The Luck O' The Irish

Author: Angelicgal82 (Christie)

Pairings: A/C

Spoilers: I think this is mostly an AU fic - Everything up to Couplet has happened so far but Cordy's back from her tryst with You Know Who. "A vague disclaimer is nobodies friend."

Rating: PG-13

Summary: Angel and Cordelia have both been having weird dreams lately. What do a Law Firm, a Spell and an Irish man have in common? Read on...

Disclaimer: They belong to David Greenwalt, Joss Whedon etc... I wish they were mine, but alas, they are NOT.

Feedback: Love it, need it, crave it... "It's like a Sickness..."

Dedication: (1) To all the people on the Stranger Things Forum - who offer me Fan Fic in times of stress and feedback in times of... Stress! (And you guys think I can write??? Pfft!)
(2) Dedication: For Tally who 'hinted' me into finishing the next chapter - and for Schweet, my BIGGEST fan!
Notes: I was going to post this as a challenge but I think I have way too many specifications for anyone to actually take this on... LOL... What can I say, I'm fussy! This part is only going to be short - just to see whether you think it's worth continuing or not (I got the idea on the bus this morning! LOL... Scrambling in my bag for paper in case the idea left me just didn't look like a particularly sane thing to do...)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
 
 

~Part: 1~

They'd played this game for a while now. The game of almost flirting but not quite. The game of sometimes touching but being too far away from each other for it actually to mean anything. The game of looking into the other's eyes and seeing something there but never wanting to admit it.

Angel had seen it before. With Doyle. Sometimes, he refused to believe it was there - but when she looked at him, like she had this morning after a vision, her eyes darkened with pain, not from the vision, but from what she saw - he saw expectancy, he saw hope. Something that had never been there with Doyle and it made him doubt. Was he simply her saviour? Of course not. He could hear the 'pfft' in his head right now. What she felt for Doyle and what she felt for him were two different things entirely.

Angel dreamed. Often, they were dreams of his Shanshu, nightmares of a life he loathed. Last night, he dreamed of a lost friend - Doyle. His mentor when he'd first gotten to LA and ultimately? His saviour. For it was Doyle who'd brought him together with Cordelia. A 'humanising influence' he'd said. With her, Angel had never felt more human. It wasn't the people he helped or saved, it was Cordelia, plain and simple.

* * *

When visions hit, they were more like dreams so Cordelia could be forgiven for thinking that this was a dream. A sweet, melancholy filled dream of the time they'd shared together and the time they'd lost. Still, it prompted her to go to the outer shell of their old offices, the Irish pub in which he used to frequent (and incidentally the one he'd claimed Oz was 'Bam Bam' in) and then, the docks on which he'd sacrificed himself to save others.

Doyle was a hero. Her legs swinging on the edge of the old pier, Cordelia's hands were braced against the wood of the place she sat, looking out over the dark sea. His eyes. She could remember his eyes as they shared that first, that only kiss. He'd touched her life in a way she'd never thought possible - he'd brought her close to Angel and offered her a chance at her own redemption, starting with the apartment, followed by the visions - incidentally, the ones she'd been turned into a half demon for.

Cordelia sighed, that thought had been a lot bitchier than she'd intended. She didn't blame Doyle and boy, wouldn't the fun brood fest if she'd said that to Angel be riveting? She didn't blame anyone. Sure, when the visions had been mind-splittingly painful they'd hurt... (Well, duh.) But other than that - she'd had a purpose, it was her mission in life to help Angel's mission...

The sleep-deprived Seer sighed. Over the past few nights, dreams about Doyle had been rife - not that she didn't like them, far from it. But the dreams were disturbing - their last night together. A moment in the office, one so significant that Cordelia might not have remembered it had she not had the dream. And then, the dream tonight. It wasn't a vision - for Cordelia had been asleep. But Doyle was reaching out to her - and there his eyes were again, gazing into hers, beseeching for help, for release. She'd sat here since the crack of Dawn, trying to decipher exactly what her dream meant.

A light breeze ruffled her hair and Cordelia was snapped back to reality, back to the reality where Connor would be waking in about ten minutes and acting all cranky and broody like his dork of a father if she wasn't there to give him his morning milk. Cordelia smiled, life was definitely strange.

* * *

It was the luck o' the Irish when you were finally winning a hand at poker and you were pulled out the game. The luck o' the Irish was great - for anyone who wasn't Irish anyway, he mused. Standing here, it felt like he'd fallen into a time zone - only one where the offices had been blown to smithereens and Boss wasn't here. There, on the wall, in her neat writing was scrawled a note, flapping in the breeze. "Angel Investigations have moved! The Hyperion Hotel... We help the hopeless - if that's you, give us a call!"

Ah, so Angel had gone upmarket then? That place downstairs did have a sort of bat cave air to it - although it did suit Angel's brooding temperament, he supposed. Briefly, he wondered how much had changed. Were their "rats" still low? Was Cordy still the stiffener she'd always been? (Stupid question.) And how much was Angel still brooding over Buffy?

He was about to find out.

Stepping down into the lobby of the hotel, Allan Francis Doyle tried a smile, "Hey, what's it take to get a little service round here?" He asked, walking to the counter.

From her desk, Cordelia froze. The voice. Slowly, she glanced up...

"Doyle?" She whispered.

Life had just got stranger.

~Part: 2~

"Connor, would you just..." Angel frowned. He was tempted to do his 'grrrr' face, see if maybe that would get his son *out* of his sulky mood. Cordelia had been late, therefore Connor had refused point blank to eat his food. However, both Fred and Cordelia had argued that showing his 'grrrr' face was not only cruel but unfair to father's who didn't have 'grrrr' faces and that Angel would just have to deal with his son in the human way.

But I'm not human. Thought Angel, less than rationally as Connor brooded. "Y'know," Said Angel, "If I didn't want to agree with her so much, I'd say you were brooding." Shaking his head he picked up his son, brushing his lips subconsciously against his head as he walked down the stairs, "Cordelia, where did..."

- - - - -

"You don't smell human." Said Angel, knowingly.

"Now that's a bit rude. So happens that I am very much human... On my mother's side.

- - - - -

Angel shook himself from his reverie, staring at the back of a short guy with what Cordelia would call completely backward dress sense and black hair. It made him think of Doyle. When he turned though, it *really* made him think of Doyle and Angel blinked.

"Angel?" He heard Cordelia's pained whisper from where he stood and the vampire was forced to accept reality. Doyle, his friend and mentor, or something that looked very like him was standing right there in the hotel, staring at Angel a puzzled smile on his face. "Who's the kid?"

Realising that this could all be a trick, Angel's arms tightened around his son, "Who the hell are you?" He growled, walking further down the steps. Within seconds, the entire team was there - the entire Angel Investigations team, post-Doyle. "Woah, woah..." Holding his hands in the air, the international sign of surrender, Doyle looked at his ex-boss, "Angel, man, it's me!"

"Who's me?" Asked Fred, timidly. She certainly hadn't seen the little irish man before.

"Doyle." Said Doyle, smiling, "Nice to meet ye..."

Fred's gaze drifted to Cordelia who was standing there, a puzzled yet sad look on her face. "Doyle?" Whispered the brunette again, making Doyle turn round to face her. "In the flesh..." He smiled, then, "Well, not quite. Not sure what I am, only been back for a few minutes... Just winning a hand at poker too... I've been on a bit of a losing streak and... What?" Everyone was staring at him, quite rightly so. "Jeez, can't a guy come back from the dead without being stared at? Princess, it's me!"

Cordelia shuddered. Princess. Now she knew why it sounded so cheapened when Groo said it - because it had been Doyle's nickname for her. Of course, Doyle could have called her cow and it still would have been cheapened by anyone elses standards. Especially Groo's. Cordelia sighed. Groo. Lovely, sweet... And totally annoying Groo. Not only had he insisted on calling her Princess for the entire trip - but she couldn't get a moments peace! She'd woken up crying one night, after a dream of Doyle - and he'd insisted on coming into her room...

- - - - -

"Princess, are you ill? Shall I perhaps fetch a cow trained in medicine?"

"No, Groo." Said Cordelia, wearily. "I'm fine."

"With all due respect, Princess? You don't look fine."

Well, Gee thanks! She'd wanted to say, but she hadn't, "I'll be fine."

"I understood from Angel that the visions did not cause you pain any longer."

"You understood right." God, was every conversation a chore with him?

"Then why do you not look your best?"

"Because it's the middle of the night, I had a bad dream and getting asked questions isn't my idea of fun!" Said Cordelia, gritting her teeth.

"Princess, are you mad?"

*Ohhh, bite me.* Thought Cordelia, frowning.

- - - - -

"I don't get it." Said Cordelia, quietly, "Why here? Why now?"

Angel watched her face, suffused with emotions he wasn't sure she could control, first there was shock, anger, sadness, disbelief - almost everything. And then the one that was enough to tear his unbeating heart in two. Love. She'd looked at him like that only a couple of short weeks ago - but a vacation had put paid to that. When she'd come back, Cordelia had come back different, quieter, refused to talk about Groo, saying only that he was gone and probably wouldn't be coming back.

"I think I had a vision." Cordelia spoke again, her eyes cast at the floor. "I thought it was just a dream but... Doyle was in it. An amulet. And then he was just standing outside the old offices..."

Oh, God, the visions. Doyle's eyes immediately flitted to her face, "The visions?" Doyle looked at her, "But you couldn't have..."

"I wasn't." Said Cordelia, "They told me I had a choice, either give up the visions and have a healthy normal life without Angel, or die by the time I was 25..."

"You're dying?" Doyle swallowed, hard.

"Half demon." Said Cordelia, "Hey, I'm stubborn, can't just take what I'm given, remember?" There. She'd done it. She'd made the transition of standing there with fish mouth into talking, with her friend. "Are you... Is it... Are you really here?" She asked softly.

Doyle pinched himself for good measure, "I'd say so, yes." He smiled.

"Cordelia, perhaps we should look at this amulet you saw in your vision." Offered Wesley, then, glancing at Doyle, he smiled, "Welcome back?"

Nodding, Doyle turned his gaze to a skeptical Angel, "Hey man, I'm not gonna turn into somethin' nasty... I think." He said, grinning as he stepped forward. "Who's this little guy?"

Relaxing a little, Angel met Doyle's eyes, "My son."

"Okay, not exactly the answer I was expecting." Grinned Doyle, "Cute. Looks like you."

"Broods like him, too." Put in Cordelia, drawing a sketch of the amulet for Wesley.

Doyle was amazed at how easy this whole thing was, just sliding back into the old banter, whereas Angel was staring at Cordelia (not like he did much else) watching for signs that she didn't trust him, or felt like something was off. For once Cordelia's spidey senses were turned, then Angel's would be too - for all the world he looked, talked and acted like Doyle but Angel couldn't be too careful, especially with Connor around. Especially with all of them around - he knew only too well that he had enemies and his enemies would use anything to come after him. Wolfram and Hart had the means to do pretty much anything and...

"That's it?" Asked Wesley.

"That's it." Nodded Cordelia, "Amuletty goodness."

"Fred? Gunn? I could use your help on this." Said Wesley, thinking perhaps that Cordelia, Angel and Doyle might want some time alone together to... Reacquaint?

Fred nodded, standing up. "Okay, nice to meet you." She said, following Wesley.

Gunn, ever the skeptic, nodded, "Yeah, me too."

Waiting until they left, Doyle turned to Angel, "Nice set up y'got here, man. Like the hotel. What happened to the other place?"

"Got blown up."

"Still the conversationalist, I see, huh?" Asked Doyle, before turning his attention back to Cordelia, "You've changed."

"Duh..." Said Cordelia, "It's been almost two years now." Her voice was soft, betraying the words. "I missed you." She whispered.

"I missed you too, Cordelia. And you Angel, even though I'm too manly to admit it." He said, grinning.

Slowly, Angel's lips curved upwards in a smile. Okay, so this was weird... But he could deal.

Little did Angel know, things were about to get a whole lot weirder...

~Part: 3~

 Angel watched in silence as Cordelia remained close to Doyle, bouncing Connor up and down on her skirted knee. Fred had 'not-so-subtely' suggested that maybe he was jealous. Jealous? Him? Of course not! His best friend... His 'back from the dead' best friend was sitting in front of him and Angel couldn't have been happier...

So why did he feel so miserable? Was it the hand that came up, affectionately touching Doyle's arm every so often? That smile that Angel thought had been reserved for him and him alone?

Sighing, Angel shook his head. Over the past few weeks, he'd grown to realise his feelings for her, for his Cordelia. His. And now? His best friend was back from the dead and Angel couldn't help but feel like Doyle was stepping in on his territory...

- - - - -

"Man, you know I was crazy about her, and I was wearing her down, too. But no, handsome, brooding vampire guy has to swoop in, all sensitive mouth and overhanging forehead. How about leaving some scraps for the homely looking fellas who don't turn evil when they get some?"

- - - - -

Broken out of his past, Angel was faced with Fred, staring at him, the smell of blood attacking his senses. "Fred?" Asked Angel, panicked. The coppery smell hit him like a freight train, it wasn't enough to be serious, but it was enough to mean... Something.

Gesturing to the room Wesley and Gunn inhabited, Fred motioned for Angel to sit. She'd bitten through her bottom lip, nervously. An hour had passed. An hour in which Angel brooded, Cordelia and Doyle caught up and Fred, Wesley and Gunn had applied every piece of knowledge they had to finding out exactly what was going on. It had paid off. But the news was certainly not good.

"What is it?" Asked Angel, glancing first at Wesley then worried, back through towards his friends.

Sighing, Wesley returned Angel's gaze, "I'm afraid it's not good, Angel. They all but planned this with one thing in mind and I'm not sure..."

"Who?" Asked Angel.

"Wolfram and Hart."

* * * * *

"It's good to see you again, Cordy." Said Doyle, a smile on his face. "A lot's changed round here, huh?"

Nodding, Cordelia took a glance round the hotel, "A lot. Angel doesn't brood half as much anymore. Wesley doesn't scream like a girl when we fight..."

"You've changed too." Said Doyle.

"Well. yeah. Half demon!"

"No, not that." He shook his head, staring at her. "Not that I'm saying you were... Bad before, God knew I loved ye to pieces, Princess but... You were kinda..."

"Bitchy, shallow? I get that." She said, nodding. "I'm still me under here it's just... Some of the things I saw were..."

Doyle frowned, still cut up over the visions, "God, I'm sorry. I didn't know..."

"It's okay." A genuine smile passed across Cordelia's face, "Really, it's okay. Don't you start brooding too!" She teased.

"Speaking of... What happened to the brooding boss, I knew and loved?" Asked Doyle, taking a glance into the office where Angel paced back and forth. "That's worried Angel, I've witnessed smiling Angel and believe me that was hellishly scary - where's the big, glowery brooding guy I'm so used to?"

Cordelia looked at him puzzled, "In the office!"

She really was blind, wasn't she? "Are you serious? Princess, he's like... Angel, the Happy Years from where I'm standin;..."

"Yeah, well that's Connor."

He hated admitting it but... Well he had no choice, basically. "No Cordy, that's you." She laughed, she actually laughed. "What?" Asked Doyle, almost hurt. Although why was he surprised? She'd always laughed at him before.

"What?" Repeated Cordelia, grinning, "You! That's what!" The soft smile on her face, Doyle had only witnessed before a couple of times...

- - - - -

"What do you think I am, superficial?" She asked, "So you're half demon. That's *so* far down the list, way under short and poor! Is there anything else I should know?"

"The half demons thing is pretty much my big secret."

There, there was that smile of hers... "Good. That's out. It's done - would you ask me out to dinner already?"

- - - - -

"Me? What did I do?" Asked Doyle, worried, he knew the wrath of Cordelia Chase all too well - there WAS that time he'd spilt coffee on her expensive new shoes, and boy had that not been fun?

Cordelia giggled, about to reply when Angel, Wesley, Fred and Gunn stepped into the lobby. "What?" She asked, her smile still on her face. It quickly faded however when she saw the look on Wesleys', "What?"

"Cordelia," Started Wesley, "I'm afraid the amulet you saw in your vision was..."

The ex-Watcher faltered, his eyes drifting downwards to the floor. It was left to Angel to say what his friend couldn't, "Cordelia, this... It isn't permanent." He said quietly.

Her face paled as she stared, waiting for him to continue...

* * * * *

"So, it's done then?" Asked Lilah, glancing at the man standing before her.

"Yes. The task has been completed, they now know that the return of the half-demon isn't imminent."

"And The Scourge?" Asked Lilah, carefully in case Gavin should be lurking, "What of him?"

"Still disoriented. Mostly confused at waking up in a different time to that which he's used to. They have Espresso here." He smirked.

Lilah's lips tugged upwards into a smile, "Okay then, that'll be all, thanks."

* * * * *

"What do you mean not permanent?" Asked Cordelia, standing with Connor on her hip, glaring angrily at Angel and Wesley, "As in, hey, he still gets to live out his mortal life and die? Or as in... As in... TELL ME!"

Carefully, Wesley spoke, when he did though, it was with a certain degree of sadness in his voice, "He was brought back for a reason." He said quietly, "One I'm not entirely sure of yet but..."

"Well get sure!" Said Cordelia, frowning.

"Princess," Doyle started, stepping forward and placing a hand on her arm, Cordelia however had other ideas, she wasn't about to let him go again, "No!" Said the brunette, startling Connor slightly, "I'm not letting them bring you back just to take you away again! The Powers wouldn't do this."

"The Powers wouldn't do this?" It was the first time Gunn had spoken up in a while, but when he did, his voice was dripping with sarcasm, "Barbie, are you trippin'? They almost killed you. They DID kill him - and you think they wouldn't do this?"

Cordelia glared at him, "But... But..." She shook her head, looking at Doyle, "You knew, didn't you?" She asked.

The small shred of jealousy that Angel had left in him ebbed away at the look on Cordelia's face, "Cordelia..." He said gently.

"No! He knew... He knew it wasn't going to be permanent..."

"I did." Said Doyle, gently. "The Powers, they bring you back for a reason and then... Poof, yer gone again... As long as they drop me back in the poker game where I'm winnin' then I don't mind..." He smiled, trying to make her feel better - it only served to make tears slide down her cheeks.

"We'll find something..." Said Angel, "We'll stop it..."

"Just like you stopped it the last time?" Asked Cordelia, coldly. Simultaneously, they winced and Cordelia sighed, "I'm sorry, I didn't..."

"It's okay...." Said Angel gently...

* * * * *

The old clock in the lobby pronounced every passing minute like it had impending doom attached to it. Of course, for Doyle, it did. Who knew when the Powers were going to see fit to recall his newly found life? He wasn't able to do much - Angel, Wesley, Gunn, Fred and Cordelia were all researching while he sat looking blankly at a book.

"Are you okay?" A shy voice broke him out of his day dream and Doyle looked up at Fred, standing next to him, "Sorry, that was a stupid question. The chances of you feeling okay right now are probably slim, right? I'm Fred. I work here... With Angel and the others..."

Doyle smiled, "Seems like a nice set up Angel's got goin' here..." He said, nodding his head.

"Well, the hotel's pretty nice and... Angel's happy, he's got Connor and Cor..." She stopped, thinking for a second, "Except I'm not all that sure he actually has Cordelia, I mean I thought my assumption about kyerumption was right, but heroes and champions keep standing in the way... Y'know? Like Angel being stubborn and..."

"The lovely Groo I've heard so little about from the staunchly not-talkin-Cordelia?" Asked Doyle.

"No, actually, I was going to say you..." Said Fred, "Groo didn't really have a chance, she came back so fast. Said something about her heart not bein' in it... But then you show up and Angel gets broody all over again."

Slightly taken aback by this, Doyle looked at Fred, "Have they always been this blind?" He asked, "And when did Cordy get so adept with the hidin' of her feelin's? If she had somethin' to say back in the day she'd say it, no questions asked..."

"Things change." Said Fred, a little sadly.

"That they do..." Said Doyle quietly, "That they do..."

~Part: 4~

Don't put your cart before the horse. That was one.

Don't put all your chickens in one basket. Fair enough.

But the one Lilah Morgan, joint-head of Special Projects for Wolfram and Hart, particularly liked was, If you play with matches you're gonna get burned. She LIKED playing with fire. Just... Upped the ante a little bit. Sure, her job was stressful at times, having been threatened by Angel more times than she could imagine, never could it be said that Lilah Morgan wasn't up for a challenge.

Perhaps this then, was her greatest challenge yet. Circling the man bound in chains before her, Lilah smiled, "Hello Angelus." She said gently, "How do you feel?"

He growled, tried to break free of the chains that bound him to the chair. He was hungry... And pissed. He still had Angel's memories and these lawyers thought they could just play with him at their whim? Not likely... "I feel just fine." He answered, his words dripping with sarcasm, "And yourself?"

Lilah was never easily taken aback, this was no different. "I imagine you're wondering what's going on..."

"No." Said Angelus with a smile, "I'm wondering how long it's going to be before I get what Choir Boy wouldn't..."

"And what's that?" Asked Lilah.

"A taste... Of you." He smiled.

Lilah frowned, this was going to be harder than she'd thought...

* * * * *

"Aren't you scared?" Sitting in the courtyard, glancing up at the stars, Cordelia was side by side with Doyle, her hands twisting nervously.

"Scared? Nah... I know what's coming." He replied, with a Doyle-esque grin.

"Did it hurt?"

"A little. But then it all got kinda peaceful..." He smiled, "It's alright, I can talk about this y'know..."

"What about now?" Asked Cordelia, gently, meeting his eyes.

"Now? I'm pissed - I mean, I know I'm dying. Last time, I didn't get a choice. But knowin' I've been brought back just so suck-shitty law firm can mess about with head-vamp himself? Kinda bugs me..."

Frowning at his inept idiotness Doyle wrapped an arm around Cordelia's shoulder as a tear slid down her cheek, "Hey, no tears, remember? Might make a guy feel special." He teased. "And we wouldn't want that..."

Cordelia looked at him sadly and Doyle shook his head, "Never did have the right timin' for comedy, did I?" He asked, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.

"It's not... It's just... I'm..." Cordelia frowned and looked down, "It's not fair."

"Cordelia, Doyle - I uhm... I think you should hear this." Fred's timid voice broke through the air and into Cordelia and Doyle's hushed conversation.

The two stood, nodding towards the physicist and Cordelia went to follow before Doyle took her hand, "Listen to me for a second." He said softly, "When I go again, I want you to promise me something. I want you to promise me that instead of pretending it's not happening, you'll follow your heart. I left it too late to start anything with you, but you've still got time. Right?"

"I don't know what..."

"Just... Humour me." Said Doyle.

Cordelia nodded, "Okay. You're being humoured." She said, smiling slightly.

I hope so, Princess. Thought Doyle, I really hope so.

* * * * *

For the life of him, he'd never understand bloody shopping. Ever. "Slayer, what the hell are you DOING in there?" He growled.

"Shopping!"

"No luv, that would be those outside, shopping. Paying for their stuff and actually leaving the sodding premises."

"Spike, YOU invited yourself along." Said Buffy, "Don't blame me if..."

"Lil Bit, are you nearly done?" He asked hopefully, to the curtain of the adjoining changing rooms.

"Almost!" Called Dawn.

"Is that my time almost or yours?" Asked Spike.

"Uhm... Mine." Said Dawn, "I don't know whether this dress looks good or not..."

"Let me see then!"

"Are you kidding me? Since when do I take clothing advice from a fashionably retarded vampire."

"What's that su- HEY!" Said Spike, "I am not bloody fashionably retarded."

"You *So* are. I mean, even Angel got over the three quarter length coat and the black and moved onto something else."

"Angel was a bloody pouf." Said Spike, shaking his head and lighting a cigarette, "Angel will always BE a bloody pouf, and besides, the day I take pointers on how to dress from someone who follows the nancy-boy hair gel trend, hell will freeze over..."

"Oh, 'cause that's matu - EEK!" The screech from Dawn had Spike jumping up, "Lil Bit what's..."

Water. Everywhere. Spike's cigarette had sparked off the sprinkler system and now - the store fire alarms. "Please make your way to the front of the store."

Yanking her clothes from the floor, Buffy hit Spike across the back of the head through the curtain. "OW!" He yelped, "What was that for?"

"Smoking! I could smell it!" Said Buffy.

Minutes later, they were outside waiting to be shown back in whereupon a very irate customer was arguing with staff. "Boy, someone has their knickers in a twist." Said Spike, before turning and noticing the look on Dawn's face. "Niblet? What is it?"

"Buffy... Look..." Whispered Dawn.

"That dress was new, you moron!" Yelled the blonde haired woman, stamping her foot... Hard. And causing a crack to run across the floor.

Buffy paled, "What the hell?"

* * * * *

"The link must be severed." Said Wesley quietly, "Look, I'm sorry but..."

"No, you listen to me!" Yelled Cordelia, "We're not! This isn't a link or some stupid KEY we're talking about here. This is a PERSON, with real feelings and a heart, a good heart."

"Cordelia, the key isn't human." Said Gunn.

A very annoyed Seer rounded on Gunn, "I'm not HUMAN." She growled, "Are you going to kill me?"

Frowning, Gunn shook his head, "You know that's not what I meant..."

"Then what DID you mean?"

"Cordelia," Spoke Wesley softly, "You know that if there was any other way we'd..."

"Find a way." Said Cordelia. "FIND. A. WAY. You're NOT killing an innocent person."

"Hate to break it to you," Said Gunn, "That's not a person." He was thinking for the good of the world, brutally honest to a fault.

Cordelia, however, was thinking of the best way to alleviate pain - so when she punched him, it helped, but only a little. Gunn stumbled back and sighed, knowing he'd crossed a line. A line that wouldn't be able to be taken back, so now, he stayed silent while Cordelia glared at her friends.

"I don't think you understand. Without the key... The walls that separate certain dimensions from each other have been torn down. Enemies of Angel's... Of Buffy's will all come back to haunt them." Reading from the Prophecy, Wesley sighed, "And with this new-old arrival, shall come death - Death shall breathe new life and that which is forsaken shall all be lost. That which was given up shall all be returned. The new world has cometh, and with it brings destruction."

"WHY HIM?!" She asked, looking at Doyle, "He was never the key before, why now?" She asked.

"Because Wolfram and Hart tore the dimensions." Said Wesley quietly, "When they took Doyle to get Angelus, they tore the dimensions and now, they've created carnage. They've created something they can never control."

Angel, who had remained silent through all of this, looked at Doyle, "Aren't you going to say something?"

"Hey," Said Doyle quietly, "I've done it once, shouldn't be too hard, right?"

~Part: 5~

"No one leaves the hotel." Angel's voice was solemn, would brook no argument, "If every adversary of mine is coming back to haunt me then we have to assume that they're coming here to do it. No one leaves."

"I might need some books." Put in Wesley, tentatively.

"You either use what we have here or use your contacts online. No one leaves." Turning towards Gunn, Angel spoke firmly, "You go upstairs and get Connor's crib and some clothes. He's staying down here. Fred, go with him. You leave the room? You go in pairs."

"Don't you think you're over-reacting, man?"

Angel shook his head, "When I'm over-reacting, you'll know about it. There'll be iron bars on the doors and windows."

With that, Gunn and Fred left the room, going upstairs to get some things. He looked over at Cordelia who was cradling a sleeping Connor in her arms, gently, he placed a hand on her shoulder, "Are you okay?"

"Numb. I'm numb." She said, meeting his eyes, "I just don't understand why."

"Neither do I. I don't think I ever will." Angel's gaze drifted to Doyle who was standing with Wesley, hunched over a book, "He doesn't deserve it."

"Nor do you." Said Cordelia softly. "None of us do. It's cruel to bring him back and then snatch him away again like that, it's just... Cruel."

"You said that." Said Angel, his voice filled with a burning sense of melancholy that he couldn't shift. His best friend had been returned only to be taken away again and Cordelia was hurting because of it. Wolfram and Hart. They just never gave up, did they? They never would, not until he was dark... On their side...

* * * * *

A few miles away in an office block that was shrouded in ugly death, much the same thought was running through the head of another person, just like him the champion in every way but one. He didn't have a soul.

"You see, we don't want Angel dead. We just want him evil." Said Lilah, "So there's a clause in your contract. If something should happen to you? Then it'll happen to him. You're both connected. If he's dust, you're dust and vice versa." She smiled.

Angelus glared at her, "So you're telling me I can't dust him?"

"Precisely." She smiled, "But what I am telling you is that you can have fun. Kill what's his. As far as I'm aware, he's in love with what's-her-face right now."

"I like the way you play. Good - for someone with a soul, anyway."

"That's arguable." Retorted Lilah, "When you work for this company? You give your all."

"Even your soul?"

"Again, I say arguable." Said Lilah, "I'm still here, aren't I?"

"So, I can go?" Asked Angelus, "No questions asked - I can go and make Soul Boy miserable."

Lilah nodded, "You promise to keep up your end of the bargain? Help make him dark?"

"And then she's mine?"

Nodding again, Lilah smiled, "Then she's yours."

Angelus smirked, "You have my word."

"Unchain him."

Of course, minutes after he was unchained, Lilah realised (because of the bite marks in her neck) that you couldn't trust a vampire, not like him, anyway. "Just a taste." He whispered in her ear before he dropped her to the chair, her head spinning. "BASTARD!" She yelled after him, blood trickling down her neck.

Angelus just smiled, "It's good to be back."

* * * * *

"Y'know, I come back here and there's not one... NOT ONE of my frickin' minions anywhere to be found!" Yelled Glory, "And y'know what else? I remembered why I hate this place so much - all you people sell is Chiffon... OFF RACK! And it gives me hives!"

"Take Dawn and run." Ordered Buffy, watching the display between Glory and the Security Guard.

"Not a chance, Slayer." Said Spike, shaking his head, "If she notices us she'll be after us faster than a bloody shot."

"Buffy," Said Dawn, desperately, "We need to get out of here! What's going on?"

"I don't know." Admitted Buffy as they edged away, "But I'm sure as hell going to find..."

"Slayer!" Spike's hissed words made Buffy turn and she gasped, seeing... SPIKE?

"I knew I needed my vision checked." Buffy quipped, shaking her head. This couldn't be happening. It couldn't be. For one, Spike was still standing in front of her. All chipped and everything. But the other was kissing Drusilla. "I think I may yack." Said an extremely jealous Buffy.

"Me too." Said Dawn, nodding.

"Count me in, bloody hell." Said Spike, shaking his head. "I'm still me, right? I mean, I'm not... Not me?"

Shaking her head slowly, Buffy closed her eyes, then opened them again. "I'm not crazy? I am seeing a very dead Glory and an even deader Spike and Drusilla."

"I'm not dead!" Said Spike indignantly, to looks of extreme weirdness from Buffy and Dawn, "Well not in the sense of very evil dead." He said in his defense.

Buffy rolled her eyes, "We need a plan. And a big crane. We need Xander."

"We do not need the glorified bloody bricklayer. We need to get out of here and work out what the hell's going on."

"Magic Shop?" Asked Dawn, "Research, we can do research."

Buffy nodded and the trio walked calmly down the stairs of the mall, two hearts beating erratically in their chests. Spike, although panicked, couldn't manage to tear his gaze from his older self and Drusilla, giggling happily at the prospect of all the tasty morsels in the mall. "Luv, if we leave now, they'll..."

Buffy shook her head, "I'm sorry." She said quietly, "But right now? My priority is Dawn. And my innate not wanting to die-ness."

Spike, though surprised at the last part, nodded. "Right then. Let's go."

* * * * *

"I've called Willow." Said Wesley, coming out into the main office, "She says that as soon as Buffy returns she'll ask her to give us a call."

"Where is she?" Asked Angel, his feet resting against the floor as he sat on a chair, feeding Connor.

"Shopping with Spike."

"Spike? Shopping? Is this another alternate universe thing?" Asked Cordelia, "Or is this real-life weirdness."

"No, I believe this is real life weirdness." Said Wesley, gently. "I've managed to get in contact with..."

He stopped as Angel turned, a puzzled look on his face. He'd sensed something... There was something there. "Guys?"

The others looked at him, heads shaking, they could sense nothing. Handing Connor to Fred in silence, Angel stood...

Second chances were good. His purpose for Wolfram and Hart had been clear, he'd have a hand in the Apocalypse and then he'd leave. But Angel... And a Scythe had prevented him. Vocah was pissed. He wanted his hand in the apocalypse and by whatever 'evil thing' he worshipped, he'd have it. His task had been simple - sever the link. And never could it be said that Vocah didn't follow through in his work. He did. And he would. Now...

Briefly, he touched Cordelia's hand before walking back out into the night air.

As Angel, Wesley, Gunn and Doyle infiltrated the lobby through the office, Cordelia's coffee spilled from the porcelain mint green mug and all down her front, the mug smashing on the hardwood floor. Her scream echoed through the lobby and Angel and the others dashed back to find Fred, watching over a thrashing Cordelia. The visions had returned full force, along with Vocah's mark and the scroll of Anatole gone from Wesley's desk.

Angel knelt down next to her, his face drawn, "Cordelia! Cordelia!" She thrashed around, sobbing harshly as images invaded her brain...

"Angel man, look!" Said Doyle, harshly, "What's that?"

Angel turned her hand over, his eyes immediately darkening as he tried to hold her down, her screams and cries waking a dozing Connor.

"The mark of..."

"Anatole." Said Wesley, glancing at the desk where the scroll had lay. "I was only using it for a minute, just to rule out..."

"We have to find it!" Growled Angel, holding his friend down as Doyle ran a shaking hand across his face. This was all his fault... If he hadn't come back then it wouldn't have happened...

"That shouldn't be a problem." Came the voice, standing at the counter. "I wonder if she's seeing me right now."

Angel turned.

Growled.

"Angelus..."

~Part: 6~

"You're going to turn around and leave." Said Angel, his voice cold.

"Now see, I have a problem with that." His alter-ego smiled, "Hey, why don't you bring her over here?" He asked, glancing at Cordelia, "I could always use a meal with a kick..."

Angel growled, ushering his friends further back into the hotel, away from Angelus. "So, Wolfram and Hart finally got the thing they wanted. The dark side of me." His main priority was protecting his son and his friends, nothing else.

Angelus spread his arms, "In the flesh. Nice kid, Soul Boy, you had a taste yet?"

"You're not gettin' the kid," Said Doyle, "So ye might as well leave." He knew what he had to do, just didn't know *when* he had to do it. His gaze drifted to Cordelia, thrashing on the floor, "Angel, she's..."

"I know." He nodded, turning to his un-souled version, "See this?" Pulling a sword from the counter, Angel glared, "You don't think I was prepared for them pulling something like this? Granted I didn't expect to see my leather clad double standing in front of me, but I did expect something like this."

Laughing, the other vampire strode across the floor, "You want to leave your kid without a son? Fact is, you kill me? You die. Anything that happens to me? Happens to you too. You're dust, I'm dust and vice versa. Now isn't that just poetic justice? I'm thinking maybe, if your kid wasn't here then you'd do the heroic thing. Sacrifice yourself so that others can be saved from me, y'know, the 'I'm so tortured, let me repent!' but since your kid is here, well... Connor needs his Da-da, right?" He asked, his words dripping with sarcasm.

"You're lying." Angel's jaw tightened as he glared at his counterpart. "They couldn't do that."

"Maybe not. Are you willing to try though?"

A beat. And nothing. Angel's eyes remained on Angelus'... "What do they want?"

"Me."

The answer was simple. One word, so many meanings. "As long as I'm here, so are you. As long as I'm here, I'm there to do their bidding. Pretty damned simple if y'ask me." Said Angelus, shrugging, "And in return, I get..."

He faltered. "You get what?" Asked Wesley.

"Two things." He smiled, "A Seer. And one up on the Powers of Good. Well hey, look at that, already been out two hours and part of my own mission is fulfilled."

Stepping forward slightly, Fred looked at him, "Your Mission?"

"Keep back." Angel pushed her, non-too-gently out of the way, his hand blocking his friends from coming forward.

"Always so impolite?" Asked Angelus, "I should've thought my mission would've been pretty obvious by now. They want him dark? Whereas I just want him miserable. I was thinking, I may pay Holtz a visit."

"You can't do that." Said Gunn, "I'm thinking if he gets his hands on you, it's gonna be slightly worse than what Hell was for you..."

"Maybe." Smirked Angelus, "But won't the wondering be fun?" With that, he turned, stalking back up to the entrance of the Hyperion before turning and looking at Angel, "I'll call ya."

Her body twisted reflexively as Angelus left, her cries penetrating the tense air of the hotel. "Go upstairs, get some rope and some bandages so she doesn't chafe her wrists. We'll have to tie her down." Said Wesley.

"Cordelia... Cordelia!" Said Angel, desperately, "Please... Listen to me..."

A child... It hurts so much more when it's a child... Why won't it stop? They said it wouldn't hurt... Make it stop...

A demon... Oh God... Help, someone, please... Why isn't he helping...

Tears ran down Fred's cheeks, "Uhm... There are spells! We could do spells... I don't... She's not supposed to hurt anymore."

Wesley grabbed a panicking Fred's shoulders, gently, "Only the scroll will help her. Use the computer, see if you can get anything... Doyle! Bandages. Ropes. Go to Angel's room, room 312 and get..."

The Irish Man glanced up, "Do it." He interrupted.

"What?"

"Do it." He repeated, "Kill me. Ye have to kill me, it's the only way to stop it."

Wesley shook his head, "We could kill you and it would close the dimensions, but everything that was brought back when you arrived would stay. Who knows what's here, what's in Sunnydale right now. We need to close the portal by..." He paused, glancing down at Cordelia's thrashing form, then back up at Doyle, "There's a spell. We need to... To start the spell in the exact place you were brought back. It involves... Bloodletting."

Doyle nodded, "Work it out and do it before I get an attack of the non-heroness and change my mind." Turning, he ran up the stairs and into Angel's room, grabbing the bandages and the ropes from Angel's chest. Turning, he went to walk back out when on the dresser, he saw a picture. It was lying face down, had obviously fallen when someone had knocked the dresser perhaps, or when someone was looking for something in a hurry. On the back in Cordelia's writing, Me, Doyle and Angel actually having fun.... Sighing, Doyle turned it over and shook his head, "I really am sorry, Princess." He whispered.

* * * * *

"Okay, now this is weird." Said Buffy, walking quickly back to the Magic Shop. "Why the hell are people who are already DEAD showing back up on the Buffy-O-Meter? Huh?" She asked.

"Maybe it's a spell." Offered Dawn, "What if it's Willow? I mean, she could..."

"It's not Willow." Said Buffy firmly.

"How do you - "

"It's not Willow."

"How?"

"Because remember the urn of Osiris?"

Dawn looked at her, "Huh?"

"Remember the urn that brought me back?"

"Yeah, what of it?" Spike was getting tired of these bloody mind games they kept playing.

"There was only one, right?"

"Uh-huh..."

Buffy sighed, "Then her name is Kendra. The vampire Slayer."

"HUH?!"

* * * * *

"She probably can't distinguish one from another." Whispered Fred, "It's probably all jumbled in there... Maybe she doesn't feel anything any more." Even she didn't believe that. Cordelia had stopped screaming, but tears rolled down her cheeks, her eyes twitched as images flashed through her brain.

Gunn sat, his arm wrapped around Fred's shoulders. "Yeah, probably not." His face was pale, his eyes drifting back and forth, from Angel, to Cordelia and then to Doyle. Tapping away on the computer, Fred shook her head, "I can't find anything. All the guys I know online have heard of the scroll but they don't have it." She said quietly, "I just... I feel so helpless." Her friend, her very best friend in five years was lying on a bed brought down from a room, strapped to it with ropes and bandages locked round her ankles and wrists. They'd given her water when her mouth dried up, Fred had ordered Gunn to look for spells that could help, knowing that it was futile, but this was hard. Wesley researched the spell, Doyle at his side. While Angel sat there numbly, watching Cordelia, glancing at Doyle every so often.

"I need something to do. I can't just sit here and watch her like this." Said Angel, "I'll go look for Vocah and the scroll."

"Angel, if you leave there's a chance that yet another enemy of yours could come back and hurt us more than they have, are you willing to do that?"

"I can't SIT here and do nothing!" Growled Angel, "She's dying!"

The words stunned the hotel in the silence. The gentle tap-tapping of Fred's fingers on the keyboard ceased, the turn of a page from Gunn stopped - the gentle supposedly-soothing hum from Lorne even failed to do as it was supposed to. Doyle and Wesley stood side by side as Angel paced the floor, "For all we know, Angelus could be on his way to Holtz right now and I could be killed before I have a chance to help her."

"Angelus wouldn't do that, man. This is his life too." Said Gunn, shaking his head.

"Charles..."

"No! While he's out there, looking for whatever, we could all be slaughtered by the people who want to kill him most and use US to do it."

"I know him." Said Angel quietly, "I am him. Without the fancy trimmings, without the soul, I am him. I know exactly what's going to happen. Regardless of whether he survives or not? He'll use what I love to get to me. He has it made. If I die, if something should happen to either me or him and I couldn't save Cordelia - he knows that that's the perfect punishment. He knows that I'll never rest. If she dies... I'll never find peace, ever. Angelus knows and he'll use it against me."

Gunn stepped back and shook his head, "So, either way, we lose?"

Angel nodded, "Either way. We lose."

* * * * *

"Kendra!"

The other slayer turned, a half-smile on her face, "I'd wanted to surprise you." She said, "Mr. Zabuto..."

"A very dark power, about to rise in Sunnydale?" Asked Buffy.

Kendra smiled, "You know me all too well. Who's this?"

"Kendra, my sister Dawn. And Spike. He's... Nobody."

Spike scowled, "I'm a vampire, one she happens to be bloody shagging."

"Feel free to stake him." Said Buffy, frowning.

"Shagging?"

"Oh, getting groiny with." Said Dawn, "It's a term you should get familiar with. Buffy thinks none of us know about it but... We're not stupid."

"I tink this is the vampire we fought to save Angel, is it not?"

Buffy sighed, "It's a long story, but you're not from this time. You're from way, way back in my past and you sorta... Died. But I did too, and I'm okay. Sort of. Still boinking the undead but..." Buffy stopped, "Sorry, I babble sometimes. I think it started last year sometime, I never used to babble before and..."

"Wait a second. You have a... Sister. And you're 'gettin' groiny' with another vampire. And we both died? I tink I may need a seat." Said Kendra.

"Can I have a drink instead?" Asked Spike, receiving an elbow to the rib-cage. "Ow!"

"Spike? Shut up." Said Buffy, "Kendra, we're going back to the magic shop to see what the what is..." Turning, she glanced at Spike, "Maybe call Angel? See if he's having trouble?"

"Well, that's rude."

The voice came and Buffy shook her head. She seriously thought she was going to faint. Glory, Spike and Drusilla, Kendra and now this?

"Even a vampire deserves some manners, don't you think, young lady?" He stepped forward, wiping his hands on a cleansing wipe, "The Slayer, consorting with another vampire? Last time I knew, he was taller, darker. Better looking. Unchipped."

"Hey!" Said Spike, "What the hell's that supposed to mean?"

The Mayor held up his hands and shook his head, "Not a thing. But I think maybe you should listen to me if..."

"Oh no." Said Buffy, "No, no, no and NO again. The last time you gave me advice? My life fell apart. I am NOT listening to this again."

"You don't honestly see a future with him?"

"I don't want a present with him. I hate the fact that he's in my life, now, can we move onto the killing part, or are you impervious again?" Asked Buffy.

"Who's the little girl? Really, I'd have thought you'd have found better babysitters for your young lady here." Said Richard Wilkins III, shaking his head disapprovingly, "Honestly, if the future of America lies in our youth? Goodness knows where we'll end up."

"I am not a young lady. And I don't need BABY SAT." Said Dawn, indignantly.

"Well now, that's rude. Honestly, Ms. Summers, I know you children today are sometimes considered insolent and unruly but... Are you honestly surprised, letting her 'hang' with something evil?"

"Hey, Niblet's in good hands with me. I'm... I'm a good guy. I help little old ladies across the street, not evil at all. I uhm... I help the helpless, save souls that need... Saving and... Oh, sod it. Yeah, I'm evil mate. What of it? Plus, I'm not exactly getting the fluffy-bunny-goodness vibe from you!" Said Spike, lighting a cigarette.

"Okay, we *so* need Giles." Said Buffy, her head in a whirl.

"I'm thinking... Magic Shop. Now." Said Dawn, watching as the Mayor smiled, "Well, I'm going to run along too. I have meetings and... Well, other things. Make sure you take care of your sister, Ms. Summers - I hear the Social Security department can be quite... Difficult."

"Don't I know it." Said Buffy, watching as he walked away.

"Okay, magic shop, Giles, pretty much now."

"Magic Shop?" Asked Kendra, "This is where you dwell now?"

Buffy sighed, "I'll explain on the way."

"I'm almost 16 years old." Grumbled Dawn, "I do NOT need a babysitter."

* * * * *

"Okay, what is going on?" Asked Buffy, "I have Kendra here, remember the Slayer - WHO DIED? I mean, sure, bringing back Slayer's is kinda popular this year but I thought it would have gone out, y'know, like in the CRIMPOLINE era!"

"Buffy, calm..."

"Wesley, don't tell me to calm down. Every enemy I've ever faced is back and it's come back with the intention of either bringing down me or opening the damned Hellmouth. And sorry, but dying isn't on my list of things to do today." She growled.

Wesley sighed, "We know. We know what's happening because it's happening here too. Cordelia's... Ill... Unless we find the Scroll of Anatole, she'll die."

"Oh..." Buffy was stunned into silence. "Uhm... Look, tell Angel I... Tell him I'm sorry. If I... Wesley, I don't know how to fix this. I'm not sure I can."

"We will. I know how to stop it... Just... All of you STAY together. In the same place. In a few hours it should all be over and everything will go back to normal."

"Normal? What's that?"

"As in... No Glory." He said gently.

"Oh, so... No Kendra, either?"

"No, no Kendra."

"Oh..."

Wesley fell silent for a second, before speaking up, "If anything changes, I'll let you know."

Hanging up the phone, the ex-Watcher went to where Angel was sitting, Cordelia's hand in his. "Angel? Everything's ready... We just need you to go see..."

"Yeah, I know."

"Are you..."

"I'm fine. I will be."

"Angel, this can't be easy." Said Wesley, "In saving one friends life, you have to sacrifice another. Surely you must be..."

"What? Hoping?" Asked Angel, standing and meeting Wesley's gaze, "Why would I do that? Slowly but surely Wolfram and Hart are taking everything that means something in my life and they're having fun." He growled, "After this? I'm done. The Powers That Be want me to do 'good'?" He asked bitterly, "Then for once they can step in and help me sometime instead of leaving me to fight blind."

"Angel..." Wesley glanced at his friend, worried, "You can't just..."

"Can't just what?" Asked Angel, "If Cordelia dies, I'm through. I'm fed up of playing their games, of being their pawn. What's next, my son?"

"But you're a Warrior." Whispered Fred, "You can't give up." When she looked at him, really looked at him, the hope had drained from his eyes. Without Cordelia, it wasn't worth it. It wasn't worth fighting. His redemption - pointless.

"We'll fix this." The previously silent Doyle spoke up. "I promise you. I promise that I won't let nothin' happen to her, not through me."

"This isn't your fault, Doyle." Said Wesley, gently.

"If I hadn't given her the visions, Vocah could never have done this to her the first time. She'd never be a demon. She'd never be lying there like... Like that." He said quietly. Standing, he let his gaze fall on Angel, "It's not about the fight anymore. It's about what's important. And she's more important than what's good... Or the right thing to do. She's more important than some visions, some adversaries. At the end of the day Angel, if somethin' happened to her, you probably would still fight. But it wouldn't be worth it, right?"

Angel looked at his son and then at Cordelia, shaking his head. "It wouldn't be worth it." He said quietly, "This is four times in the past year I've lost her. I'm not willing to do it again."

It's not about winning, Cordelia. It's about what's at stake. And in this particular scenario you were way more important than winning... I did what I had to do. I'll just deal with the consequences when they happen.

"Make the call." Said Angel, solemnly.

Wesley paused, waited a second before nodding and turning to the phone.

"I promise, Cordelia. I'll get you back." Whispered Angel.

Doyle nodded, turning away, "We will Princess. We will."

~Part: 7~

"Don't even think about it." The alarms had gone off as soon as Angelus had entered the building. Lilah, the lawyer with the now bandaged neck, sat behind her desk, a scowl on her face. "Don't come near me." She growled, a taser in her hand.

"Lilah, good to see you too." He smiled, "But I've fed. And plus, I'd snap your neck before you got chance to use that thing."

A flicker of uncertainty passed across her face and she sighed, putting it down on the desk, "Was everything to your satisfaction then? With Angel?"

"Well, not quite. See, I asked for a very much alive Seer. Not one that was thrashing around on the floor. I like my meals with a kick - but my toys I like broken." He said, shaking his head, "Only, I like to do the breaking. She was already broke. You're going to have to do something about that."

Flinching as he picked up a letter opener, Lilah shook her head, "What was the matter with what's-her-face?"

"Cordelia." He growled, "Her name is Cordelia."

"Does everyone have a fascination with her round here?" Asked Lilah, shaking her head. "Anyway, what's wrong with Cordelia?"

"Vocah." He said simply, "I was getting the Vocah vibe from her. She needs the words of Anatole to make her better."

"And what makes you think we have them?"

"Oh, I know you do." Said Angelus, "And I know you'll get them." Patting his stomach, he smiled, "The thing about Lawyers is... Once you've had a taste, you always want more, see?"

To her credit, Lilah didn't flinch, just opened a drawer and pulled out the scroll, "Vocah came back not long after you left, seems like he was another one to come out of the portal. I didn't tell the Senior Partners about this. I'd like to keep my head. And plus, I wouldn't want to be here when Angel comes looking for it so..." Shrugging her shoulders, Lilah handed him the scroll, watching as he went towards the door, her letter opener still in his hand.

"I'd like that back." She smirked, "Oh... And out of curiosity? How pissed is Angel?"

Angelus turned back round, "Pissed? Pretty much completely, but he's more amused actually."

Lilah frowned, "Amused?" One Angelus running round was bad enough but two? Not fun.

"Well," Said Angelus, tossing the letter opener up and down, "It seems that Wolfram and Hart don't really know who they're playing with. The Scourge of Europe. The most evil vampire bastard in history. Y'know, just to name a few."

"I assure you," Said Lilah, "Wolfram and Hart know what they're doing."

The letter opener flew back towards her head, missing her by an inch. "Maybe they do." He growled, "But it comes to something when their employees don't even know when they've been played. You should pay attention, Lilah." He smiled.

"Angel." She said simply.

"In the flesh. Oh, and one more thing?" Angel looked at her, the scroll tucked firmly in its holder, "You don't know what you're playing with. So far, you've had it easy. But Angelus isn't one for chains or deals? He screwed over Darla, the woman he loved, remember? From one friend to another? I'd say get out while you still can. But since it's you?" Angel smiled, "Looks like you've got some work to do. Don't mind the distractions."

Angel turned and walked out the way he came, for no one would approach him. They'd been given specific instructions not to go towards the soulless vampire.

Lilah frowned, pressed a button on the intercom, "Get Gavin in here. Tell him we have a problem."

* * * * * *

From their position at the door, Angel and Doyle watched. The hotel, normally filled with either baby babbling or fingers flying over keys was silent. The only sound to be heard was Wesley, reciting the words of Anatole as Cordelia's friends looked on, worried.

"The sins of man shall inflame the earth and bring a great scourge. A fighting beast from hell will arise. And if the beast shalt find thee, and touch thee, thou shalt be wounded in thy soul - and thou shalt know madness. The beast shalt attack and thou shalt know neither friend nor family. - But thou shalt undo the beast. Thou shalt find the sacred words of Anatole and thou shalt be restored - Three times shalt thou say these words: unbind - unbind - unbind."

The flash of light was enough to wake Connor into a screaming state, and enough to stun the others into blinking a few times. A collective sigh of relief passed around the room as Cordelia's eyes flitted open, looking directly up at Angel and then Doyle. Then, round the room at her friends. Tears slipped from her pain-filled eyes and down her cheeks, the brunette wincing, "I... They..." In silence, Angel crossed the room and folded her into his arms. "It's okay..." He said softly, "You'll be okay."

* * * * * *

"She's sleeping?"

Angel nodded, looking at his friend, a frown upon his face, "Yeah, she's sleeping. She was pretty messed up, whatever they showed her this time was a whole hell of a lot worse than last time, she uh... She said something about you."

"You think she knows?"

"I'm not sure," He replied, sombrely, "She could do, I guess but... Well, she knew it wasn't permanent anyway."

"Are you going to tell her?"

"I can't see how I can't." Said Angel, "If I tell her, she'll hate me for not stopping it. And if I don't tell her, if she ever finds out, she'll never forgive me." He said quietly.

"The burden we bare." Said Doyle, shaking his head. Then, out of the blue, he spoke, "You love her, don't y'man?"

Angel's gaze flickered up and met the steady one of his friend, "I... Yes. I love her. I'm in love with her."

"Then why are ye hiding it?"

"Because..."

"Why?"

"Because I can't give her what she needs..." Said Angel, rationally.

"And since when is it up to you to decide what she needs, Angel? Y'know she'd be pissed more about that than probably anything else. It's easy to tell she loves you, she gave up the mighty Groosalug to come back here, doesn't that tell y'anything?"

Angel sighed, "I know that but..."

"But what, man? Cordelia's... Cordelia... Y'know? She's different to almost anyone I've ever met, if it's the Angelus thing you're worried about - there's nothing to worry about. She's a girl who knows what she wants, and if what she wants is you? You haven't got a chance in hell of gettin' away from it..."

Angel chuckled, despite the somber mood, "I guess you're right..."

"So? Suck it up! Tell her how you feel!"

"I will, just... Give me time."

"Time for what, Angel? Life's short, especially for us human-half-demon-non-vampire types. Go in there!"

Angel sighed and stepped forward, Okay, I can do this, this is easy. It's not really like falling off a cliff into a big black abyss. Nothing like hell, no, in fact, this is easy!

There, lying curled up under the blankets, his Seer slept. Walking over, Angel sat down on the end of the bed and gently pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "I know you can't hear me," He said, listening to the regular pattern of her breathing, "But... There's something I have to tell you... It's about us, something I've been trying to tell you for a while now. Ever since... The ballet and... And I think that I've told myself if I tell you when you're asleep it counts." His finger gently traced the swell of her cheek, her soft skin, her full lips and gently, he leaned forward, brushing his lips against her forehead, "I love you," He whispered softly. "I love you so much that it hurts. God, Cordelia I was terrified that something would happen to you and..."

"Nothing did."

Angel gasped, pulled back and looked down at his Seer, "C-Cordelia," He stammered, "H-how, when... What?"

Moving slightly, she leaned her head against his shoulder, "Nothing happened to me." She said softly, turning her head to meet his eyes.

"What else... Uhm... Did you hear anything else?" He asked.

"Like what?" Her voice was puzzled and Angel sighed, she hadn't heard a word of what he'd said. "Nothing," He said quietly, "Absolutely nothing." He went to shift then, leave her to go back to sleep when Cordelia shook her head, "Just stay with me a while, please?" She asked softly.

Getting on the bed beside her, Angel's body instantly relaxed, like it'd done so many times before and he turned, letting her curl into the crook of his body. "Cordelia?"

"Mm?" She answered, sleepily.

"I have something to tell you."

"Okay..." She yawned, "What is it?"

"I-I love you." He whispered.

"I love you too..." The answer came in sleep-induced haze and Angel sighed, leaning forward and kissing her forehead, resting his lips there as his eyes closed.

* * * * *

Sleep didn't come easy for the vampire, he didn't move, didn't toss and turn, for fear of waking the woman he loved, but just when sleep claimed tired eyes, a noise at his window made his eyes snap open. Gently unfurling her from his body, Angel stepped closer to the balcony, pulling open the doors. There, pinned to the door were two envelopes. Opening them quickly, Angel pulled out the yellow piece of paper to find a drawing of himself and Cordelia, asleep in his bed, arms curled around each other...

In the second, a picture of his Seer - her body lying at an awkward, broken angle... Just like Jenny Calendar...

And when Angel turned, there sat his alter ego on the bed, drinking deeply from the brunette's neck before removing his fangs and smirking, "How does it feel, Soul Boy?"

Angel screamed...

~Part: 8~

 "I know what you're thinking," Said Angelus, one hand lay possessively on Cordelia's neck while the other stroked the swell of her breast through her shirt, making Angel growl, "I am you, of course I know what you're thinking. You're wondering whether you can make it over here in time. Wondering whether I'll snap her neck before you get here... Or whether I've drained enough to kill her, whether you can save your precious Vision Girl from dying at the hands of... You." Holding up his hands, the vampire pretended to stare at them for a while, before looking back over at Angel, "Your friend Lilah raised an... Interesting point."

Angel could hear Cordela's heart, the insistent thump-thump, the gentle beating of it lulling him into a false sense of security - as long as he could hear it beating, he still had time. "And what was that?" Amazingly, Angel's voice was calm, even. He felt anything but. Panic was beginning to set in - and he knew that Angelus fed on it, fed on the sense of power that it gave him. If he could close his eyes for just a second, then Angel would use that to calm himself, but having the inside scoop on the foe in front of him, Angel was reluctant to take his eyes away for fear of what he might do.

"Well," Said Angelus, giving a bright, saccharine sweet smile, "She reminded me that - right now, although you and I know what the other is thinking, feeling - and believe me, panic becomes you," He smirked, "You have something I don't..." His hand clamped down on Cordelia's breast and the brunette cried out, making Angel wince. Just one wrong move and Cordelia would be dead, completely, no bringing her back. She'd lost enough blood to be barely conscious, but still had enough to make her feel. "See, at your side, you have a beautiful, wilful brunette who at every turn reminds you that the murders you committed weren't your fault, that it wasn't you... That she'll always be here." Angelus chuckled, the laugh reverberating round his chest, "Ah, promises, promises, Angel... It seems a shame that this is one she'll never get to keep."

Glaring at his counterpart, Angel shook with the restraint not to launch an attack, to take down his alter ego and kill himself in the process, if it meant Cordelia would live. But then, there were no guarantees. There were no guarantees that Doyle still sat vigil beside this very room. There were no guarantees that if Angel fought he'd won... They were simply players - and somebody else was pulling their strings. "You'll never take her." Said Angel, his eyes flashing, angrily. "Even if you did, she'd never be yours."

"Why... Whatever do you mean, Soul Boy?" Laughed Angelus, coldly, "I never wanted her to be mine. I just wanted her dead." It was with startling clarity that Angel realised once again that, Cordelia was just a pawn - it didn't matter that she was a person, of course it didn't, she was the one he loved and so they'd use her to hurt him. For Angelus though, it run deeper than that. He hated the fact that someone could love him for his demon and for his human parts. It was sick, it was disgusting - and it was twisting his own soul into something he'd never admit. She made Soul Boy happy - she deserved to die. "I don't know why you look so horrified, surely you'll have known from the start that this... Whatever it is, was the plan all along. Make you suffer. It's general evil, Soul Boy, remember that? Blood coursing through your veins?" Gesturing down to Cordelia, he smiled, "You want her so badly you can almost taste her. I can feel it... You had her essence on your fingers... Your mouth and now, you wish to taste her blood. The bloodlust never dies... You know this as well as I do, it gets stronger until there's nothing left. If I hadn't have taken her, one day, you would have. One day, when she was sitting at her desk, taunting you with those shirts she wears... You'd have gotten too close, caught scent of her hair, the apple shampoo... The coconut skin oil she uses every single day. Perhaps even... She might have admitted feelings for you..." He whispered, his voice dark, watching as Angel shook his head horrified - as Angelus gave voice to every fear he owned about Cordelia.

"Perhaps... Your soul, the parts like me that you shun, would finally be anchored, Angelus would be no more and you could slip into her from behind... Hear her soft moans, like you did the Slayer and finally let yourself do something you never would - give up yourself. Taste her life as it flows down your throat, feel her tight heat around you as she presses backwards, drifting softly into the bliss only you can give her. Then," Angelus paused, giving weight to his words, "Then perhaps you'd notice that not all was right... Her heart not beating as fast as it should and in blind panic, the only thing you know to save her is to offer her the thing that you hate. Offer her yourself." While he'd spoke... Angelus had lifted a wrist and sliced along it with a nail and now? He lifted the wrist gently to Cordelia's lips, "Perhaps I should take away that choice for you." He grinned, "Offer myself instead? It would still be the same, she'd hate you for it - but I'd have the satisfaction of knowing that the Seer was mine..."

Angelus paused, laughing coldly at the look on Angel's face - there wasn't a damned thing he could do about it. And as the soulless vampire raised his hand, Cordelia, having listened and realised that being Angelus' Undead Groupie wasn't on her list of to-do's in the next five year, used every bit of emotional and physical strength she owned right now and bit down... HARD... On the smooth expanse of wrist he offered her. Angelus growled and pushed her away, sickly yellow eyes glaring as she slid to the floor, his blood tainting her lips.

Angel could only hope that Cordelia didn't drink as he leapt towards his counterpart, tackling him roughly to the floor. His fists slammed into his face, simply making Angelus laugh as he looked up and asked if he planned on leaving his Seer to die. Angel scrambled to his feet and went to her as Angelus disappeared over the balcony and into the night. Angel scooped her into his arms, his heart twisting at the sight of his beautiful Cordelia, her lips tainted with blood, his blood. He didn't answer the questions as he moved quickly, out of the room, past the dozing Doyle who looked up, fear filling dark and already haunted features. "Man, if that's the way you tell people you love 'em, promise to never fall in love with me." He joked, nervously, until realisation flooded his features, "Angelus?"

Angel simply nodded and asked that Doyle stay here with the others, in case Angelus should return. At first, the half-demon was reluctant, but he realised that every moment he wasted arguing with Angel was a moment that Cordelia could die and from that, there'd be no return. Would Wolfram and Hart return her from the place she went when she died? Likely, not - she was Angel's door to the Powers That Be, granted, she could be "replaced" just like Doyle had been but the fact was, without Cordelia, Angel probably wouldn't fight. His redemption wouldn't hold as much meaning for the vampire. How could he be expected to fight in this world when at every turn, they took something away from him? Sighing, Doyle turned back to the research party in the lobby and picked up a book, "Anything?"

Wesley's head shake told him... No. Doyle frowned - though he wasn't thrilled on the whole dying part again, he wasn't exactly pleased about being here when it was so obviously causing so much pain.

* * * * *

He'd been here before, done this before... Granted, not the same hospital - four hours away in a little town called Sunnydale was a lot to be apart from, but he'd done this. Watched as the consequences of his choices had royally screwed up his life. Briefly, he wondered if there'd be blame from his friends like there had been from Buffy's - and Angel had to really remind himself that this was a different situation.
Was it though? Angel frowned as he ran his hand through his hair, nervously pacing the floor. The consequences of HIS actions, his alter-ego's actions were having an adverse effect on everyone's life. He could have ended it all but then - Cordelia might have died. She couldn't die, she just couldn't... There again, he'd told himself the same about Buffy but even the thought of losing Cordelia embedded a fear into him so great that Angel could feel himself tearing up, could feel the back of his throat burn as the suppressed tears battled to push their way to the forefront. The image of Cordelia, his Cordelia with blood smeared against her lips was almost more than he could bear and Angel sighed, clenching and unclenching his fists.

"Excuse me, Mr. Angel?" The Doctor smiled, that comforting Doctor smile and Angel breathed out a gentle sigh of relief. "Can I see her?"

Nodding, Dr. Evans pushed her glasses further up her nose and smiled, "Your friend has the most amazing constitution I've ever seen. She's asking for you but..." Her voice faltered slightly, "Sir, I should warn you that Cordelia almost died tonight, it would be in her best interests to stay here, just for observation - she's refusing, of course."

Angel frowned, "I'll be sure to tell her," He said, almost stiffly. As the Doctor herself sighed, Angel regretted his demeanour, it wasn't her fault. Apologizing, the vampire let her show him to Cordelia's room and stepped inside, where Cordelia looked up at him from the bed she lay in, "You love me?" She asked, incredulously.

He paled (as much as a naturally pale vampire could anyway), "Any chance I can say 'well duh' and you'll drop this?" Angel sighed, "Nope, didn't think so."

* * * * *

"So, you failed." Said Lilah, shaking her head.

"Do you see a dead body around me?" Growled Angelus, "Yes, I failed. The bitch bit me."

Lilah couldn't help but hide the smirk, "You've been biting people for almost 200 years and now you're whining because some arrogant little bitch sunk her teeth into you? You can't be serious."

He turned sickly yellow eyes on the lawyer, "Y'know, you're the perfect embodiment of why I detest lawyers."

"I aim to please," Said Lilah, dryly, "I just never said my aim was very good."

"Your wit astounds me." Said Angelus, his voice dripping with sarcasm, picking at the grime under his fingernails, "What now?"

"Always so impatient?" Asked Lilah with a smile, "We were thinking that it might be time Connor was introduced to his real parents... What do you say?"

"Children bore me. Isn't there something more... I dunno, FUN?"

Lilah gave a smile, "Believe me, the fun is just beginning."

~Part: 9~

 Wesley, living in England for at least most of his natural life, had bore witness to at least a dozen or more storms. Some decidedly worse than this one. For some reason, however, Wesley was more unsettled in this one. His nerves jittered and jumped every time a thunder clap was heard up ahead. With every bolt of lightning, Wesley grew less patient and more nervous.

The last bolt of lightning came with an almighty thunder clap, startling Wesley so much that the books that had rested on his knee fell to the floor along with his notes, "Oh... Bloody hell..." He frowned, listening as Doyle sang to Connor in an irish brogue that sent shivers shooting the length of his spine. The pages had scattered, reams of writing Wesley had seemed to do and had as yet got no further with the spell or what Wolfram and Hart were trying to achieve by bringing back the dead.

In silence, he gathered the papers together until he placed his hand upon the book he'd been reading - open at a different page. Dimensional Portals and Time Shifts...

Wesley frowned, staring at the page, his legs crooked beneath him. He read for a moment before getting from the floor and running into the lobby, "We have to go..."

"What?" Fred looked up from where she and Gunn had sat, quietly discussing the past, the possibility of a future. Gunn had told Fred of his fears, should Alonna be brought back - what would he do? Could he honestly let Wesley complete some spell that would kill her all over again? Fred could only offer the advice from the viewpoint that - it wasn't right, to lose someone then have them back again. That his life would be very different, with Alonna back and perhaps, she wouldn't agree with some of the things he did now. Gunn had sighed... Nodded. And asked, if it were her in his position, could she kill her sister. Slowly, Fred shook her head, "No, I couldn't." She replied, softly. "I'd be selfish. I know I would..." She could have lied, but Fred knew that given the chance to spend the time you had with someone saying all the things you didn't before, laying rest to all those little regrets, she'd take the chance.

"We have to find Angel, now..." Wesley frowned, getting together Connor's things and handing them to Doyle, "If we let this go much further the portals will fall into disarray - the world as we know it will come to a standstill. Time will stop having meaning..."

Fred frowned, "Stop having meaning? But... How?"

Wesley looked at her, "Think about this... The portals are opened and instead, we're left with a tear in our dimensional walls. It's not just the dead that are being brought back but the... Well, the undead. When Buffy called earlier, she said that Spike and Drusilla, old nemisis' of both hers and Angel's had returned. As far as we're aware, Spike is currently living in Sunnydale with Buffy and Drusilla is God only knows where, but definitely alive... Well..." Wesley frowned, this was certainly getting more complicated, "The sooner we do the spell, the better. And the sooner we get Angel - the sooner he can stop other people coming from the portal."

Doyle, nervous, gulped. "So, this is it, huh?"

The ex-watcher turned, in his nervous babbling, he'd all but forgotten they were talking human sacrifice here. They were talking sacrificing Doyle, Kendra - all the other inherently non-evil people who'd been brought back to this life unwittingly. "I-I'm sorry..." He faltered, ashamed, looking away from Doyle, "It's not that I mean to be so heartless, but..."

"I understand." Doyle intoned, quietly, "Unless we stop what's happening... Yeah. I understand."

"The Good Fight, yeah? You never know until you've been tested - I get that now..."

"Let's go." When Doyle spoke again, his voice was clipped. Like it or not, he was putting himself up for whatever Wesley wanted - for the good of the world. For the cause all these people worked for because it was a good fight. Not because they were paid, or because it kept loan sharks off your back. But because it was a good fight. Doyle knew that now...

* * * * *

Barely managing to keep her anger in check, Cordelia looked at him, "Okay, brown. B-R-O-W-N. Y'see? Dark! As in, not light." Said Cordelia, pointing to her hair.

"I'm in love, Cordelia," Snapped Angel, "Not colour-blind." His patience was wearing thin. For months, he'd loved the woman before him and he was standing, telling her how he felt and... She thought he was colour blind.

"I never said you were colour-blind! Uhm... Rose tinted glasses?" Cordelia stared at him... And stared at him some more. This was Angel, Angel! How could he be in... And even if he was what were the... "Angel, this is YOU and... And this is me! And we're... It's weird."

Angel frowned, "Is the concept of me loving you that bizzare?"

"Hey there's no need to get all snippy with me! I'm the one with the extenuating circumstances from the severely getting bitten!" She said, shaking her head, "Angel, you can't just drop something like this on me and expect me to be okay with it five seconds after you do, it doesn't work like that."

"Then how does it work?" He asked gently, sitting down on her bed, only inches away. "Are you saying you're never going to be okay with this or... What?"

"I-I don't know." She whispered, "Angel, this is huge. I mean yesterday I was dealing with the fact that my best friend was back from the dead and now... Now, you love me. It's just..."

"Cordelia, I've waited for you, for this, for a whole lot of forevers. I've only ever been in love with two people in my life, one of them, sure, tragic farce - but I won't let that happen to us. I've got a very particular idea of my Shanshu and how it's going to go. It involves you... Me... Kissing. And com-shukking like bunnies."

"Angel!" Cordelia gasped.

His face softened and he looked at her, "If you need a month, take it. If you need a year, take it. I'll always be here, Cordelia. Always. I know this is weird. And honestly? Kinda scary. But you didn't laugh when I told you, which is always a plus. I love you, I'm willing to wait, forever if I have to until I can drum it into your head -- using brute force if I must -- that you love me and I love you and we're supposed to be together."

"You sound so sure of yourself," Said Cordelia, gently, watching him - a slightly stunned look on her face. "How can you be so sure?"

Angel smiled, "When you've had Fred drumming her kye-rumption assumption into your head and Doyle telling you to suck it up it gets hard to avoid. I am sure of myself. Okay, so the fear is that you're not so sure of myself and you're going to laugh but that's only been since I realised I love you - hell's a walk in the park compared to that." He said with a chuckle.

The bubble of laughter that burst forth from her lips was enough to make Angel grin broadly at the Seer and he shook his head, "I'm not asking you to marry me, Cordelia. I'm just... Telling you how I feel."

She took a deep breath then and smiled, "Okay. Let me get this straight you've loved me for how long exactly?"

"Feels like forever." He said gently, then, at her smile, added, "I don't know. When you got sucked into that portal, I think... Maybe before."

"And you didn't tell me because..."

"Curse? Vampire lover? Son to said-vampire-lover? Relationship history resembling tragic farce? Me man-pire, you female human... Pick one."

"Human-turned-half-demon, for said man-pire, in case you forgot. You think I care about any of that stuff? Angel, I love you - those are just... Something else that makes me love you, I guess." Said Cordelia, shrugging her shoulders.

"Cordelia, you're a perfectly normal... Uhm, well you're a young woman with her whole li-"

"Nuh-uh, stop RIGHT there!" Interrupted Cordelia, "You're not coming in here telling me all of these things that we're made for each other and then backing up and saying 'oh but maybe you deserve better', I don't. I have what I deserve and he's standing in front of me, so... So..." Cordelia faltered briefly, at a loss for words, "So suck it up!"

Angel smiled... And then laughed, to a glare from Cordelia, "Do you know how cute you are when you do that?" He asked.

Her eyes slid up, puzzled, "Cute? Okay... Time out. You think I'm cute?" This was weird...

He pondered his answer for a moment (taking the time of course to simply stare at her, smart man-pire though he was) and slowly, nodded his head. Up. Then down. Precise. So precise it would have been difficult to misunderstand its meaning. "Yes." His face was solemn, "I think you're cute. I also think you're adorable, a some-time smartass who I just happen to be in love with, that answer enough for you?"

"You're a jerk, you know that?"

Angel was taken-aback by the words but the tone in her voice suggested she was a lot less than angry. In fact, he'd put money (if he had any) on the fact that Cordelia was sitting, tears rolling down her cheeks. "Hey..." He whispered gently, turning her face towards his with a gentle thumb and forefinger, "What's wrong?"

"Now I know." She whispered softly.

"Now you know what?" Angel was puzzled, she knew something and wasn't telling him. Was it bad? Or... Did he dare to hope that it was good?

"Groo said that my heart belonged to another," Said Cordelia, "It was you... You're the other! Only I didn't know it at the time and I was what you called pissed because Groo dumped me! He dumped me at the airport when we came home and now I know why!"

"What are you saying?"

"What do you mean 'what am I saying' - my heart belongs to you, you big dork!" She laughed then, happily and a few more tears fell which Angel leaned forward and thumbed away, "You're saying... Your heart belongs to me. You're saying... You love me?"

Love. Love... Angel. I. Love. Angel. Cordelia. Loves. Angel. It wasn't as weird as she'd thought. Her loving Angel. "Okay, no matter how many times I say it in my head, it's not gonna get any less strange so I was thinking... Maybe... I could try it aloud?" The grin spread across Cordelia's face and her eyes sparkled in the relative light of the hospital, "I... Love... Angel..." She paused then, "I - Love - Angel..."

Another pause.

"I love... You. See! Not that weird. And I do, love you, I mean." She nodded, then nodded again, before reminding him that usually (or at least in the movies) he'd be kissing her by now. Of course, Angel was only a lowly vampire - who was he to step away from the norm? Tenderly, he placed a kiss on her lips. At first, yeah, it was weird because Angel lips... Lips of Angel. Lips that prior to this had only been thinking of lips of Buffy and... Back to weirdness again. But this was also very right. She knew because her heart trip-hammered in her chest, knew because more tears filled her eyes. She knew because this was a feeling she'd looked for with Groo and had been puzzled, not being able to find it. It was a feeling she'd felt the startings of with Xander. It was feeling. It was love. And it was hers...

When Angel pulled back to let her breathe, she bit her lip, nervously - then smiled again, "Angel, I..."

"Angel," The door burst open and in came Wesley, Fred, Gunn and a nervous looking Doyle, clutching Connor.

"Excuse me, you can't be in here..." A long suffering Nurse had followed the crew, past and present, of Angel Investigations down the hall, "One visitor at a time, I must insist that..."

"Angel, whatever we do, needs to be done tonight." Said Wesley, "Now."

"Now?" Cordelia squeaked, "What do you mean now?"

"He means now, Cordelia." Said Doyle, softly. He glanced at the brunette sitting up in her bed, her face pale. "The spell has to be completed tonight, they're sending me back, Princess."

"No..." Cordelia shook her head, looking at Angel, "You can't, not tonight... Not *now*..." Angel's gaze slid away from Cordelia's and she frowned, "I want out of this hospital bed, now."

"Cordelia..."

"NOW, Angel, I'm not asking again." With that, she ripped off the monitor she was hooked to and swung her legs out of the bed, shaking her head. The Nurse stared, puzzled, "Ms. Chase, I'm going to advise that you get back into bed... You lost a lot of blood tonight, it'd be wise..."

"I'm through with wise. I'm through with noble and good fights and visions from sucky Powers That Be that bring you back a friend then take them away again. I'm through. And I'm going to give the Powers That Be a piece of my mind..." She stood, yanking her clothes on under the hospital gown and looking at Angel, "I'll go to the Powers - tell them that they can't have him. I refuse to sit here and do nothing..."

Gently, Doyle crossed the room, placed his hand on her arm, "The good fight, Cordelia. I got it then and I still do now. Yeah, I'm pissed but... C'mon, look around us. You and Angel, you're alright... Y'got good friends, a son. You're doing fine. You'll be fine."

Slowly, she shook her head, "B-but it's not fair, Doyle. It's not fair."

Doyle choked up a little and shrugged, trying to remain calm, nonchalant, even just for her sake, "Life never is fair, Cordy. We make the best o' what we got. And for a while, I got you guys... My life was better for it. And hey, I even got to do the noble thing twice. Not many guys can say that, huh?" He chuckled and pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her, "You know it's what's right, Cordy. Deep down, you know."

As tears slipped down her cheeks, Cordelia glanced up, "When did you get so sensible?" She asked, quietly.

Doyle grinned, "Sensible, huh? Make a guy feel special why don't ya..."

"I want to be there." Whispered Cordelia, "This time, I want the chance to say goodbye."

"Good." Replied Doyle, gently, pressing a soft kiss against the top of Cordelia's head, "I'm glad..."

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