Feedback: I'll send more fic if I get feedback...is this blackmail? HELL YEAH!!!
Spoilers: Hmmm...all Seasons, just to be on the safe side...
Summary: Working on a case brings Angel more than he bargained for...
Rating: PG13
Distribution: Stranger Things Forum, possibly the Holywater site, my own eventually when I get round to updating...
Disclaimer: Imagine a phone call, where I BEG Joss Whedon to give me the characters...see, NOT mine, never gonna be mine...why would Joss Whedon EVER take my phone call? Much less ever give me characters he's spent 6 years cultivating and...get my point? NOT MINE!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~Part: 1~
"Angel! Dammit!" Cordelia hobbled away, rubbing her aching feet and glaring at a particularly petulant vampire.
"I said I was sorry..." He murmured in his defence, "Anyway, why can't one of the others learn this? It's not like..."
"No way, no how, NUH-UH!" Said Gunn, shaking his head. "I ain't learnin' all that...flippy stuff."
"Flippy stuff? What flippy stuff?" Asked Angel, panic flitting through his eyes.
Cordelia shot a glare at Gunn, "You aren't really making this any easier, y'know? And besides, there's no flippy stuff, so, Angel - you can breathe again." She said dryly.
"That's a misnomer...vampires don't breathe." Pointed out Fred.
"Actually," Said Cordelia, "It was sarcasm..." She said pointedly, shaking her head. "Y'know what? Just forget it..." She stalked off into the office for a drink and Angel sighed, "I'll go."
Following Cordelia, he stood behind her, placing his hand on her arm, "Are you alright?" He asked softly.
Cordelia sighed, "Fine."
"If it's any consolation, I know how you must be feeling right now." He tried.
"Really?" Said Cordelia, her eyes flashing with anger, "Then tell me, how does it feel knowing where this...this THING is gonna strike and the only way you can stop it is if you teach your Dancing Deprived friend the Cha-Cha, the Tango and the Salsa in less than a week to prepare yourself for what's probably going to be the most embarassing moment of your life. Tell me, how does it feel, every time you close your eyes to see people running for their lives from something that wants to eat their innards..." Her voice hushed then and she quietened, feeling bad as she watched Angel sigh.
"Okay." He said softly, "I don't know how you feel about all of that but...I can see you're hurting, and I don't like it."
"It ain't a barrel of laughs for me, either." She whispered, looking at the floor.
Angel pushed his fingers under her chin, "Listen to me." He said sternly, "We'll catch this thing. I'll stop it from eating people's innards...and I'll stop you from hurting."
"Promise?" Asked Cordelia sadly, tears welling up in her eyes. "I just want it to stop hurting. Just for a while."
Angel's eyes softened and he nodded, "Promise. You wanna try again?"
Cordelia shook her head, "Mind if I go lie down?" She asked, blinking away the tears that had formed. She put her hand over her mouth, fake-yawning, "I'm tired." She said softly.
Angel smiled, "Go on, we'll keep researching on this THING you saw." He said, leaning down and gently kissing her forehead. She turned to leave and when she got to the door, Angel spoke up, "Cordy?"
"What?" Cordelia turned, a soft smile on her face.
"I love you." He said softly.
Cordelia nodded, "I know." She said, then added silently, 'Only not the way I want you to.'
********
"Anything?" Asked Wesley, nursing his broken arm. An attack outside his apartment only weeks ago had earned Wesley a broken arm and a few broken ribs - not demons, humans. After his wallet. They'd gotten it alright, having beaten him to a bloody pulp first. It was then that Fred had gotten really scared. At least in Pylea, your own didn't turn on you...she'd mused, sadly, after worrying herself sick about Wesley and how he was.
Fred shook her head, "Nothing, nadda, nixies."
Gunn, watching her, raised an eyebrow, "Nixies?"
"Pylean word for nothing." She explained, not looking up from her book.
"Oh..." Gunn looked up as Angel came back into the lobby, carrying his son. "Cordy...she okay?" He asked.
Shaking his head, Angel held a pacifier to his child's mouth, waiting for Connor to take it. He did so, placing his head tiredly on his father's chest. "Mama?" He whispered.
"Upstairs." Replied Angel, absent mindedly, not even realising what he was saying. Thankfully, he could pass it off as a comment to Gunn though, "Upstairs...asleep, okay."
"We got nothin'..." Said Fred, "A big whole bunch of nothing, nadda, nixies...and still lookin'..." She shook her head, sadly. "What happens if..."
"Hello?" A voice called from the door and Angel looked up, seeing a smart and very pretty business woman in a suit. His first thought was Wolfram and Hart and their next hoop, but she smiled, coming down the steps, "Is one of you Mr. Angel?"
Angel stepped forward, "That would be me."
"Here." She held out two large packages to him and a couple of files. "Sign here." She smiled, handing him a clipboard, a document attached, "And...here..."
"What are they?" Asked Angel, still a little skeptical.
"Your entry forms and costumes." She smiled, "Dance 2001?"
Angel supressed the groan and nodded, signing the forms. "Thanks." He said.
"Good luck!" Called the young woman as she left.
Angel sighed and looked at his friends, "I'm gonna need it." He said, shaking his head.
~Part: 2~
"Right foot, left foot, flick of the heel!" Snapped Fred, "It isn't THAT hard, Angel." She said, shaking her head.
"Uh...who turned Fred into Sgt. Burkle?" Asked Gunn, slightly worried. Wesley only chuckled, "She's worried about Cordelia," He whispered back, "And besides, this is for Angel's own good..."
"Huh? Learning him to dance like a nancy boy is for his own good? I dunno English, you might find it kinda hard selling that one."
Angel was in the middle of his routine of 'right foot, left foot, flick of the heel' when a sinking feeling in his stomach alerted him to...something. Okay so, had this been a demon, Angel practising the Cha-Cha in the middle of the hotel would have been the least intimidating thing in the world. But then...from what Angel could gather, this...whatever it was, was no demon. The thing had no shape, no form, no nothing. Angel wasn't even sure how he knew it was there...but he knew that currently, it was floating up the stairs and the demon inside of him pushed through unbidden. "Get inside the office NOW." He growled, looking at his friends.
"Angel?" Squeaked Fred, she wasn't afraid of him, not in the slightest, only whatever it was that made him this mad.
"Something's after Connor..." He growled. Taking the stairs two at a time, Angel ran to the Nursery where his son now SHOULD have been asleep, but of course, wasn't. Getting inside the room, he looked in the cot where his child only gurgled and smiled, toothlessly at his father, "Mama?"
Angel's eyes widened, leaving the door open, lest something should feel the need to come after his child, Angel ran to Cordelia's room, the one she stayed in all the time only to find it locked. "Cordelia!" He yelled, hammering on the door, "CORDELIA!" No answer. Angel charged the door, once, twice...a third time. Until the door splintered, shards of wood flying everywhere. "Cordelia?"
She stood there, wearing a small towel, her hair soaked through. "What the hell are you doing?" She asked, incredulously.
"I...I felt something..." Said Angel.
"What? An irresistable urge to crash through my door? I could have been naked!" Said Cordelia.
Angel almost salivated at this, but then shook it off, "I...but I...uhm...I mean...I'm sorry?"
Cordelia, although she'd NEVER admit it to Angel, was pleased with the attention, "Yeah, yeah, you're sorry. Go on..." She waved towards the door, unable to hide the grin.
Angel was pretty much in the land of NON-coherent thoughts when he walked into the door and when Cordelia grinned at him, giggling, he shrugged his shoulders, "Uh...shock." He said, hoping she bought it. "Yeah, yeah Grr Guy..." She laughed, "I'll be downstairs to resume our practice as soon as I'm dressed."
Nodding, Angel rubbed the side of his head where he'd walked into the door and went through to pick his son up, "Did anyone ever tell you your father's a dork?" He asked, shaking his head.
"I did!" Called Cordelia sweetly. Angel laughed...
*****
Raucous laughter filled the hotel, "You look like a girl, man!" Laughed Gunn, doubled over.
Angel shot a glare at him, they ALL seemed to be laughing, even his son. "Oh sure...jump on the band wagon and laugh at me too..." He said admonishingly, glancing at Connor. Angel wore an outfit not that much similar to days of old, frilly shirt, cuffs but thankfully...no tights...
Connor betrayed his father by pointing upwards and grinning, "Mama!"
Cordelia, on the other side of the room, was trying to stifle her laughter and when Angel looked towards her she smiled, "You...ah...you look...good..."
"What about you?" Asked Fred, wiping tears from her eyes having laughed so hard she thought she'd collapse.
Cordelia sighed a little, "If I look as stupid as him..."
"It's all for a good cause!" Interrupted Angel, beaming at Cordelia, a mischevious sparkle in his eye. She poked out her tongue at him and Angel grinned, "Come on, Cordy...costume!" Pouting herself this time, Cordelia went to the office, locking the door behind her...
They waited...and waited...and waited some more...until Angel knocked on the locked office door. "Cordelia?" He asked softly.
She opened the door, revelling in the sharp intake of oxygen she elicited from Angel. "Uhm...do you like?" She asked, coyly. Funnily enough, Angel had more coherent thoughts with the TOWEL experience. She was...in every sense of the word...stunning. Not that she hadn't been before or anything but...
"Er...um...it's a...I mean..."
"Dork." Said Cordelia, rolling her eyes, "Come on, let's practice."
"We're taking Connor out!" Fred had picked him out of the stroller and had him in her arms, smiling as he decided the only pastime for him was playing with the silver necklace Cordy had given her for her birthday, "Have fun practisin'..." She called out, rolling her eyes at the yelled, 'Be careful' from Angel. Fred, Wes and Gunn left...going out the way they came only this time with a giggling child as their ward...
"Alone at last." Smiled Cordelia, sashaying towards him and grinning.
~Badness...~ Thought Angel, watching as her hips swayed seductively, ~Thoughts like these can only lead to badness.~
"See," Said Cordelia, "The thing we're actually having the most problem with is the 'Freestyle' thing...the Cha-Cha, the Tango and the Salsa you're all good at." She said, eyeing him and smiling, "But...'Freestyle' is pretty much whatever we wanna dance to..."
Overcome by...something...Angel reached out and pulled her towards him, nuzzling her neck, "How about we make our own music?" He whispered.
Cordelia squeaked, "ANGEL!" Pushing him away, she regarded him with a stern look, "Of course, we mightn't have to actually GO that far, I mean...we might catch the demon before that, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared...and you can't dance so..."
"I can Dance!" Said Angel, "The Prom...I danced at the Prom."
"Ooh, wow, you and Buffy moved in a circle for the entire song, making puppy dog eyes at each other, PLEASE." Said Cordelia, the hint of annoyance in her voice palpable. "That's NOT dancing."
"Then what IS dancing?" Asked Angel, "Since you became the expert on it overnight..."
Slowly, her hips began to sway to music only she could hear and Cordelia closed her eyes. "Dancing is...not needing anything else but your partner, it's about opening up...you gotta trust your partner never to let you fall, never let you down..." Her hands placed themselves on Angel's chest, "It's about knowing when to move to the beat, what feels right..." His hands slid down her waist as he closed his eyes, he could hear the same drum beat she did...or he was swaying to it anyway. Their bodies completely in sync with each other they danced, Cordelia whispering, "It's about knowing when...when you have the right...partner...it's about...uhm..."
Their lips were inches apart...until Angel stood on the bottom of Cordelia's dress and sent them crashing to the floor. Cordelia whimpered as her head struck the back of the floor and when she looked up, Angel noticed the smoke filled, lusty and almost afraid twinkle in her eye, "Wh-when did that stop being about dancing?" She asked, puzzled.
Angel shook his head, his finger trailing gently down her jawline, "I don't know..." He whispered, leaning forward to capture his lips with her own, when...
"Well don't YOU two look absolutely Fred and Ginger, please, don't get up..."
Cordelia looked up at Lorne, "Anyone ever tell you you have the worst timing in EVER?" She grumbled, straightening out her dress.
"Trust me, you'll thank me for it." Said Lorne, as Angel pulled Cordelia up. ~Not in this lifetime.~ Thought Cordelia dryly, "What are YOU doing here anyway?" She asked.
"What, you mean after my club got trashed TWICE?" He asked, pointedly. "Well, kiddies let's just say I'm along for the ride."
Angel sighed, "When do we leave?" He asked.
"Tomorrow morning, early. I'll have the trailer ready with the curtains..." Grinned Lorne, "Sure you two are up for this?"
Cordelia grinned, "Are you kidding me? It's a synch!" She said, "We just gotta practice now...OUT!"
Lorne obeyed and Cordeila looked at Angel, "So...uhm...practice, huh?"
"Yeah, what's that all about..."
"Uh...Practice?" Asked Cordelia, nervously. Oh God, she was...first DATE nervous...she was falling in LOVE nervous...she was nervous!
~Part: 3~
~The drive over here was a nightmare, Angel's stood on my toes only around three hundred times and I feel like I've been dragged through a hedge backwards~, mused Cordelia. Of course, it hadn't helped that Connor had upturned his breakfast, lunch AND dinner from the night before onto Cordelia's lucky shirt. Oh yeah, great help. Since the episode with the dancing the night before, neither friend had bothered to *ask* what had happened. It wasn't normal, both knew that. They'd come so close to kissing and the whole...kissing Angel thing had Cordelia confused and vice versa with Angel.
Angel, ever Mr. Pessimist, believed it to be the work of whatever had been in the hotel. And Cordelia, liked to believe it was because Angel found her incredibly hot, sexy and so amazingly wonderful that he couldn't keep his hands, eyes or lips off of her.
~Yeah, yeah Chase. Get your head out of the clouds and back on the ground where it belongs.~ She thought, shaking her head. Cordelia stood there watching him practice in the floorlength mirror. He looked so...sexy, graceful...
~No! No! No! NO LUSTY FEELINGS OVER ANGEL! He's Angel! He's...he's old...~ Cordelia rolled her eyes, was that the only lame reason she could come up with for why she shouldn't be salivating over her best friend right now? He caught the look, "Am I doing something wrong?" He asked, turning to look at her. To Angel, he already had two left feet, asking him to dance was a disaster in itself.
Cordelia shook her head, "No..." She said softly, "You were doing fine...I was just thinking."
Angel smiled, "Dance with me?" He asked softly. Cordelia nodded, swallowing hard. "Angel?" She asked, as she stepped into his arms. They moved together in a syncronicity that Cordelia found astounding, every part of their body was in time with the other, he really had learned the moves. "When did you..."
Angel grinned, "Let's just say watching large amounts of Strictly Ballroom was necessary. Plus, that guy...wow..."
"I love it when you smile." Whispered Cordelia, reaching up to stroke his face.
The doors burst open and Cordelia groaned, shaking her head. "Dammit..." She muttered, staring at the Green Anagogic Demon with the horns that she SOOO wanted to rip off. "Visitor!" Said Lorne, looking sheepishly at the Seer and the vampire. "This one's kinda a handful..."
He stepped back to reveal none other than the Slayer...
"What are you doing here?" He asked.
Faith looked at him, "Gettin' to grips with the sight of Fred and Ginger by the looks of things." She said, raising her eyebrows. "I know the guy from Strictly Ballroom was kinda cute but...c'mon..."
Angel stared, waiting for his answer. "Got released." Said Faith, "Good behaviour or...something...Council Guys pulling strings maybe?" She asked, "Said...'an important prophecy was about to come to pass' and that I needed to get my ass down here."
"But it's invitation only!" Said Cordelia, irritably, "We had to *DANCE* to make the guest list..." She didn't add the part of the favour from Kate who knew someone from security who worked here and had cut them a deal.
"What's the matter, Cor...don't like sharin' your toys?" Asked Faith, revelling in the grimace the Seer gave, "Don't worry...I'm here strictly on business, not whatever YOU'RE here on." She said pointedly, grinning at the fact that Angel had his arms wrapped protectively around Cordelia's waist. "Seems like a nice place for some after hours UMPH...if you know what I'm sayin'..."
"Hey, I like this girl." Said Gunn, grinning and nodding his head approvingly.
"Keep it in your pants." Snapped Cordelia, "This girl means trouble."
"Wrong and wrong again, snobby. This girl MEANT trouble. This girl MEANS business." Said Faith.
"And what would that be?" Asked Cordelia, moving away from Angel, "The business of hurting and killing people?" Her eyes darkened considerably, "You hurt my friends and you'll regret it."
Faith shook her head, "Wow, gettin' some action with Angel made you grow a pair, huh? Way to go, Cordelia!"
Cordelia's eyes flashed angrily...and Angel stepped right in front of her. "No fighting." He said.
"But..."
"No fighting." He repeated, turning on Faith, he spoke calmly, "Look, if you're here to help, fine. But you AREN'T berating my friends and making them angry. You do your thing, I do mine."
"Sure..." Said Faith, as she sauntered away, "What if our *things* sort of mesh though?"
*****
"What did she mean by that?" Asked Cordelia, sitting feeding Connor.
"What?"
"What if our things sort of...mesh? Is there something going on between you and Faith?"
"Are you jealous?"
"Answer the question." Connor gurgled...and spat his dinner onto Cordelia's shirt...again.
Angel looked up from his newspaper, "No, there's nothing going on between me and Faith."
"'Cause you'd tell me, right?"
"Of course."
"Angel?"
"What?"
"I know you have a thing for blondes but...Faith's kinda...cool..." Said Cordelia, cautiously, "I mean you'd be forgiven if..."
"I don't feel anything for Faith but friendship...and even that was kinda hard today with her goading you like that."
"What are you saying?"
Angel was puzzled, "That it was kinda hard being her friend when she was taunting you."
"Oh." She said quietly.
"Cordelia?"
"What?"
"Are you jealous?"
"No."
"You are, aren't you?"
"No."
"The truth?"
"Kinda."
"Hmm..." He smiled.
******
"Ladies and Gentleman, please welcome from Los Angeles, Angel and Cordelia!"
The voice rang through the sound system and Angel turned. "Cordelia?"
"I *so* can't do this!" Said the brunette, shaking her head, "No way!"
"You just have stage fright..."
"No, I have embarassment fright. I have vision fright. I have demon fright. I have every other FRIGHT you can imagine barring STAGE fright and I'm NOT going out there!" Said Cordelia, stubbornly.
Leaning down, Angel whispered in her ear, "Go out there with me...and I promise to tell you ANYTHING you want to ask."
Cordelia grinned, "Anything?"
"Anything."
~Oh boy, oh boy...Angel, you're in for a surprise.~ Thought Cordelia.
"Let's do it." She grinned.
~Part: 4~
She took a deep breath as the lights dimmed, the first notes of their music drifting through the hushed crowd. At the feel of him gently squeezing her hand, Cordelia realised that she was, in fact, more nervous than he was.
Angel meanwhile, could only concentrate on Cordelia. Her short hair was tied back in a clip, soft curls framing the edges of her face. Okay, so his Seer had always been beautiful but...when had she ever looked like that? Lighting...maybe?
~Yeah, yeah Grrr guy.~ He could almost hear her voice now. Could certainly hear her heart thumping in her chest...the dress...oh God, the dress...any guy's DREAM. Definitely hip hugging and...everything hugging really...the enticing swell of her breasts and... ~Naughty thoughts...naughty thoughts. STOPPIT!~
When Angel looked up, he realised Cordelia was kind of...glaring at him. ~Damnit! Missed a beat!~ He made it up quickly however, dancing backwards as Cordelia came forwards, eyes locked on each other, smouldering. Maybe they'd tell themselves that this was simply...the product of the dance but...it wasn't. And both knew it wasn't. Something was happening between two friends, two best friends...
"Way to go Angel..." Mumbled Faith, standing UNCOMFORTABLY close to Wesley, much to the annoyance of Fred, "They're almost humpin' on the dance floor."
Wesley twitched his collar nervously. As much as the ex-watcher was loathe to admit it, Faith was indeed right the two friends did almost seem to be...melting...out there. Gunn could only grin...and shift uncomfortably as the possibility of watching his very FEMALE friend dancing like that caused him to become a little...hot and bothered?
Cordelia's body moved in time with Angel's, a smile on both their faces, "Told you I loved it when you smiled..." She whispered - oh yeah, Angel had DEFINITELY been watching all those videos where the dancers couldn't remove the smile from their faces. Briefly, Cordelia wondered where he'd gotten Strictly Ballroom from, but she paid no mind to it, her mind clearing of thoughts as Angel beamed at her. His hands, were on her hips as they wiggled sensually. The Salsa...pronounced hip movements, dancing as close as the situation might possibly allow...
"Mama!" Connor bounced in Fred's arms, giggling and pointing not towards just one parent but two...
"Cordy?"
"What?"
"Are we doing good?"
"Keep dancing..." She whispered.
"Cordy?"
"What?"
"You look amazing..."
Cordelia smiled, her dress flaring out as Angel spun her away from him...breathless and giddy with excitement, she returned. "So do you..."
The smile on his face widened so much, Angel feared it was going to remain there for a long time.
"Are you ready?" She asked softly.
Angel nodded. They weren't here to win...no way in hell they would anyway but...Cordelia was damned sure they wouldn't make fools of themselves. Coming to this part, made her a little nervously excited...the move was one they'd practiced for DAYS on end and still hadn't perfected. Still, it was part of the routine...even if Cordelia's poor toes DID get broken. As his hands trailed up Cordelia's side, they were halted just where Angel's naughty thoughts had stopped earlier - taking one of her hands, he spun her outwards again, pulling her back to execute a spin under his arm and out again, hips moving all the while. The delight on Cordelia's face was palpable when they did it without glich - the audience burst into applause and she laughed, giddily.
As the music slowed a little, he could hear the blood pumping through her veins...the enticing call of her heartbeat...
And in the dim lights, the demon came forth unbidden and bent, fangs sinking into Cordelia's neck...
Cordelia yelped, pulling Angel to his senses and when the music stopped Angel pulled back, watching as she stared in horror, a touch of her blood on his lips. "Angel?" She whispered, puzzled...afraid...almost aroused...
Angel backed away from her, confusion streaking across his face, "I'm sorry..." He whispered, breaking into a run and sprinting out of the ballroom. Onlookers were left puzzled, they hadn't seen the exchange between Demon and Human...only Angel, running off, away from his partner. Some would put it down to nerves...but as Wesley, Fred, Gunn and Faith watched when Cordelia walked out,they knew that something VERY wrong had happened...
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"WHERE IS HE?" Snapped Cordelia, rubbing at her neck. She was cradling her so...Connor, in her arms, pacing the floor nervously. Connor could tell that Cordelia's disposition was an uncomfortable one, the child squirmed, murmuring 'Mama' sadly.
"I'm sure they've found him, Cordelia. Please...sit...you're making me nauseous." Said Fred.
"You think he had another epiphany?" Asked Gunn, pointedly, his dark eyes narrowed.
Cordelia glared at him, "DON'T start with this." She almost growled, "Something's wrong and I don't know what it is..." She whispered, turning towards the window and staring out...
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The hours seemed to pass like entire days. Wesley and Faith were out looking for him...the next part of the contest wasn't until the next night, where the demon would strike but that didn't bother Cordelia, Angel was still missing. Connor kept crying for his 'Dada' and Fred kept fretting for Wesley. It was almost dawn. If Angel didn't come back soon then...
Cordelia looked at Gunn, passed out on a chair. Connor in the bed, one arm placed over a sleeping Fred and herself...sitting on the edge of the bed, chewing her fingernails because she was so nervous. She sighed and tried to shut her eyes but it was no use, annoyed, she got up off the bed and threw the door open, gasping when she saw him standing there, "Angel?" She whispered.
He fell to his knees in front of her, and Cordelia did the same, "What's wrong?" She asked, "TELL ME!"
Wrapping his arms around her, a terrified Angel pressed himself into her...and it was then, that Cordelia could feel the struggle of something beneath his chest...a thump-thump...persistent...thump-thump...
"Angel?" She whispered, her voice cracking, "Y-your Shanshu?"
Angel shook his head, "No..." He whispered, "Something else..."
"WHAT something else though?" She almost begged. Angel slumped forward, sending Cordelia toppling to the floor.
"Music...show..." He whispered.
"What?"
"I love you..."
"HUH!"
His heart stopped again.
"HEY! BROOD GUY!" Cordelia shook him, "You can't just say something like that then DIE on me! Angel...Angel?"
~Part: 5~
~Dead. Dead. Angel...dead. Oh God...and what the hell did he mean? I mean, sure FRIEND love and everything but...~ Cordelia stared at Angel, all kinds of thoughts running through her head. ~Not dead, not dead, not dead...~
Gunn looked at Cordelia, then at Fred, then back at the door, wondering when Faith and Wesley would return. He wasn't disappointed. The door was pushed open and Cordelia immediately burst into speech, "Dead! I mean...DEAD...he's already dead and...he's dead and he said he loved me and I didn't know what he meant and he doesn't have a heartbeat anymore and I don't know what he meant but I think I love him too and not just in the friend way but in the real scary, messy love way and he can't be dead Wesley!!!" She said, bursting into tears.
"Cordelia, calm down, I'm sure there's a very logical explan..."
"What's going on?"
Cordelia screamed...Connor followed suit. Gunn gasped, Wesley frowned, Fred paled and Lorne laughed nervously. "Uh...who brought dead boy back?" Asked the Anagogic demon, staring in wonderment at the vampire.
"Brought me back from where?" Asked Angel, who had just woke up - minus a heartbeat, looking very...well, dead.
"You were DEAD!" Said Cordelia.
"Aren't I always?"
"Yes but...NO!" She snapped, "You were *really* dead this time."
"As opposed to the other times when I'm only...half dead?" Asked Angel, puzzled.
Cordelia punched him in the arm, "You're a real jerk sometimes, you know that?" She asked, glaring at him. Turning on her heel, she left the apartment and went to stand on the balcony.
Angel sighed, "What did I do?" Following Cordelia, he found her standing looking over the City of Angels, tears running down her cheeks. "Cordy...I'm okay." He said softly.
"Well I can see that!" She snapped, "But you weren't before! You were dead!"
"I'm always dead."
"You know what I mean."
"I don't!"
"Angel..." The sound of fear and trepidation in her voice made his heart ache, "What happened down there last night? I mean, one minute we were dancing and the next minute it was hello Grrr guy all over again..."
"I don't know." Said Angel quietly, looking away from her, ashamed. "I didn't...there wasn't even a warning...one minute it was me, next minute it was him."
"Angelus?" She whispered.
Angel nodded and sighed, "Cordelia, I want you to take Connor and leave. I don't want you to be here if he...if something..."
Cordelia shook her head, adamantly, "No Angel."
"Cordelia, yes."
"I said no."
"And I said yes." He replied.
"Yeah, I heard you." Said Cordelia, "But if I remember rightly, Wesley's the boss here, not you and besides, when have you known me ever to take good advice? We're in this up until the end, Angel."
"Even if that's tonight?"
"Got it in one, Brood Boy."
Angel looked at her and shook his head, "What if..."
"Angel, you might wanna hear this!" Gunn's voice floated through to the balcony and both Angel and Cordelia stepped inside, "What?" He asked.
Faith stood, staring at Angel, "Seems you weren't the only guy to have a wig out session last night..."
Angel was puzzled, "Huh?"
"Most of the dancers." Said Faith, "All male, all wigged...only none of 'em can remember what happened this morning." The dark-haired slayer shook her head, "Only rememberance is their girls black eyes or in one's case...broken almost everything, nose, cheekbones, the whack..."
Wesley looked at Angel, "At least we know now that it wasn't just you, right?"
Angel shook his head, "True, but...if this is some get back at men or women of this competition in general...everyone's in danger." He said, frowning.
"Yeah, well they probably didn't realise they had the previous Scourge of Europe doin' the Cha-Cha this year." Said Gunn, eliciting glares from everyone in the room. Except Connor who kinda...huffed...in his stroller.
Cordelia placed a hand on his arm, "Angel...the danger's there, but not just from you at least. I mean, you're not the only one in danger of being a danger. I guess we'll see what happens when we dance later on, huh?"
Angel looked at her, "No. I'm not risking your life like that, not again."
"You pulled back, Angel." She said softly, "You controlled it when you had to. Everyone loses it at one time or another and this one wasn't your fault. You pulled back."
"I couldn't hurt you." He whispered. Slowly, Angel's hand came up and brushed her hair away from her neck, touching the puncture wounds, "I never wanted this to happen." He said quietly.
"I know." Said Cordelia, then, an impish grin crossing her face, she said, "You love me, remember?"
The other's watched, bemused as Cordelia burst into song, Connor giggling the whole while, "You want to lurve me, you want to kisssss me, you want to squeeeezzzeee me!" Cordelia laughed, bumping her butt against Angel's, "We have practice soon...be ready on time, Angel or the price will be great." Taking Connor from his stroller, she walked through the other room with him, blowing raspberries on his stomach, delighting in the giggles.
Gunn looked at Angel and grinned, "If that were me? I'd deliberately show up late."
Wesley chuckled, "Okay then. Angel, you practice. Gunn, go with Faith see if there was anything suspicious about last night...if all the male dancers perhaps have eaten the same food, or drank the same water...something along those lines. They could have all ingested something of a magical nature to cause their present disposition. Fred, you, Lorne and I shall go talk to some of th edancers ourselves, see what happened."
"Oh boy..." Said Faith dryly, "We're like...real detectives."
Gunn laughed, "Yeah 'cept...we're not."
Angel watched as his small group of friends left, laughing good-naturedly and in silence, he sat down on the chair. ~I can't believe how close I come to hurting her. What if I'd...~
"I CAN HEAR YOU Y'KNOW!" Called Cordelia.
"Hear me what?" He asked, wondering if he'd spoken out loud.
"Brooding."
"I wasn't."
"Liar."
A pause.
"Angel?"
"What?"
"I've got something to tell you."
"What's that?"
Appearing at the door, dressed in a robe, Connor in her arms, Cordelia tossed a shoe at him, "We're gonna be late. Sleep. Practice. Performance. Dead demon. Home. In that order."
Angel chuckled and stood up, "Night, Cordelia." He said.
"Angel...wait...why don't you and Connor stay in here for now?" She asked softly. Angel took a glance at the double bed and then Cordelia, "I can sleep on the couch."
"You might find that difficult with my foot up your ass." She teased, "You can sleep in the bed with me...both of you. I don't bite." As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she grimaced, but Angel just smiled. "Are you sure?"
"Wouldn't have asked if I wasn't."
She switched out the lights and lay down on the bed, one arm circling Connor's waist as she lay his head on the pillow. "Mama?" He said sleepily. Cordelia smiled, "Right here." It had never been established that when Connor called Cordelia Mama, that it was wrong so they'd just left it as it was. She felt the indent of Angel's body sinking into the soft bed next to her and smiled, yawning. "Night, Angel." She whispered, feeling one of his arms circle both her and Connor, the other one gently stroking her hair.
"Angel?"
"Mmm?"
"Why did you do this? I mean...it's not like you love dancing or anything...oh, right, demon."
"That too." He said softly, "But I can't bear to see you hurting. I hate it. So, at the expense of my male pride, TWICE, I did this for you, for me...for those people."
"Expense of your male pride twice, how?"
"Cordelia, I hired 'Dirty Dancing', 'Strictly Ballroom', 'Dance With Me' and 'Flashdance' just for the moves...the guy in the movie rental place now thinks I'm gay."
Cordelia burst into laughter that made his spirits lift. "Oh, God..."
"It's okay." He grinned, "I used Wesley's membership card."
~Part: 6~
Angel lay there, watching her sleep. He'd been sleeping for a couple of hours, on and off, and had finally settled on staring at her, his best friend, watching as her chest rose and fell with every breath. Watching as she curled an arm protectively around Connor, as she smiled in her sleep. It made him wonder what she was dreaming about, for her to smile so. Gently, his hand stroked her hair and he watched as she stirred a little, opening her eyes and smiling sleepily, "Morning, brood guy..." She whispered, rubbing her eyes gently.
Angel smiled, "More like afternoon..." He said softly.
His son stirred between them and looked up, grumpily, 'hmph'-ing and burying his face back in the pillow. Cordelia giggled, "Just like Daddy..." She whispered.
"Just like Mommy!" Admonished Angel. "You forget I KNOW how grumpy you are first thing of a morning, Cordelia Chase." He teased.
Cordelia gasped, now fully awake. "Wh-what?" Sure, Connor called her Mama but Angel had never come straight out and said that she was his mother.
"Oh...uhm...I mean...y'know..."
"No, I don't know."
"Well...uhm..."
"What?"
"Should we order room service?"
"Angel!"
"What?"
"Explain yourself, right now!" She said, eyes wide, "What did you mean?"
"I just meant that, I mean...he calls you Mommy, you're his Mommy, that's all."
"Oh." Said Cordelia quietly.
"Did you want it to mean something else?" Asked Angel, looking down at her.
"No..." She said, hiding the disappointment in her voice. "I mean, you're Angel and you're...old and ew..."
Angel looked at her, a little hurt. "I'm...eww?"
"No, you're ew." Replied Cordelia.
"What's the difference?"
"One 'W' means you're okay, possible GUY material - two 'W's means, not a chance in hell..."
"I'm GUY material?" Asked Angel.
"Well, yeah, course you are..." Said Cordelia, blushing and looking away from him.
Gently, Angel pushed his fingers under her chin and made her look at him, "Am I guy material for *you* though?" He asked, this was the only question that mattered.
Cordelia thought for a second, then nodded slowly, "I guess." She whispered, her throat drying up. "But...you're my best friend."
"Is this *the* talk?" He asked gently.
"Talk?"
"Well...is this the point that I tell you that you were right?"
"About what?" She asked puzzled.
"Correct me if I'm wrong..." He whispered, inching closer, "But...I want to kiss you and squeeze you..." He said softly.
"OHH! I get it!" Said Cordelia, jumping out of the bed, having processed the whole situation, putting two and two together and coming up with about...mmm, nine? "You want to kiss me and squeeze me and have your wicked way with me but you don't want to love me, is that it?" She asked, becoming INSANELY jealous of...Buffy, again. "Sure, that's fine Angel, there she is again, back in your life."
"Who?" Said Angel, puzzled.
"Buffy!" Yelled Cordelia, startling Connor who looked up at her, EXTREMELY grumpy now. "Buffy, Buffy, Buffy! You want to kiss me and squeeze me but you want to love her instead of me!" Walking out of the bedroom, in her robe, Cordelia slammed the door shut.
Angel sighed, "Wrong." He whispered, "I already love you."
**********
"She just went mental." The young male dancer rubbed the back of his head where his partner had unceremoniously smashed a champagne bottle. He held Wesley's hankerchief to his head, frowning, "She accused me of looking at all the other female dancers...that I wanted to be with those more than her." He shook his head, puzzled.
"Were your eyes actually wanderin'?" Asked Gunn.
"No...really, no." Said the dancer, honestly, "I don't know what came over her."
"Thanks for your time." Said Wesley, watching as the injured young man turned, walking back into his apartment.
"That's four guys we've seen that have told us their girls have gone a little crazy on them." Said Faith, shaking her head. "What the heck is going on here?"
"Uh...guys?" Squeaked Fred. "If Cordy got REALLY angry at Angel, like she did when...Darla was around, y'know like jealous...and there was lots of wooden furniture lying around...do you think maybe...uhm..."
"Oh, bugger..."
**********
"CORDELIA!" The gang burst into the apartment, looking at Angel standing wrestling with a diaper, his son and a bottle of cream for diaper rash. "Y'know, almost five months of buying the same diapers, then the store runs out and we get the sticky ones that are really NON-stick ones."
"Okaaayyyy...where's Cordelia?" Asked Gunn, watching as a worried look passed across Angel's face, "I was going after her as soon as I got Connor ready..." He tried to explain, "She..."
"Had an attack of the green-eyed monster?" Asked Lorne, watching as Angel nodded, "How d'you know?"
"We've been talking to some of the dancers, seems like it's been happening all over the hotel." Said Wesley, looking at Angel, "You go look for Cordelia, we'll stay here, research and watch Connor..."
**********
This time, it was Angel's turn to watch Cordelia from afar as she practiced her dance routine. He'd realised he loved her only a few short hours ago, when she'd reassured him that the demon inside wasn't him. She could have been killed and yet...she'd reassured him that it wasn't him, it was something else controlling him. Spinning round, as per their routine, Angel stepped out, having Cordelia bump straight into him. "Hey." He said softly, a pensive look crossing his face, "Are you al..."
"If you ask me if I'm alright, I'll kick your ass." She said simply, pulling away from him. A hand on her wrist stopped her and she looked up at him, "What?"
"Cordelia, we have to talk about this, somewhere along the line you got your wires crossed and..."
"Wires crossed? No, Angel, I didn't. You said it yourself this morning, I don't have a hope in hell of ever BEING with you the way I want. You want a quick lay right now and then once you Shanshu you can run back to little Rebecca of Sunnydale and do all the soul-mate-y CRAP with her! Well, sorry Angel, but I'm not buying it...I deserve more than that!"
"Damnit, will you listen to yourself? Do you honestly believe that that's what's going to happen?" He asked.
"Yes."
"Well, I've got news for you Cordy...it's not."
"Oh, please...do tell me how this works." She said dryly, "Tell me how you still love her, how you still pine for her every day of your dark, brooding existence. Tell me why I'm supposed to give a crap. Tell me why I'm busting my ass and my brain, getting all these sucky visions when once you Shanshu, you're going to leave me! You want something that I'm not prepared to give. If you want me, you take all of me - you don't leave part of me behind when the mythicky Chosen One comes running..."
"And I don't want to!" Said Angel, frustrated, staring at her.
"I know!!! That's what the entire argument is about!" Yelled Cordelia. "You don't want to be with me...not like that. You want a quick lay and..."
"Okay, since you've thought all this out, what about the Curse, remember that? Can't experience true happiness or I'll lose my soul..."
"Why would you experience true happiness with me? I'm not blonde or short, I have no Super Powers, other than the strength to cut someone down with my tongue and I actually *read* fashion magazines. I'm not Buffy!"
"AND THAT'S WHY I LOVE YOU! Because you're YOU! Because you're Cordelia Chase. Because you're Cordy. Because you can cut someone down with your tongue. Because you're my best friend. JUST BECAUSE, DAMMIT!!! If I went into all the why's and how's of the ways I love you, we'd be here all night." Said Angel, shaking his head, his grip tight on her wrist. "I love you. Is that getting through to you? Somewhere in all the damned haze of whatever spell we're locked under, is that getting through to you?" He asked.
"I should go change." Said Cordelia quietly, pulling away from him. "You should do the same. We're on in an hour."
Angel shook his head, "Did you even listen to a word I said?"
"I listened..." She said as she walked away, "I just didn't believe you."
**********
Their music started and Angel looked down at her, the crowd hushed. "How do I make you believe?" He asked quietly as they began to dance, a slow dance. This was the FreeStyle dance, the one that had had them most worried - especially after the 'dance that should never be mentioned again because it was almost like they'd made love' had happened. Cordelia was to dance alone, for much of the song - until her 'hero' arrived. She'd scoffed at this, but Fred had insisted it would be romantic (she'd borrowed Angel's video tapes).
Cordelia felt like she was dancing in slow motion, then...the familiar tightening...whispered words alerted Angel to her predicament, "No...not now..." Her body tensed and she was tossed into the throes of a vision. He grabbed her before she could fall and as her scream pierced the music, the music stopped - the haze lifted. Angel's senses were alerted to a small man, standing at the edge of the stage, his eyes almost black like coal. Cordelia's body kept convulsing, still locked inside the vision and Angel looked up as the man stepped forward, "Angelus." He smiled. "What a nice surprise..."
Angel growled, watching as Wesley, Faith and Gunn jumped down from the rafters, surrounding the man. "Call them off Angelus. If your Seer means as much to you as I think, you'll call them off."
"Guys." Angel didn't know why, but he got the feeling that Cordelia was in very distinct danger unless he did something here. "Who are you?" He asked, glaring at the man.
"Who I am, is not important. What I *want* is far more a pressing matter I wish you to consider, Angelus."
"And what do you want?"
"A simple matter, a trifle really. Your soul." He smiled.
~Part: 7~
"My soul?" Asked Angel, looking over at him. "Why?"
The man smiled, "Simply really, mine's dying. Years of magic taking its toll and I need another. Yours. I know you'll do anything for your Seer, so, here I am."
"Pardon me..." Wesley interjected, stepping forward, "What's so special about Angel's?" He asked, although quite rightly already knowing the answer, he was trying to stall for time.
"Easy to extract. See, I had hoped that Angelus would lose it the easy way, to the woman he loved." He gestured to Cordelia, shaking his head, "But it seems that every time they get close, something seems to get in the way. An Anagogic Demon, a Slayer and...most recently...a child."
"So, it was you who did all of this?" Asked Angel, "With the music...and the..."
"Angelus, you underestimate me." Laughed the man, "I've been around almost as long as yourself. This, to me, is child's play. I wouldn't stoop so low as to convey a trick like this." He clapped his hands, and from out of the shadows stepped a vampiress.
"He's not Daddy, naughty man tricked me..."
Angel cringed, "I might've known."
Drusilla smiled at Angel, "That's very rude. I would have thought you'd have been awf'ly pleased with me...giving you and Grandmummy a baby and all." Said Drusilla, shaking her head. She hissed at Connor, causing Fred to wrap her arms more protectively round the child, "Gave Grandmummy a nasty soul...made her ache inside...just like the Angel Beast." Drusilla looked at Angel, "You don't hurt as much any more, do you? Pretty Eyes lessens the pain..."
Angel frowned, "Pretty eyes?"
Drusilla crept forward, looking at Cordelia, "Pretty Eyes makes the Angel beast happy...makes Daddy never want to come out again." She said a little sadly.
Staring at Drusilla, Angel kept his arms wrapped protectively around Cordelia. "She does." He said quietly. "She does make me happy."
"Well, this is all very well and good but we have a negotiation to consider..."
"BITE YOUR TONGUE!" Harsh words from Drusilla caused him to quieten, and Drusilla looked at Angel. "He's a magician...does potions and spells to make the heart 'urt..." She whispered. "Naughty Warlock tricked me into making the Angel Beast and the Seer feel something...said Daddy would come out to play...but 'e won't - there souls are bound together..."
Angel was stunned. Everything that had happened between him and Cordelia was...because of a spell? No...it couldn't have been... "What do you mean?" He asked, "Our souls are bound together, how?"
"Spell didn't work..." Said Drusilla, shaking her head sadly, "Souls bound together...can't be taken apart...not by magic..." She turned, baring her fangs towards the Warlock, "You can't bring Daddy back...you told naughty tales...tall tales of times when Daddy would hurt with Princess. We were to have a Tea Party with Miss Edith..."
"Stay back or I shall..."
"Miss Edith isn't pleased. She says...I should 'urt you...make you bleed..." Drusilla smiled, "I think I should like this game." Drusilla grabbed the hand that held the stone affecting Cordelia and crushed it, hearing the bones snap and the man squeal. "Your body shall die long before your soul ever shall..." Whispered Drusilla as she reached out with her hands, snapping his neck quickly. "Night night."
Angel watched as she turned back towards him. "Leave." He said quietly, "You know that if I see you again, I'll stake you."
Drusilla nodded, "Pretty Eyes will waken soon enough...believe what she says, for its true Daddy." She turned, walking away from the large group of people.
"What, you're just gonna let her get away?" Asked Faith, frowning, itching for some stakage.
Angel nodded, "For now." He had more important things to worry about than Drusilla. Scooping Cordelia up into his arms, he looked at Wesley, "I'm taking her back to the room, that alright?"
Wesley nodded, "We'll take care of the body." He said, gesturing to the man whose fallen form had began to shrivel before them, to a spoken 'ew' from Faith.
* * * * * * * * * *
"Hey." Said Angel softly as his Seer opened her eyes. When she looked up at him, his gaze shifted guiltily away and Cordelia was left puzzled. "Angel?" She asked, rubbing her eyes, "What's wrong?"
He shook his head, "Nothing. Case over. Closed. Demon squished. We can go home."
"Something's wrong. Connor...where's Connor?" She asked panicked.
"He's okay...everyone's fine..."
"You're lying to me." Said Cordelia, so softly she wondered if she'd spoken.
"Everything...everything that's happened over the past few days. The near Kisses...the hugs...the...everything. What was it?" He asked.
"What do you mean?"
"What I say. What was it? Was it just..."
"Me loving you?" Asked Cordelia, quietly. "I didn't mean to go off on you, I do believe you...everything you said, I believe you and...I love you too."
"That's just the thing." Said Angel, "You don't. It was all a spell to make you think you did. Someone wanted my soul...they made us think we loved each other."
"So...you don't then?" Asked Cordelia, "Y-you don't love me?"
Angel sighed, "No...I...I don't."
"Do you still love her?"
"Who?"
"Buffy?" Her heart was breaking. And as Angel didn't answer, Cordelia nodded, "I see." She said softly. "It's okay, Angel." She lied, "I mean...I didn't think you did anyway. I...I always knew you'd go back to her eventually. She's Buffy." Cordelia got out of the bed and went over to the window. "Angel, could you...leave...for a while? I'm tired."
Angel looked at her, "Are we okay here?" He asked. Turning, she gave one of her thousand watt bluffage smiles and nodded, "We're fine, fine."
Angel left. Cordelia burst into tears.
***
"Happy now?" As Angel walked down the corridor, he turned hearing Fred's voice. "I listened." She said quietly, "I listened to what you guys were saying and...are you blind? I always thought vampires had good sight and stuff but...maybe I'm wrong."
"It was all a spell." Said Angel, "That was the only reason this stuff was happening. It started when that...that thing was in the hotel."
"So, it must have been happening a long time before that too then, huh?" Asked Fred, "Because ask any one of your friends and they'll all say the same. This hasn't been going on for days or weeks, this has been going on for months. Even Faith could see what was happening when she arrived, it's just you and Cordelia are too dumb to admit that you guys might actually have feelings for each other."
Angel shook his head, "It was the spell."
Fred sighed, "Yeah, yeah. Keep telling yourself that, Angel. You might actually start believing it." She said, sauntering away.
Angel looked back at their room, guiltily and went back, standing at the door. At the sound of his friend's muffled crying, he stepped back inside, looking down at her. She lay on the bed, her head buried in her arms. "Go away." She muttered.
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"I said yes." She reached under her head and tossed a pillow at him, "Angel, go away..."
"Why?" He asked.
"Because I don't want you to see me cry." She whispered, sadly, still hiding her face from him.
"I've seen you cry before."
"Never over YOU though." She whispered. "Y'know, even under the sucky spell I KNEW this would happen. I knew you'd go back to Buffy once you got your Shanshu, I knew." She said, her voice muffled into the pillow, "You're just a big jerk."
"Cordelia..."
"Jerk."
"Cordelia, listen to me..."
"Still a jerk."
"Cordelia!"
"BITE ME!" She sat up, her eyes blazing, red and puffy all at the same time. "Go, get Buffy! Find your super little Slayer, your soulmate. Get all hot and heavy, see how much I care!"
"But you do care!"
"Stop being LOGIC BOY!" She yelled. "Stop *thinking* you know me."
"But I do...know you."
"But you don't LOVE me, that's the point."
"Liar."
"What?" Cordelia stopped at the grin on his face, "You're GRINNING at a time like this, why?"
"Because, Cordelia Chase, I love you. I'm grinning because...hell, because, at this precise moment? I've realised I love you more than anything. It had nothing to do with the damned spell, I love you."
"B-but Buffy..."
"What about Buffy?" Asked Angel, gently, sitting down next to her and brushing away her tears with his thumb. "She lives in Sunnydale...I live here. I'm in love with you, she's in love with Spike - or claiming not to be, so I'm told."
"Ewww, Spike!" Said Cordelia, giggling.
Angel smiled, "I'm so glad that there was more than one 'W' there." He said, grinning.
Cordelia laughed, "You actually listened to what I was saying?"
Angel smiled, "Always do..."
"Yeah, yeah...even you aren't that great..." Said Cordelia, shaking her head, a mischevious twinkle in her eye.
"Try me."
"I think I might." Said Cordelia, leaning over to kiss him, softly.
Angel pulled away, "Wait a minute..."
Cordelia huffed and stared at him, "What?" She asked, sticking out her lower lip. Three whole days and she STILL hadn't kissed him.
"Do you love me?" He asked, "Or am I going to kiss you and have you not respecting me in the morning?" He asked, teasingly.
Cordelia grabbed him and pressed her lips to his, "I didn't respect you anway, Grr guy..." She mumbled, happily.
Angel grinned.
THE END!!!