Part 5<\/b><\/p>\n
DAY 3 \u2013 A Lesson in Touch<\/i><\/p>\n
Having been awake all night, Angel was fully bathed and dressed by the time Cordelia awakened. This morning\u2019s cramps were much worse, her lower abdomen was aching from infrequent, yet persistent, sharp stabs of pain. She attempted to get out of bed, but got dizzy and crumpled back onto the bed.<\/p>\n
Angel was at her side in an instant, \u201cWhat is it, what\u2019s wrong?\u201d She could practically feel the panic radiating of him in waves.<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing for you to be concerned about, it\u2019s just\u2026nothing\u2026.don\u2019t worry about it. I\u2019ll be okay.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong Cordelia\u201d It wasn\u2019t a question, it was a demand.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not like you can\u2019t tell, with your creepy vampire sense of smell and all. It\u2019s a female thing.\u201d Recognizing she was referring to the fact the pain was caused by her ovulating, he calmed down. \u201cNow that I\u2019m completely embarrassed, do you think you can leave me alone for a bit?\u201d<\/p>\n
Feeling like he pried into her personal business, he obeyed without complaining. Not wanting to be out of reach incase anything happened to her, he stood outside the room silently and listened from behind the closed door, making sure her breathing continued its steady rhythm.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
After taking four Midol, Cordelia was finally beginning to feel better. The pain had lessened to a tolerable, dull tenderness, which a long, hot bath alleviated to almost nothing. Now able to walk without hunching over in agony, she picked out her attire for the day. Choosing to wear a pair of coffee colored capri pants and an ivory halter top, with her comfy beach sandals, she began dressing in front of the mirror.<\/p>\n
Spotting a large red mark on her left arm, she frowned grumpily. Darn mosquitoes must have bitten me sometime during the night, well at least its dead now\u2026.Wait, is it bees that die after stinging?\u2026whatever\u2026I should just be grateful they aren\u2019t bothering me anymore.<\/p>\n
She finished dressing and then strode out the room cheerfully, never even noticing her stealthy vampiric friend hiding around the corner watching her leave.<\/p>\n
Angel followed her discreetly down to the main lobby, were she was met by the other couples. He snuck in unnoticed, acting as if he had been there all along. Cordelia made a direct line over to where Angel stood, trying as best she could to avoid Kara\u2019s gaze, so that she wouldn\u2019t have to make small talk with her.<\/p>\n
Smiling amiably at her, he asked, \u201cFeeling better?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, thanks for letting me be, it was just what the doctor ordered.\u201d She smiled back.<\/p>\n
Entering the room in their usual offensive display of affection, Mavie and Daven strolled in. Hands all over the other\u2019s body without any concern over who was in the room with them, after a few minutes of flaunting their fondness for each other, they finally acknowledged the group.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood morning all. Cordelia and Angel, I hope you two remembered to do your exercises last night. Since you ran out during dessert, you didn\u2019t get the chance to complete them with us.\u201d Mavie looked distrustfully over to them.<\/p>\n
Angel just nodded blankly, hoping they would just let it go. \u201cWere you able to remember them all?\u201d Again he nodded. Darn them and their prodding. Thankfully, she accepted his answer without any additional inquiries.<\/p>\n
Daven studied the group, \u201cWe are in our third day, and I can see improvement in most of you.\u201d His gaze fell on the Dellevues, \u201cYou two have improved drastically, we can see that you are enjoying more embracing and cuddling, you still need to work on the emotional connection. Attacking one another with constant verbal abuse is very damaging in a relationship. Try paying attention while your partner is talking, instead of cutting in offensively.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mavie moved on to the Finleys, \u201cYou two are doing well, we can see you are trying to move past your shyness and try new things. Did you go out dancing last night?\u201d Leoni bobbed her head bashfully. \u201cDid you make an attempt to dance closely and possibly even kiss one another in public?\u201d Greg grinned and nodded. \u201cObviously your night went well then.\u201d<\/p>\n
She went on to address the Beckers, \u201cDid you two try skinny dipping last night?\u201d<\/p>\n
Kara\u2019s face lit up, now was her opportunity to chatter and she was ready to take it. Noticing the excitement in her face, Daven cut her off before she had the chance to start yammering, \u201cThe blissful glow on your face divulges everything, my dear. I can see you had a wonderful night.\u201d He turned to face Angel and Cordy, \u201cWe didn\u2019t have a chance to give you homework because of your sudden departure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel didn\u2019t want to give any indication that Cordelia had been sick. Knowing that it would only cause them to ask more questions, and because he didn\u2019t officially know yet if Mavie or Daven were even involved in whatever happened to Mary, he wasn\u2019t about to reveal any details on their night. \u201cI had a headache, so I went to bed early. I think Cordelia stayed up reading.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daven frowned, \u201cThat\u2019s no way to treat your wife. A headache can be cured with some Tylenol and a little love!\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia held back the urge to toss her cookies; she couldn\u2019t take anymore of Daven and Mavie\u2019s ridiculous therapy. \u201cWhat he needed was sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, dear girl, what you two need is more physical contact. We would like you to hold hands, hug, and kiss more. Touch is an essential element of romance.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel saw where this was headed and tried to nip it in the bud, \u201cWe get your drift, Daven. We will try to connect more on the physical level by showering each other with much more affection.\u201d Geez, he almost rolled his eyes at his own comment.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood!\u201d Mavie exclaimed. \u201cGive each other a kiss.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d Cordelia asked, thinking maybe she heard wrong.<\/p>\n
\u201cA KISS, you know, give your husband a kiss.\u201d<\/p>\n
Oh this just gets better and better. I\u2019m gonna kill Angel. He drags me into this. Won\u2019t let me go home, and now he doesn\u2019t even say anything when they try to force us to kiss in front of everyone?<\/p>\n
She placed a quick peck on his mouth, moving away brusquely as if his lips seared her. \u201cNot like that.\u201d Daven said with a hint of annoyance. \u201cI don\u2019t understand why you paid good money for this retreat, if you are not interested in learning from it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia felt like screaming. Inflamed beyond all reason, she decided she had enough. She was tired of these stupid people, annoyed with her dumb best friend, and not even feeling well on her only vacation in years. They all were making her out to be the uncooperative one. Well dammit, she was going to cooperate\u2026and then some.<\/p>\n
Marching purposefully back over to Angel, her gaze held determination as her tongue brushed across her bottom lip. Angel swallowed down hard, as he instinctively darted out his tongue and wet his lips in anticipation. Pulling him violently against her body, she crushed her mouth onto his. His lips parted automatically, allowing her to enter effortlessly. Her warm wet tongue colliding with his cool smooth one, sparking a surge of passion between them, like a warm front meeting a cold front, a storm had begun and nothing could stop its downpour.<\/p>\n
Effortlessly he lifted her from the ground, pushing her back up against the wall, and trapping her there as his hard chest crushed into her soft breasts. The energy from his kiss invaded her body and soul, only to rush back to him in an explosion of raw emotion.<\/p>\n
Devouring the spicy-sweet flavor that was as unique as the woman herself, Angel lost all semblance of rational thought. Wanting more of her exotically alluring essence, he wildly gripped her arms holding her still. His mouth hungry, wanting to taste all of her, fervently he thrust his tongue into her mouth and sampled every inch of her warmth.<\/p>\n
Returning his kiss with equal intensity, Cordelia wrapped her hands around his shoulders as she deepened the kiss. Her fingers curled around, gripping him tightly, her nails reflexively sinking past the thin knit material and into his skin, her tongue dancing a provocative tango around his cool velvet one.<\/p>\n
Stimulated further by her response, Angel moaned into her mouth. Releasing his grip on her arms, Cordelia slid back down taking pleasure in the feel of his body rubbing against hers as she moved, until her feet were back on the ground, their lips never breaking contact. He allowed his hands to roam her bare back, tracing invisible patterns up the trail of her spine. Finally reaching her neck, he cupped his hands over her ears as his thumbs caressed the soft skin of her face.<\/p>\n
Coming back to her senses, and realizing what was happing, Cordelia abruptly pushed Angel away from her body. His face clouded by a haze of passion, his eyes staring at her questioningly, until awareness took over and he backed away. Dismissing the fiery passion she had just experienced, to her recently uncontrollable libido.<\/p>\n
Both simultaneously became attentive to their surroundings, taking in the dumbfounded group of people around them. Looking flushed and aroused, like if they had just been watching an X-rated movie, the group stared at them tenaciously.<\/p>\n
Mavie broke the stunned silence with her annoyingly bright tone, \u201cWell, that was\u2026.good.\u201d Her hand fanning her blushing face fanatically, \u201cLet\u2019s move on to today\u2019s activity, shall we?\u201d<\/p>\n
Well, not exactly my intention, but I think I made my point. Intimacy rating a one, my ass! Cordelia was satisfied with her performance. Now none of them can say I am the one holding our pseudo relationship back.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
After a brief lecture on erotic touching, Daven had taken each couple to a private room. Cordelia and Angel were now in a practically empty room, save for a massage table and a handful of oils spread out on the ground beside it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI bet they want us to give each other messages,\u201d Angel stated as matter-of-factly as he could manage, given that his hands tingled in anticipation of touching Cordelia. Although, his mind wasn\u2019t ready to admit he was attracted to her, his traitorous body had long since confessed.<\/p>\n
Cordelia glowered at him. \u201cWhat gave it away Einstein? The erotic touch lecture\u2026.or the massage table?\u201d Rolling her eyes, she walked away from him and began opening the different oils and smelling each one, every once in a while finding a fragrance she liked and sighing a muted \u2018mmmm\u2019 of approval.<\/p>\n
A few minutes went by before Mavie entered the room, holding a couple of towels. \u201cI\u2019m sure you\u2019ve both guessed our exercise today will be an erotic massage.\u201d She handed the towels to Angel. \u201cBecause we don\u2019t want you to get TOO intimate just yet, make sure you cover any private areas, and focus on the rest of the body.\u201d She went to leave the room, stopping just before the door, \u201cThis is about pleasuring each other, learning what your partner likes.\u201d With that last comment she was out the door, leaving Angel and Cordy alone again.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, this is going to be a long few hours.\u201d Angel said looking at his watch. \u201cI guess we just sit around and talk, until they come back for us. I don\u2019t want to leave the room and get caught\u2014they might just make us do some other activity in front of everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordy got up, clutching a bottle of French Vanilla oil in one hand; she walked over to Angel and snatched a towel from his hand. \u201cOh, you\u2019re gonna give me a massage. The way I see it, you owe me one,\u201d she threatened.<\/p>\n
\u201cOwe you? For what?\u201d Knowing this was a losing battle, he added for good measure, \u201cI thought I paid my debt, by buying clothes for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPfft. Do you honestly think we\u2019re even? Just in case you ever think that we are even again, let me just say one word: VISIONS. Now, turn around.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel wasn\u2019t about to argue with her, the thought of her soft skin beneath his hands had him holding his tongue. Never one to look a gift horse in the mouth, he turned his back so Cordelia could prepare.<\/p>\n
Pulling off her capris, Cordelia sat on the massage table, positioning herself face down and placing the towel over her bottom. She untied the back of her halter top, leaving her back exposed. \u201cOkay, ready.\u201d<\/p>\n
Turning around, he trembled slightly upon seeing her uncovered sun-kissed skin. Edging towards her, Angel\u2019s eyes voraciously ate up the delectable form that lay in front of him. His fingers tingled, craving the feel of her body and the soft surface of her pliant skin.<\/p>\n
Hesitating for mere seconds, Angel hovered his hands within millimeters of her warmth. With the most tender of motions, he brushed his fingers lightly over the cascading tresses camouflaging the column of her spine, noting her shuddering response. Stopping his descent, one large palm resting over the silky locks covering the small of her back, his eyes continued the downward journey. It fell upon the white cotton material hiding part of her beautiful body from his view and lingered admiringly on the sexy curve of her bottom.<\/p>\n
\u201cAh-hem, Angel,\u201d Cordelia protested, \u201cmy massage?\u201d<\/p>\n
Like a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar, Angel guiltily yanked his eyes away from her lower body. With great care, his hands gently swept the silky locks to the left side of her head and then settled on her shoulders.<\/p>\n
Her body quivered in response to the chill of his cold hands on her flesh, prompting Angel to lift his hands away hastily, \u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh no! You\u2019re not getting away from giving me a massage, broody boy. Rub your hands together, like Mr. Miyagi.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLike who?\u201d<\/p>\n
Turning her head to face Angel, she answered, \u201cKarate Kid,\u201d perplexed brown eyes stared blankly back at her, \u201cyou know, wax on, wax off?\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel maintained his clueless response which exasperated Cordelia, \u201cNevermind, just do it!\u201d<\/p>\n
Adding a few drops of French Vanilla oil, he clasped his hands together and started rubbing vigorously until the friction warmed them a little. Returning them to her shoulders, he began a slow delicate caress. With measured, deliberate circles he stroked the tense muscles of her slender neck and shoulders, eliciting little mewls of pleasure as his fingertips worked their magic. Pressure points releasing hot tingles as he kneaded his way down to her shoulder blades.<\/p>\n
Her whole body hummed with pleasure as Angel\u2019s calloused hands slid over the smooth surface of her back, the natural scent of vanilla heightening her senses as he continued the delicious journey over her body. Never in her life had she experienced such an incredible feeling. His touch remained firm, yet gentle while massaging, fingers pressing down, sliding, circling. Taking his time, Angel meticulously worked every little spot before progressing on, soothing and alleviating all the tension in her body.<\/p>\n
Weighty palms molded the overwrought muscles in her back, now moving in long even motions along her spine, each slow stroke taking him outward. Mesmerized by her smooth, luscious skin, now glistening from the vanilla oil, he suddenly needed more; he yearned to touch every part of her. His fingers curled around her sides, accidentally brushing against the plump outer flesh of her breasts. At least he told himself it wasn\u2019t intentional. Until his gaze focused where he\u2019d touched and the urge to experience more warred with his conscience.<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s resolve weakened under the sensation of her warm, voluptuous curves. Each slide of his eager hands along her heated skin brought his fingers within millimeters of those tempting mounds. Then he skimmed forward until his palms cupped both breasts nearly curling underneath before slipping away to less intimate territory.<\/p>\n
Mind spinning, Cordelia\u2019s heartbeat accelerated at his touch on her breasts. Fire burned in her womb, a rush of arousal dampening her panties. Dizzy with passion, she sighed a deep sultry sound.<\/p>\n
Bodily restraint escaped him upon hearing the fast thump of her heart and sensing her excitement. Angel\u2019s fingers skimmed down the outline of her body down to the towel over her bottom, pushing it along with her deep plum panties until he could see cleft of her backside. His chest rumbled as he suppressed a primal growl, yet he allowed his hands to fall onto the curvy flesh exposed to his view filling his palms and spreading his fingers wide.<\/p>\n
Gasping in thirsty swallows, Cordelia savored his cool caresses, his hands sensually rubbing and fondling her receptive form, her shameless body inviting his touch.<\/p>\n
He shifted his stance, repositioning so the aching bulge in his pants was no longer smashed against the hard massage table. Trying not to linger along her hips where instinct urged him to take hold, Angel ran his hands down to her calves and feet, but they kept wandering upward circling and kneading the supple muscles of her thighs. Knee to hip along their silken length, up and down, until his motions circled inward.<\/p>\n
Moving his right hand to her inner leg, Angel lightly swept it upward pausing near the apex of her thighs. His fingers begged to touch her intimately while massaging the sensitive skin of her leg.<\/p>\n
Groaning in response to the sensation of his hand hugging her thigh, Cordelia\u2019s legs spread slightly at his touch. A lust induced haze clouding her judgment, as her body beckoned his fingers to explore.<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s fingers inched up gradually, until they reached the damp material. He stroked his thumb gently across the silk triangle that shielded her sex, eliciting a heady moan from both himself and Cordelia.<\/p>\n
Abruptly aware of his lack of control, Angel reluctantly moved his hand, but that did nothing to change the fact that he\u2019d touched her, that he wanted more and his body was agonizingly hard with desire. He felt an intense need to continue, a yearning for more of her\u2014his best friend.<\/p>\n
My best friend<\/i>.<\/p>\n
His indecent desire had almost won complete control over his prudence, a few more minutes of recklessness and he would have taken advantage of hisbest friend<\/i>. She had given him, her complete and utter trust and he had very nearly let her down. Coming to this realization eclipsed all the arousal in his body. Turning away from the alluring temptation of her wanton body, he faced the bare wall behind them.<\/p>\n
Disgusted with his previous lack of self-control, he choked out, \u201cI\u2019m done, you can get dressed now.\u201d<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Cordelia finished getting dressed; as Angel waited patiently with his back turned. My my, the vampire certainly had the gift of touch. Good thing he stopped, because she would have willingly done more, only to regret it later. Blushing a little, she thought about how he had touched her, and how willing she had been. She couldn\u2019t even think straight. Her body was singing with pleasure. Every muscle was relaxed, her skin humming with delight. It was heaven.<\/p>\n
It was hell. He had spent the whole hour painfully hard with arousal. Her silky smooth skin beguiled his hands to uncover other, more erotic, areas, and he had almost given in. Cordy would have never forgiven him and he would have lost the one person he cared for the most. It was pure torture; spending a hundred years in hell had nothing on this.<\/p>\n
Both were so caught up in their own struggle to appear composed that neither noticed each other\u2019s reaction. Cordelia desperately attempted to recuperate from her body\u2019s response to Angel\u2019s touch. Steadying herself, she walked to the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, aren\u2019t you going to return the favor?\u201d Angel joked mischievously, knowing full well he couldn\u2019t even indulge in such an activity without losing all his willpower.<\/p>\n
\u201cFavor? You owed me. I don\u2019t owe you anything,\u201d she said smiling brightly. The truth of the matter was, she didn\u2019t trust herself to be alone with an almost naked Angel without jumping him!<\/p>\n
Grateful for her teasing response to his thoughtless request, he smiled at her sheepishly. If she were to give him a massage, with how wound up his body was for her, she would end up naked and beneath him in a heartbeat.<\/p>\n
They both silently walked out the door and proceeded to the main hall.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Angel was nowhere to be found throughout lunch and Cordelia was been happy for the alone time. She was seriously becoming aroused anytime the attractive vampire was around, and she was worn out from trying to conceal her reaction from him. She needed time to reassess her feelings for her best friend. Instead, she ended up sharing her lunchtime with the Beckers, who just clung to her like leaches, without giving her a moment\u2019s peace.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Wesley had finally acquired more information on the case. He called Angel during lunchtime to pass on his new found knowledge.<\/p>\n
Proudly he explained to Angel, how he had contacted the hospital where Mary had delivered her baby and professed to be an LA doctor who had heard about her case. Fortunately, he had talked to someone who had willingly told him the deceased fetus was still being analyzed, given that it was so abnormal.<\/p>\n
Awkwardly he confessed that was all the information he had been able to obtain, Wesley still hadn\u2019t determined what composed the substance taken from Cordelia\u2019s wineglass.<\/p>\n
Angel also requested that he contact a few of the guests, the vampire\u2019s resourceful photographic mind had memorized from the Deliciae database. Wesley hung up after making a promise to call Angel by evening time, with more information.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Angel had spent lunchtime in the suite, drinking his lunch alone. After his phone conversation with Wesley, he had grudgingly turned his contemplation away from the beautiful brunette, to immerse himself into the details of the case.<\/p>\n
His first thoughts had been that the baby was demonic, but then he reconsidered. Mavie and Daven were human, and he hadn\u2019t been able to sense a single demon among the staff at the resort. He felt like he was holding the pieces of the puzzle, but they just weren\u2019t fitting together properly.<\/p>\n
Frustrated with the case, he ended up turning his attention back to his feelings on Cordelia. When, exactly, had his thoughts turned from brooding about Buffy, to longing for his best friend? He recognized that Cordelia had given him something Buffy had never given him\u2014full acceptance. He knew so prior to the retreat, yet he had not been reacting to her like this before.<\/p>\n
All these darn exercises had unlocked the truth that was confined in his heart: he couldn\u2019t live without Cordy. Sometime between the time he had hired her and the present, he had become dependant on her. He needed her life-force. She was like the sun in his world of darkness\u2014 the sun he was condemned to never see again, and now, he craved her light.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
After lunch the group had reconvened for yet another lesson, this time on sexual intercourse and technique. Angel arrived late once again, avoiding looking at Cordy, he went straight to a chair to sit down.<\/p>\n
What was wrong with him? He hadn\u2019t even looked at her. Maybe she had angered him by refusing to giving him a massage\u2026if he was angry about that, then she\u2019d just let him be, because that was just plain silly! She spent most of the lecture lost in her own thoughts.<\/p>\n
When class was over, Angel looked briefly at Cordelia, \u201cI\u2019m gonna go investigate a few things.\u201d<\/p>\n
Looking a bit irritated, Cordelia answered, \u201cGod Angel, you\u2019re such a baby. Fine, I\u2019ll give you a massage, if you want one soooo badly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA what?\u201d Angel was thoroughly confused. \u201cMassage? Cordy, what are you talking about?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou didn\u2019t even look at me once during lecture. You\u2019ve spent the whole class brooding about me not giving you a stupid massage, don\u2019t think I haven\u2019t noticed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Well she was right on one thing, he had spent the entire lecture thinking about her, \u201cI\u2019m sorry, I didn\u2019t realize I had to watch you<\/i> during lecture\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia mouth opened, ready with a come back to his sarcasm, but Angel continued before she had the chance, \u201cI don\u2019t want a massage. I really do need to check some stuff out. Wes called with some more information, and I wanted to do some recon. See if I can\u2019t find a demon or two.\u201d He smiled tenderly at her, \u201cYou can give me a massage later if you really want to.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPfft. As if!\u201d Contrarily, she smiled back.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
The evening came quickly, and Angel\u2019s search was unsuccessful. He had not detected anything out of the ordinary. With any luck, Wesley would get back to him soon regarding the substance in the wine. He went back to the room, remembering he had spent the previous night worrying about Cordelia\u2019s health, and he had forgotten to check it out thoroughly.<\/p>\n
The lights were turned off, but he sensed Cordelia\u2019s heartbeat. Searching the room he caught sight of her on the balcony, sitting on a lounge chair staring at the full moon shining in the sky. Leaving her to her musings, he searched quietly. No cameras and the room wasn\u2019t tapped with any listening or surveillance devices. Good.<\/p>\n
He sat down inside and watched Cordelia out on the balcony. Beautiful and elegant. Just watching her\u2014even from a distance, warmed his cold, lifeless heart. Should he tell her he was developing feelings for her? He wasn\u2019t sure she would reciprocate them, and he didn\u2019t think he could handle her rejection. He would have to go on like normal, didn\u2019t want to lose her friendship by scaring her away with his feelings.<\/p>\n
Staring at the moon, Cordelia wondered what it would be like to share this experience with someone she loved. It really was romantic–the beach, the sky, everything. She even was willing to admit that the past few days had awakened a sexual desire in her that she had never really experienced before now. Angel was a hottie, and she could understand her body\u2019s reaction to him, but the ramifications of a relationship with him kept her at bay. She would continue to control any \u2018urges\u2019 she might have. After all, they only had another 36 hours to go. She could manage–she HAD to manage. She wouldn\u2019t let this incredibly romantic circumstance create false emotions.<\/p>\n
Reentering the dark room from outside the balcony, Cordelia failed to notice Angel\u2019s explosion of vampiric speed as he made a mad dash out of the room. Turning on the lights, she put on her shoes and prepared herself for dinner.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Angel and Cordelia sat quietly at the dinner table, as the rest of the group chattered on.<\/p>\n
Cordelia wasn\u2019t in the mood for small talk, she wanted nothing more than to resolve this case and be on her way home. Back to familiar surroundings where she didn\u2019t have to talk to anyone, except for phantom Dennis.<\/p>\n
Angel was mulling over the case. Wesley had yet to call him regarding the results of the tests that would tell him what was in the wine. He was also optimistic that Wesley had the chance to contact many of the previous guests from the list Angel had given him.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel?\u201d Mavie asked eagerly.<\/p>\n
Yanked from his thoughts, he looked at Mavie, \u201cHuh?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was asking if you two were planning on having children anytime soon?\u201d A warning bell rang out in Angel\u2019s mind. Somehow feeling this was an integral element of the puzzle. After all, Mary had become pregnant either while at the resort or shortly thereafter.<\/p>\n
His eyes focused on Cordelia, giving her a let-me-answer look, before fixing his eyes back on Mavie. A few moments of silence passed as Angel considered the best way to respond.<\/p>\n
Finally he replied, \u201cWe are planning on having children. In fact, we would already be trying to conceive, except intimacy problems keep getting in our way.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCareful,\u201d Leoni said timidly, \u201cGreg and I waited because of the same reason, and now it\u2019s too late for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMarcy and I really wanted to have children, but I\u2019m not able to.\u201d Danny remarked.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell you know what they say\u2014there\u2019s a reason for everything.\u201d Yeah! Like, there is no way you two should be allowed to bear children, Cordelia added in her thoughts.<\/p>\n
Kara chimed in with her incessant jabbering, and suddenly everyone was talking at once.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
After dinner, the group gathered in the main hall to complete the couples\u2019 daily exercises; as expected, it had been much more tranquil than dinnertime. Once, everyone had finished their exercises, Mavie gave them a run down of the next day.<\/p>\n
\u201cTomorrow is the big night\u2026you should already be longing for one another, but tomorrow\u2019s activity should push you to the verge of desire. You will want your partner like never before, or my name isn\u2019t Mavie Evender!\u201d She spoke like a cheerleader rallying the team.<\/p>\n
Cordelia watched quietly as all the couples began talking at once. They all seemed delighted with their partners; they didn\u2019t seem like the same group that had been doing these exercises on the first day. Who would have guessed this crap really worked? She was beyond amazed.<\/p>\n
Angel was searching through his pockets for his cell phone. It had been ringing for a while, and he had not been able to distinguish the ring because of the noisy chattering. Finally fishing it out of his right pants pocket, he answered. Signaling to Cordelia that he would be going outside to finish his call, he promptly left the room.<\/p>\n
Cordelia began to follow after him, when Kara stopped her, \u201cYou got bitten by those dang mosquitoes too? My arm itches like the dickens!\u201d she exclaimed, rubbing furiously at her arm.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, they got me too, but it doesn\u2019t itch that badly.\u201d She was hastily trying to escape.<\/p>\n
\u201cSee Daven, Cordelia got bit too, you need to find a way to destroy to vile little blood suckers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now that Kara was distractedly reprimanding Daven, Cordelia snuck out. Hearing the other couples cut in with their bug complaints, before she was out the door and heading towards the serene patio outside.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
\u201cBromocriptine,\u201d Angel repeated. \u201cAs in the fertility drug?\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia saw Angel was still on his cell phone as she stepped out onto the courtyard.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh really? Faintness and nausea.\u201d Her eyes immediately darted up to meet his eyes at the mention of the symptoms she had experienced the previous night.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, good work, Wes. I\u2019ll talk to you tomorrow.\u201d He disconnected his phone. \u201cCordy, you drank a fertility enhancement drug that helps stimulate ovulation.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIs that why Mary got pregnant? They drugged her without her knowing, just so she could conceive…that makes absolutely zero sense.\u201d Her head hurt from the endless conversation she had endured during dinner as well as after the exercises; now combined with the perplexity of the case, her headache was growing to be an immense migraine.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, Wesley also talked to many of the previous guests here and found a pattern, coincidently, one couple out of every group had given birth nine months from their visit.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, so they\u2019re helping couples have babies, and that\u2019s a problem why?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot sure, but from the sounds of it, it\u2019s done without their knowledge. Even though the couple is happily expecting the baby, they have no memory of their last night here. Which brings me to my next point\u2014the hospital where Mary died is still examining the deceased fetus.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause of abnormalities? As in demon abnormalities\u2026\u201d she answered her own question.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not sure, but that would be my guess too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Standing silently on the patio, they thought about the case for a few minutes before turning in to go to their room.<\/p>\n
Part 6<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Part 5 DAY 3 \u2013 A Lesson in Touch Having been awake all night, Angel was fully bathed and dressed by the time…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-817","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-to-be-continued-fic"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/817","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=817"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/817\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=817"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=817"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=817"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}