so much, they\u2019re fun, watch.\u201d She licked and teased at the hard bud. Angel\u2019s hips jerked again.<\/p>\n
Angel brought his hands to her shoulders, his voice rough and raspy. \u201cI don\u2019t need to watch, I\u2019m a guy, dead, but I know.\u201d Angel caught the growl in his throat. His hips were jumping off the bed.<\/p>\n
Cordelia rode the movement and clapped down with her thighs when Angel\u2019s hips hit the bed. Her head dove back into Angel\u2019s chest, licking down, reaching the trail of dark hair leading the way. Cordelia giggled as she nuzzled and her hand met her mouth meeting at the swollen sacks hiding behind the erect organ.<\/p>\n
\u201cDamn you.\u201d Angel groaned, grabbing for Cordelia\u2019s thick hair. Cordy licked her lips and peeked up. \u201cYou\u2019ve got a problem?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBig one, beautiful one, teasing one, evil one,\u201d he moved jerking pulling Cordelia up and under him diving into the warmth that was waiting.<\/p>\n
Cordelia clenched her eyes closed. She thrust up as Angel pushed down.<\/p>\n
Angel stopped for a second. \u201cGod.\u201d He whispered as the heat that encased him made him feel alive.<\/p>\n
\u201cHmmph.\u201d Cordy caressed gently on his jaw contradictory to her scowl.<\/p>\n
Angel looked down. \u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was my turn.\u201d She pouted. \u201cI was going to make you squirm at the pleasure.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cChrist, Cordy, you won that battle a long time ago.\u201d Angel groaned the truest admission in his life as he thrust.<\/p>\n
Cordelia had barely a minute to think about it, before the tingling started in her toes and move upward just as quickly. She did complete one thought. Win, or lose, Cordelia would get her turn it was only fair. That thought and any other was lost in the movements and the feelings that were flowing through her body.<\/p>\n
God. It was happening again, it wasn\u2019t an apparition; her nerves were straining against her skin. Cordelia held on to the strong body. Lord. The feelings that Angel was causing had to be forever, otherwise life was really not fair.<\/p>\n
Part 69<\/b><\/p>\n
Gunn came out of the bathroom, still vigorously wiping a paper towel over his hands. \u201cHey, where\u2019s Methos going with Fred?\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley stood staring at the retreating couple a frown settled on his brow. \u201cDinner.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHold on, I\u2019m hungry why\u2019d didn\u2019t they wait.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe weren\u2019t invited.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy not. We gotta eat too.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it was a date.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gunn stood stunned. \u201cFred doesn\u2019t date. She barely leaves the hotel.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley turned his frown to the other man. \u201cYou know she\u2019s gotten a lot more confident over the last few months.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut, a date? I would\u2019ve taken her to dinner if she wanted to go out.\u201d Gunn grumbled.<\/p>\n
Wesley shook his head, not sure why the idea of Fred going out with Methos bothered him. Wesley studied his friend. Gunn didn\u2019t seem to like the idea either. Wesley\u2019s brow cleared as the logical conclusion came to mind.<\/p>\n
Obviously, both he and Gunn had become protective over the young woman. It really hadn\u2019t been that long since she returned unsettled and timid from Pylea.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou said you were hungry.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFeel like Mexican.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gunn raised his brows considering Wesley\u2019s question. \u201cWhere did they go?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLa Tacta\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gunn nodded. \u201cHey man, it\u2019s a free world, we\u2019re hungry and in need some of their white sauce. I\u2019m with ya.\u201d<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
The lobby was empty. Duncan would\u2019ve liked to seen Methos and tell him it was time to pack their bags. Cordelia wasn\u2019t going anywhere. Angel\u2019s threat hadn\u2019t convinced Duncan to stop trying to get Cordelia to leave. It was the woman herself. She really did love the vampire and was dedicated to him and his mission.<\/p>\n
He needed a drink.<\/p>\n