Part 9<\/b><\/p>\n
Friday, 7:12 p.m.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cYou want me to do what?\u201d Wesley asked, flabbergasted by the request coming from his two closest friends.<\/p>\n
\u201cMarry us,\u201d Cordelia said. \u201cBe a priest or a minister or whatever, and perform a wedding ceremony.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley\u2019s eyebrows remained raised, as if permanently affixed in that position. \u201cAnd why, exactly, do you want me to do this?\u201d He looked pointedly at Angel. Cordelia, he could understand. Well actually he couldn\u2019t, but that was the point. Cordelia was impossible to understand. It was a daily occurrence for her logic to defy all laws known to man and nature. But Angel, well, Wesley had come to expect a certain level of responsibility from the vampire that was sorely lacking in the current conversation.<\/p>\n
Angel caught Wesley\u2019s look and quickly averted his eyes. He\u2019d already been through this with Cordelia, and he\u2019d been total putty in her hands. He felt sorry for Wesley, but he wouldn\u2019t be any help to him at all. He just couldn\u2019t say no to Cordelia. Not about this.<\/p>\n
He\u2019d been standing outside Mrs. Chase\u2019s hospital room, reeling from the overheard conversation and stunned at Cordelia\u2019s quick agreement to a marriage ceremony, when his now \u201cbride-to-be\u201d had barreled out of the room and smacked into him at a speed that would\u2019ve knocked over a brawny WWF wrestler.<\/p>\n
Or a Master vampire.<\/p>\n
A grunt had escaped Angel\u2019s lips as the momentum shoved them both into a gurney on the other side of the hallway. Angel\u2019s arms had immediately gone around her to steady her, their eyes meeting and holding, hers overwrought, his amused.<\/p>\n
Cordelia had just had her salvaged plan completely fall apart on her again and she was more than freaking out. She was in full-fledged chicken little, \u201cthe sky is falling!\u201d overdrive. It had been bad enough that she\u2019d had to ask Angel to kiss her. Now she had to ask Angel to marry<\/i> her. The scary thing was that the idea of being his wife wasn\u2019t at all unappealing.<\/p>\n
Cordelia had laughed nervously when his arms encircled her to keep her from falling.<\/p>\n
\u201cUh, sorry, Angel.\u201d She\u2019d smiled weakly, grasping the well-defined muscles in his upper arms, pushing back and giving them some distance.<\/p>\n
Desperate to regain some control over her emotions, Cordelia had grasped at the first possibility of avoidance. \u201cSo you weren\u2019t, like, standing outside the door listening just now, or anything, were you?\u201d She\u2019d asked, an expression of pathetic hope on her face. Maybe his super vamp hearing was on the fritz.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was,\u201d he\u2019d said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh,\u201d Cordelia had looked disappointed. Damn it. This wasn\u2019t her week.<\/p>\n
It had occurred to Angel that he should make this easier on everybody and just agree to whatever she wanted and get it over with, but he\u2019d been morbidly curious to find out how she was going to explain herself. He\u2019d leaned back against the gurney, folded his arms, and prepared for an onslaught of Cordelia Logic.<\/p>\n
Cordelia had sighed, realizing that there weren\u2019t many options open to her. Stalling had failed miserably. Maybe straightforward was the best option here. It worked last time.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, will you marry me?\u201d She\u2019d asked bluntly, then rushed on when Angel just blinked at her. \u201cIt\u2019ll only be for a little while, I promise.\u201d Her eyes had begged him to agree.<\/p>\n
Angel had realized he\u2019d been boxed into an emotional corner. Earlier, after he\u2019d gotten over the shock of Cordelia\u2019s promise to her mother, he\u2019d been determined not to give in this time. It was one thing to play at being her fianc\u00e9e, but to actually marry her? No. He didn\u2019t think he could handle that.<\/p>\n
He\u2019d agreed to this farce in the name of harmless fun, payback for minor irritations Cordelia had caused him since she\u2019d started working for him. His plan had backfired miserably. They\u2019d only shared one kiss so far, but in that instant, Angel had recognized the simultaneous response of both his demon and his soul. Cordelia had soothed one with her passion, the other with her trust in him. In that moment, she had become infinitely more than his friend.<\/p>\n
He was falling amazingly hard and fast for his beautiful seer, and he knew instinctively that pretending marriage to her would seal his fate. Breaking up with Cordelia, even from a fake marriage, would affect him deeply. His soul would be broken and his demon would be pissed. Both halves of his being were too possessive to willingly part with a rare gem like Cordelia Chase.<\/p>\n
Looking into her desperate features as she begged him to comply, Angel didn\u2019t think he had the strength to refuse her. For his own sanity, though, he knew he had to try.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia\u2014\u201c Angel had said, raking his hands through his hair in frustration. \u201cWhy can\u2019t you just tell her \u2018no\u2019? That\u2019s an easy word. Two little letters. N. O. Nnnooo,\u201d he enunciated slowly. Even as he said it, he wondered if he would have done any differently had he been in her place.<\/p>\n
Cordelia knew that Angel was right; she should\u2019ve said \u2018no.\u2019 Her conscience had been screaming the same thing at her. But her heart was battered with the knowledge that her mother was dying, and she just couldn\u2019t bring herself to go back in that hospital room and refuse anything her mother requested of her. Mrs. Chase wanted to see Cordelia get married, and damn it, that\u2019s what she was going to get.<\/p>\n
Glancing back at Angel\u2019s resolute features, Cordelia had glimpsed a crack in his armor. Even though his face was unreadable, Cordelia could sense a flicker of compassion in the depths of his dark eyes. But the fact that he was ignoring it really burned her. Would it kill him to just agree and spare her the trauma of convincing him?
\nWell, fine. Two could play at this game. Her jaw had set determinedly. Was the thought of being married to her\u2014even pretend\u2014that appalling?<\/p>\n
So she\u2019d fought back with the secret weapon of women everywhere: tears. Her eyes had welled up as she\u2019d turned the big hazel orbs on her best friend, one fat tear spilling over and running slowly down her cheek.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, I\u2019m losing her! This is her dying<\/i> wish! You want me to say no to my mother while she\u2019s on her deathbed?\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u2019d paused dramatically, her lips trembling as she fought back tears that were mostly genuine, then whispered brokenly, \u201cHow could I do that to her?\u201d Her shimmering eyes had held his for a split second, then she\u2019d whirled away, sniffling, hiding her guilty expression from him.<\/p>\n
Unable to handle the sight of her tears, Angel had tried to argue sensibly. \u201cCordy, I\u2014,\u201d<\/p>\n
“Just\u2014, just forget it, Angel.” Cordelia had interrupted; deep hurt and weariness lacing her tone, “I’ll think of something to tell her. God only knows what!” she had ended, brokenly.<\/p>\n
God, I\u2019m officially a bitch,<\/i> she\u2019d berated herself as she searched her purse for a tissue. She\u2019d felt like such a heel as his face had softened at her tears, the need to reassure her now clear on his face.<\/p>\n
Angel was desperately trying to figure how to fix this without breaking Cordelia’s heart in the process. Agreeing to \u201cmarry\u201d her was a given at this point. The moment he\u2019d seen her eyes well up with tears, a sight so uncharacteristic of his strong, independent seer, Angel had known he was lost. But now he had to figure out a way to avoid an actual marriage. Maybe if it wasn\u2019t legal, his possessive nature would be mollified.<\/p>\n
His immediate problem had been to cure the dejected look on Cordelia\u2019s face when he\u2019d displayed his obvious reluctance. She\u2019d given him torturous silent treatments before, last night being one of them, but this new, suffocating blanket of disappointment was a whole new level. It had occurred to him that this time yesterday, he was the one inflicting the torture. If they were keeping points, she would definitely be winning.<\/p>\n
Cordelia knew the ensuing quiet after her outburst meant that Angel\u2019s resolve was breaking. As the silence reigned, Cordelia, her back to Angel, had allowed herself a small smile at how well this was progressing, her guilt fading to an ignorable level. She wasn’t faking the anxiety; for her mother\u2019s sake, she really did fear that if she\u2019d refused, her mother would become despondent and die even more quickly. Cordelia\u2019s fears had led her to agree.<\/p>\n
But she had to admit to herself that her other motivations weren\u2019t so pure. She\u2019d had just about enough of Angel turning on the charm and the heat, making her body melt and her mind turn to mush. She knew he was doing it to pay her back for roping him into this, and it was working way too well. If her dreams were any reliable indication, his behavior was affecting her emotionally as well as physically, and Cordelia decided that now was the time to get the upper hand back. If she didn\u2019t get some control of the situation soon, her over-active hormones were going to turn into head-over-heels love for Angel. An annoying little voice in the back of her head said, Too late for that! but she s<\/i>quooshed it.<\/p>\n
This was her golden opportunity to pay him back for his little seduction scheme and, at the same time, get what she\u2019d always wanted: her mother\u2019s approval.<\/p>\n
Her only choice had been to fight back with the one tactic she knew was most effective with her boss and friend: guilt. Every time she cried, which wasn\u2019t often, Angel felt responsible and rushed to comfort her.<\/p>\n
In an innocent example of Cordelia\u2019s thoughts, Angel had reached out a hand to grasp shoulder, turning her around and bringing her watery gaze to meet his. His eyes had spoken his apology for him more eloquently than he could ever put into words. He\u2019d said simply, \u201cOkay, Cordelia, I\u2019ll do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
A brilliant smile had broken over her face, and he\u2019d reached his hands out to stop her when she would\u2019ve lunged in to hug him. \u201cBut I have one condition.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat condition?\u201d Cordelia had asked, peering at him warily through drying tears, her hope wavering at his tone.<\/p>\n
\u201cWesley performs the ceremony.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut Wesley\u2019s not\u2014\u201d she had paused, then the light dawned. \u201cOh. I get it. Mom\u2019s never met Wesley, so he can masquerade as a priest or something and then we won\u2019t have to actually get married.\u201d<\/p>\n
Neither of them had been able to ignore the pang of disappointment that they had both felt at this practical solution.<\/p>\n
So here they were in Wesley\u2019s living room, trying to convince the ex-watcher to be the crux of their plan. Cordelia had reluctantly explained her dilemma, but Wesley was still trying to make sense of the situation.<\/p>\n
Trying to buy time, he said, \u201cDid it ever occur to either of you that I might not be comfortable with impersonating clergy?\u201d Wesley knew the excuse was weak, but it did have some validity. Years of hellfire and damnation preaching at his childhood parish were hard to escape.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t have to impersonate a priest or a minister if you don\u2019t want to,\u201d Cordelia soothed. \u201cYou can be a justice of the peace.\u201d<\/p>\n
Frowning, Wesley removed his glasses and cleaned them thoroughly. \u201cI still don\u2019t know. We\u2019re lying to your mother, and I\u2019m not sure I\u2019m comfortable with that.\u201d<\/p>\n
For the second time that day, Cordelia felt the tears well up, mostly genuine, but partly for effect. Her eyes glistening, she whispered, \u201cPlease, Wes? My mother wants this so much, and I don\u2019t know how much longer she has.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel frowned as he watched Cordelia manipulate Wesley. Now that those big eyes weren\u2019t locked on him, Angel could see her maneuverings for what they were.<\/p>\n
That little twerp,<\/i> he thought wryly, trying to con me.<\/i> It made him feel like a doofus for falling for it earlier, but he also couldn\u2019t help the admiration he felt at her ability to so easily wrap him around her little finger. Oh, he knew that most of her crying had been genuine, but there were enough crocodile tears mixed in to taint the purity of her performance. The hard edges of his thoughts softened a little more when he caught a glimpse of the real fear on her lovely face as she tried to convince Wesley.<\/p>\n
Wesley was helpless against her. \u201cDamn it, Cordelia,\u201d he protested weakly. As her tears threatened to spill over, he relented. \u201cVery well, I\u2019ll do it,\u201d he mumbled grumpily.<\/p>\n
At his answer, Cordelia got up, sniffling, and enveloped Wesley in a tight hug. \u201cThank you, Wes. You\u2019re such a great friend.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel grunted his brand of Cordelia\u2019s \u201cpfft.\u201d She ignored him.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo will Sunday afternoon work for you, Wesley?\u201d Cordelia asked, gathering her belongings as she prepared to leave.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that will be sufficient time to prepare,\u201d he agreed. Smiling, he admonished, \u201cYou know, it isn\u2019t at all proper for engaged persons to be living under the same roof before the wedding.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia just rolled her eyes. \u201cThanks for the etiquette lesson, Miss Manners,\u201d she retorted. \u201cI think we can manage to keep our hands to ourselves.\u201d Ducking her face, that little voice mocked her once again, taunting her sarcastically, Oh, riiiiight.<\/i><\/p>\n
That\u2019s what YOU think.<\/i> Angel mused, revenge for her manipulation foremost in his mind. He pushed the guilt away again, feeling justified now that he\u2019d realized her motivations weren\u2019t entirely pure. I haven\u2019t even thought about breaking out the big guns yet.<\/i><\/p>\n
As they turned to leave, Cordelia caught the look on Angel\u2019s face before he schooled his features. She stopped breathing for a moment, a shiver running up her spine. She knew intuitively that she hadn\u2019t even begun to pay for putting Angel in this predicament. What really worried her, though, was that it was excitement and anticipation she felt, not fear and anger.<\/p>\n
Part 10<\/b><\/p>\n
Sunday, 4:10 a.m.<\/i><\/p>\n
Cordelia stared wide-eyed at the tantalizing image before her. She\u2019d awoken in the pre-dawn hours with an urgent call of nature, and once it was taken care of, she couldn\u2019t go back to sleep. She was sleepy and cranky, but her mind wouldn\u2019t shut down again. Irritated, she\u2019d shuffled toward the kitchen for some coffee.<\/p>\n
Upon her arrival, she\u2019d been greeted by a magnificent sight she\u2019d seen many times before, but never truly appreciated: Angel\u2019s bare chest. She\u2019d touched it lots of times, but in the name of bandaging wounds or soothing him, never in love or abject admiration of its masculine beauty. Never, in all previous occasions, had the sight of Angel\u2019s chest been accompanied by this unbelievable, tingly awareness throughout her body. Her mouth went dry, and her eyes wandered as she appreciated him.<\/p>\n
He was casually leaning up against the counter, one arm crossed over his chest, his hand holding the elbow of his other arm as he drank his breakfast out of one of her mugs. He watched her watching him, and the unabashed hunger in her sleepy eyes was enough to make his body harden in response.<\/p>\n
She\u2019d known that he usually slept naked; somehow pajamas and Angel just didn\u2019t seem to go together. Since he\u2019d been living under her roof, he\u2019d adopted a new sleeping uniform for her benefit: drawstring pants. The drawstring was almost never tied, though, and the two ends dangled tantalizingly when he moved. The pants always slung low on his hips, emphasizing their narrowness. His well-defined stomach muscles taunted her with their hardness, and the two sloping indentations in the places where his hips met his torso disappeared into his pants and drew her eyes to zero in on the one button closure of the garment, just below the drawstring.<\/p>\n
Cordelia swallowed. Hard. Then licked her lips and swallowed again.<\/p>\n
Desperate for something else to concentrate on, her eyes moved back up his body and into a pair of very amused eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2019Morning, Cordelia,\u201d he said gruffly, his voice still gravelly from sleep. \u201cYou\u2019re up early.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHi,\u201d she squeaked, then rushed passed him to busy herself with the coffee maker.<\/p>\n
As her face was turned away, Angel\u2019s amused expression turned into a full-fledged grin as he sipped his blood. He hadn\u2019t actually planned to flaunt himself like this, but it was an opportunity just begging to be exploited. Finishing his breakfast, he moved quietly to stand behind her, reaching around her in the small kitchen to turn on the faucet and rinse his mug. She wasn\u2019t actually blocking his way, but he couldn\u2019t resist the chance to brush up against her, teasing her with his close proximity.<\/p>\n
She\u2019d avoided him for nearly two days, escaping into the sunlight where he was unable to follow. At night, she\u2019d run in and locked herself into her bedroom, claiming incredible tiredness and emotional stress. At least it was half true. She\u2019d known that if she allowed herself to be alone with Angel, her hormones would take over and she wouldn\u2019t be able to stop herself from responding to his advances. She had no doubt he\u2019d make them; his expression at Wesley\u2019s had made that clear.<\/p>\n
And heaven help her, she wanted him to. Badly.<\/p>\n
Her dreams hadn\u2019t stopped. She\u2019d had another one last night, this one uninterrupted by the phone, and it had left her aching and unfulfilled. It had taken every ounce of her will power not to go out onto the couch and drag him back into the bedroom with her and bring her dreams to life. The only thing she had going for her was the curse. She didn\u2019t know if sex with her would bring Angel perfect happiness, but she didn\u2019t want to face Angelus if she didn\u2019t have to. She loved Angel, all of him, but she much preferred the whole package, not the homicidal, psychotic soulless part a la carte.<\/p>\n
Oh, god. Did she just say she loved him?<\/p>\n
Angel had noticed that she\u2019d been avoiding him ever since they\u2019d convinced Wesley to \u201cofficiate\u201d their marriage. He knew that she\u2019d seen the look in his eyes when he\u2019d realized how she\u2019d played him, and she was wary of retaliation. She was right to be anxious. He had every intention of continuing his plan of torturing her.<\/p>\n
One major thing had changed, though, and that was Angel\u2019s motivation. Originally, he\u2019d done this as payback for her thoughtless actions. Now, all he wanted to was whip her into a lustful, emotional frenzy until she had no recourse but to fall into his arms. He wanted her to fall in love with him, just like he was falling for her.<\/p>\n
This love for her was very fresh, born of her newfound selflessness, her easy friendship, her acceptance of him as a person, not just a monster with the face of a man. She knew that Angelus was still within, very much a part of Angel, and she didn\u2019t seem to hold that against him. His demon had fallen in love with her, too, and that had never happened for him before. She made him feel human, but most importantly, she made him feel human in a way that didn\u2019t threaten his demon. That was a rare gift, indeed.<\/p>\n
He frowned as he thought about his curse. There had to be some way around that. If they continued down this path, they\u2019d both combust from the sexual tension. He\u2019d have to get Wesley to research that.<\/p>\n
Cordelia\u2019s thoughts as Angel pressed his hard body up against her back in the kitchen were much less complicated. In fact, she had no thoughts at all. Just feelings. She closed her eyes and leaned back, her body acting of its own accord, seeking his strength.<\/p>\n
Angel, sensing her lack of control, slowly set his cup down in the sink and circled his arms around her waist. He pulled her against him, her backside pressing into him, taunting him. Her head lolled back against his shoulder and her hands came up to grasp his. Intertwining their fingers, Angel lowered his lips to her bared neck and kissed her lightly, shivers running up Cordelia\u2019s spine as his mouth brushed her skin. His tongue darted out to graze her flesh, dampening it. Then he blew gently, drying the place he\u2019d moistened and eliciting a whimper from Cordelia in response.<\/p>\n
Hearing that sound escape her lips jerked Cordelia back to reality. Her eyes popped open and she was flooded with mortification as she realized what she was doing. She pushed back and Angel allowed it, then stepped out of his arms and quickly crossed the room.<\/p>\n
\u201cGeez, Angel. Two words,\u201d she said, glaring at him, her arms crossed protectively over her chest. \u201cPersonal. Bubble.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry, Cordelia,\u201d Angel said, not meaning it at all.<\/p>\n
\u201cPfft. Sure you are,\u201d she retorted, not falling for it. \u201cThere\u2019s no audience here, Angel, so you can just cut the act. Save it for the wedding.\u201d<\/p>\n
He contemplated her, wondering if he should take this conversation where he wanted it to go. After a moment, he decided against it. Now was not the time; her guard was up and any prodding would only strengthen her resolve to avoid him.<\/p>\n
\u201cSure, Cordelia. I wouldn\u2019t want your mother to be disappointed. I\u2019ll make sure I\u2019m very<\/i>
\nconvincing,\u201d he said, his smile laced with promise. After a meaningful look, he walked past her into the living room for his clothes.<\/p>\n
Cordelia shivered again, filled with a mixture of dread and lust at the thought of what he had planned for that afternoon.<\/p>\n
When did he manage to get so much power over her?<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Sunday, 6:46 p.m.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cWesley, are you sure you know what you\u2019re doing?\u201d Cordelia asked apprehensively, unnerved to see him dressed in minister\u2019s robes.<\/p>\n
Wesley looked insulted. \u201cOf course, Cordelia. I have it all written down; don\u2019t worry.\u201d He raised his leather journal, notes for the ceremony safely tucked inside.<\/p>\n
Cordelia, somewhat mollified, turned to Angel. \u201cAre you ready?\u201d<\/p>\n
Letting his eyes wander up and down her figure, Angel smiled, just enough wickedness in the expression to increase Cordelia\u2019s nervousness tenfold. \u201cYes, Cordelia, I\u2019m ready.\u201d His tone made it sound like a lacivious: More than ready for you, babe.<\/i><\/p>\n
She\u2019d had just about enough of Angel\u2019s teasing. Her eyes narrowed and she said, \u201cGeez, Angel, I didn\u2019t ask you to be a gigolo, just a devoted fianc\u00e9e. Knock it off with the leering, already.\u201d<\/p>\n
With some difficulty, Angel wiped the smile off his face. \u201cLet\u2019s go,\u201d he said, turning and leading them toward Mrs. Chase\u2019s room.<\/p>\n
The nurse who\u2019d appreciated Angel a few days earlier was waiting for them outside the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, look who\u2019s here. It\u2019s the happy couple! Let me be the first to congratulate you both,\u201d she greeted, her smile stretching her round face, emphasizing her rosy cheeks. Without warning, she grabbed Cordelia into a bear hug. \u201cYou\u2019re going to have one great<\/i>
\nhoneymoon with that beautiful man,\u201d she whispered conspiratorially into Cordelia\u2019s ear.<\/p>\n
As she released Cordelia, she said, \u201cYour mother has a visitor right now and she requested that you wait outside until she\u2019s ready for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia nodded, and the nurse took off down the hall.<\/p>\n
\u201cA visitor?\u201d Wesley said. \u201cDid your mother say anything about this, Cordelia?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, she didn\u2019t,\u201d Cordelia answered, distracted. Her mother\u2019s door was open a crack, and all Cordelia could see was the curtain surrounding her mother\u2019s bed. She moved more closely, and could make out the sound of a masculine voice in conversation with her mother\u2019s feminine one. She heard her mother laugh, and the man laugh with her, a sound that was completely unfamiliar to Cordy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know him,\u201d Cordelia said to no one in particular. She turned to Angel. \u201cCan you hear what they\u2019re saying?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing that will help us figure out who he is. Some reminiscing, I think,\u201d he paused again to listen. \u201cWait, she just told him to come out here.\u201d<\/p>\n
At Angel\u2019s words, the door swung open, revealing a distinguished, silver-haired man in a three piece suit and tie. He smiled warmly, motioning them into the room as he spoke.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia, Angel, please come in. Your mother is so looking forward to this,\u201d he said excitedly. Noticing Wesley, he said, \u201cAh, I see you\u2019ve brought a clergyman with you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia stammered to explain. \u201cUh, yeah, yes. This is Reverend Pryce. He will be\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
She was interrupted by her mother. \u201cCordelia!\u201d Mrs. Chase said excitedly. \u201cCome here by me. I have someone I\u2019d like you to meet.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia looked at Angel, puzzled by her mother\u2019s statement. She walked over to Mrs. Chase and grasped her hand. Leaning down to kiss her cheek, she said, \u201cHi, Mom. Are you ready to be a mother-in-law?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDefinitely, dear,\u201d she said, somewhat distracted. \u201cCordelia, I\u2019d like you to meet Reverend Donovan Jennings.\u201d She gestured to the older man who had greeted them at the door. \u201cDon, this is my daughter, Cordelia, her fianc\u00e9e Angel, and,\u201d she paused, finally noticing Wesley. \u201cWho is this, Cordelia?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is Reverend Pryce, mom. He\u2019ll be performing the ceremony.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, no, that won\u2019t do at all,\u201d her mother said, frowning. \u201cReverend Jennings has agreed to perform the ceremony. Reverend Pryce isn\u2019t needed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shooting a panicked look in Angel\u2019s direction, Cordelia whispered, \u201cMom, we\u2019ve already paid Reverend Pryce. We can\u2019t just tell him to go home!\u201d<\/p>\n
Her mother looked at her strangely. \u201cCordelia,\u201d she admonished, matching the soft tones of her daughter. \u201cIt\u2019s uncouth to speak of money in public. You know better.\u201d<\/p>\n
Raising her voice back to a normal level, she continued. \u201cThis is really important to me, Cordy. Don is a very close friend, and he performed the wedding ceremony for your father and I. That was such a special day.\u201d Her eyes turned misty and she paused, lost in the memories. \u201cAnyway, Don is the hospital chaplain now. Isn\u2019t that just a wonderful coincidence?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, I\u2019m really not comfortable with this\u2014,\u201d Cordelia tried again, desperately looking for a way out.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease, sweetie?\u201d Mrs. Chase begged. \u201cI miss your father so much, and if I can\u2019t have him here, at least I can have something to remind me of him on your special day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel smothered a smile at the scene before him. Watching the interaction between Cordelia and her mother, he understood his friend so much better than he had before. Her mother\u2019s tears and tone of voice were a carbon copy of Cordelia\u2019s when she\u2019d tried to convince him to play along.<\/p>\n
He caught her frantic expression, her eyes imploring him to do something to fix this. Oh, he\u2019d fix it all right.<\/p>\n
\u201cMrs. Chase,\u201d Angel began, his tone giving Cordelia hope that he\u2019d put a stop to this nonsense and insist that Wesley officiate.<\/p>\n
His next words smashed that hope to smithereens. \u201cCordelia and I would be honored to have Reverend Jennings perform the ceremony.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut, Angel. . .\u201d Cordelia whispered, shocked.<\/p>\n
Angel walked over to her and put his arm around her waist. Looking deeply into her eyes, he said, \u201cHoney, we\u2019re going to be married forever. It doesn\u2019t matter who says the words for us. The point is that we love each other and we want to make the commitment.\u201d He leaned down and kissed the tip of her nose gently.<\/p>\n
Cordelia felt as though she\u2019d had the wind knocked out of her. Didn\u2019t he understand what he was doing?<\/p>\n
Part 11<\/b><\/p>\n
Sunday, 7:12 p.m.<\/i><\/p>\n
From the shocked look on her face, Angel knew exactly what Cordelia was thinking when he\u2019d agreed to their marriage by Reverend Jennings. She thought he was nuts.<\/p>\n
Maybe she was right, but even if she was, it was irrelevant.<\/p>\n
It had been one thing to plan a sham marriage ahead of time, using Wesley as their fake clergyman. They were being practical, and he could live with that. But when they\u2019d had Reverend Jennings thrust upon them, he\u2019d suddenly realized that he truly wanted to be married to Cordelia, and this was his chance. He knew that there would be hell to pay later when Cordelia wanted to annul the marriage and get things back to normal. He knew, deep down, that his demon had already claimed her, and that giving her up would be akin to peeling his fingernails off slowly, one by one.<\/p>\n
Angel knew there would be consequences, but he\u2019d done it anyway. He had a plan: torture, tease, and taunt Cordelia until all she wanted was him, and no one but him. Having a real marriage ceremony would fluster Cordelia so much that she wouldn\u2019t know what hit her. She\u2019d be putty in his hands, and that\u2019s exactly what he wanted. He smiled, satisfied that he was in complete control.<\/p>\n
Cordelia’s train of thought wasn’t in the same hemisphere as Angel’s. Once she\u2019d gotten over the initial shock of Angel\u2019s announcement, all Cordelia could feel was blind fury. This was her problem, her scheme, her mess, and all she wanted was for him to cooperate. Their plan up to now had been workable, if not good; she could get out of this mess. She\u2019d asked him to do one simple thing: play along. Then he had to go and agree to a real marriage ceremony and ruin everything. It had been his idea to have Wesley perform the ceremony, and here he was, screwing it all up?<\/p>\n
He was up to something, and Cordelia was not happy. Not happy at all. Her eyes narrowed, her jaw clenched, and she prepared for battle. Angel had never really, truly seen her inner bitch before.<\/p>\n
It was about time that her inner Bitch met his inner Demon. Something told her that they\u2019d be well matched.<\/p>\n
One glance at Cordelia\u2019s now icy glare and Angel felt a wave of nervousness. He hadn\u2019t seen that look on Cordelia\u2019s face before. He\u2019d seen the \u201cQueen C\u201d glare directed at other people, but never this acerbic, and never at him.<\/p>\n
Maybe his plan wasn\u2019t such a smart idea after all.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel and Cordelia, if you\u2019d step over here, please?\u201d Reverend Jennings\u2019 voice interrupted their thoughts and he motioned them to the foot of Mrs. Chase\u2019s bed. Wesley stood at her side, now feeling useless but extremely curious to see how this was going to play out.<\/p>\n
Cordelia schooled her features with difficulty, trying to maintain a happy fa\u00e7ade for her mother\u2019s benefit. Cordelia smiled at her warmly, receiving an excited grin from her mother in return. She took Angel\u2019s hand, and in a desire to let him know that she wasn\u2019t happy, she dug her fingernails into his palm as hard as she could.<\/p>\n
Angel grimaced as her nails cut into his skin. He led her over to the end of Mrs. Chase\u2019s bed, and stood facing Cordelia.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre we ready, then?\u201d Reverend Jennings asked, smiling warmly at the supposed happy couple.<\/p>\n
Cordelia turned her bright smile on him. \u201cOf course, Reverend. We can\u2019t wait.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are gathered here today to celebrate one of life’s greatest moments, to give recognition to the worth and beauty of love, and to add our best wishes to the words which shall unite Cordelia and Angel in marriage,\u201d Reverend Jennings began, his smooth voice transforming the bleak hospital room into a sacred place.<\/p>\n
Cordelia let the words flow over her, cooling her, reminding her why she was here, why she was doing this. She glanced back at her mother, and the rapture on Mrs. Chase\u2019s face was reason enough for Cordelia to let go of her anger at Angel\u2019s hasty actions. She would deal with him later; right now, her mother\u2019s happiness was all that mattered.<\/p>\n
As Reverend Jennings began his opening comments, Angel let his mind wander. He perused Cordelia\u2019s features, admiring her smooth skin and big eyes. He knew he\u2019d made her angry, and he was actually sorry for that, but he was glad they were going through with this. She belonged with him.<\/p>\n
Angel and Cordelia were jerked out of their respective thoughts as the minister continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cShould there be anyone who has cause why this couple should not be united in marriage, they must speak now or forever hold their peace.\u201d Reverend Jennings perused the few faces gathered in the hospital room.<\/p>\n
In the short silence following the minister\u2019s statement, Cordelia felt a strong urge to shout \u201cStop!\u201d She knew intuitively that this was her last chance to avoid being tied to Angel forever. She\u2019d seen that look in his eyes, the one of possession, of ownership. She\u2019d seen it right after he kissed her in front of her mother. She\u2019d seen it again when he\u2019d stared back at her in the kitchen this morning. And she\u2019d seen it most clearly just five minutes earlier when he\u2019d told her mother that Reverend Jennings could marry them. Cordelia knew that annulling this marriage to Angel would be next to impossible.<\/p>\n
She knew that, but Cordelia held her peace. She held her peace for her mother\u2019s happiness, for her own sanity, and, while she wouldn\u2019t admit it, she held her peace because, despite her anger, she knew she wanted Angel.<\/p>\n
Angel squeezed her hand gently, the contact making her turn her eyes to his.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel,\u201d Reverend Jennings said, \u201cdo you take Cordelia to be your wife? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect her, forsaking all others?\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy flashed through Cordelia\u2019s mind at the \u201cforsaking all others\u201d line, along with a twinge of pain. Angel would never choose her over Buffy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI do,\u201d Angel said softly, his eyes boring into Cordelia\u2019s as he promised sincerely.<\/p>\n
Reverend Jennings repeated the same words for Cordelia.<\/p>\n
It was Angel\u2019s turn to be nervous. Would Cordelia really cherish him? Would she always see past the demon to the man inside?<\/p>\n
\u201cI do,\u201d Cordelia said, her voice nearly a whisper. She struggled to hold onto her anger. Hearing the vows spoken made it so difficult.<\/p>\n
As the reverend continued, both Angel and Cordelia felt a transformation within themselves. It was as if speaking the words had made the event real. In that moment, the pretense was gone, and they knew in the deepest parts of their souls that they wouldn\u2019t be able to walk away from this unchanged.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you have the rings?\u201d The minister asked.<\/p>\n
Wesley stepped forward and handed him the rings that they\u2019d bought earlier that day on the way to the hospital. At the time, neither Angel nor Cordelia had expected them to mean so much.<\/p>\n
Beginning with Angel, Reverend Jennings said, \u201cPlease take Cordelia\u2019s left hand into your own and repeat after me. \u2018I, Angel, take you, Cordelia, to be my wife. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, until death parts us.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel repeated the words, sliding the ring onto Cordelia\u2019s trembling finger.<\/p>\n
Cordelia repeated the same words, her hands shaking, her voice barely audible, and she slipped the ring onto Angel\u2019s finger.<\/p>\n
She raised her eyes to his and their gazes locked, emotions passing between them in a way they never had before. Cordelia was still apprehensive, still mad at him, still determined that this wouldn\u2019t be forever, but a small part of her recognized the burgeoning love in her heart. Angel was just as determined that Cordelia was his now, and nothing was going to separate them. But neither could deny the pull of their souls toward one another. Neither of them could deny the desire they had for each other. Neither of them could deny how right this farce of a ceremony felt.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs the two of you come into this marriage uniting you as husband and wife, and as you this day affirm your faith and love for one another, I would ask that you always remember to cherish each other as special and unique individuals, that you respect the thoughts, ideas and suggestions of one another.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel felt a twinge of guilt as he realized that he\u2019d been unconcerned with her thoughts and ideas, only his own. He\u2019d been determined to have her, and he hadn\u2019t given any thought to her thoughts and feelings.<\/p>\n
\u201cBe able to forgive, do not hold grudges, and live each day that you may share it together – as from this day forward you shall be each other’s home, comfort and refuge, your marriage strengthened by your love and respect for each other.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was Cordelia\u2019s turn to feel guilty. She did hold grudges, and she wanted to make Angel pay for making her go through with this. But maybe she could forgive him. Maybe.<\/p>\n
The reverend\u2019s final words pierced them both.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel and Cordelia, just as two very different threads woven in opposite directions can form a beautiful tapestry, so can your two lives merge together to form a very beautiful marriage. To make your marriage work will take love. Love should be the core of your marriage, love is the reason you are here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s eyes bored deeply into Cordelia\u2019s, and for a moment, their souls were bared, their new love recognized and displayed.<\/p>\n
That moment was broken, shattered, as the words continued and the windows to their souls were shuttered closed more tightly with each phrase.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it also will take trust – to know in your hearts you want the best for each other.\u201d<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t trust him. He doesn\u2019t share anything with me. I know that he struggles with his evil side. I\u2019ve seen him when he doesn\u2019t think I\u2019m watching. He doesn\u2019t learn. He just runs and broods.<\/i><\/p>\n
I can\u2019t trust her with the real me. If she knew, really knew, what Angelus was like, and how much of him is still in me, how much I have to repress . . . I can\u2019t trust her with that.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will take faith – to always be willing to go forward to tomorrow, never really knowing what tomorrow will bring.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tomorrow? If Buffy came back and his curse wasn\u2019t an issue, he\u2019d be gone in a heartbeat.<\/i><\/p>\n
Tomorrow? If she had the chance to get rid of the visions, she\u2019d be gone in a heartbeat.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd it will take commitment – to hold true to the journey you both now pledge to share together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Commitment? He doesn\u2019t want me. He wants a dream. He wants Buffy.<\/i><\/p>\n
Commitment? She doesn\u2019t want me. I\u2019m a demon, a freak. She wants, no, she deserves, something normal.<\/p>\n
By the last phrase, their eyes were still locked on each other, but their gazes were unreadable.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel and Cordelia, in so much as the two of you have agreed to live together in Matrimony and have promised your love for each other by these vows, I now declare you to be Husband and Wife.\u201d<\/p>\n
Smiling grandly, Reverend Jennings closed the book in his hands, the sound like a gunshot to the bride and groom.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou may now kiss your bride.\u201d<\/p>\n
What should have been a moment of loving display and barely restrained passion was now a desperate attempt to get through this and escape. Escape the implications, the emotions, and the consequences. Angel put his arm around Cordelia\u2019s waist and drew her close, his lips descending on hers. The kiss appeared soft and sweet, but neither
\nAngel nor Cordelia remembered any of it.<\/p>\n
Both were too wrapped up in their own pain and perceived rejection that they barely noticed. In a desperate attempt to regain control, both retreated back into their earlier feelings, all tenderness discovered in the ceremony now completely forgotten.<\/p>\n
Cordelia remembered her anger, and her jaw clenched.<\/p>\n
Angel remembered his determination to make her want him, and his eyes narrowed.<\/p>\n
They had just turned the molehill into Mt. Everest.<\/p>\n