Title: Singing Lessons
Author: Wildecate
Email: Wildecate@hotmail.com
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: We all know this so sing along “the characters aren’t mine, the song isn’t mine ya de ya de ya”
Dedication: To anyone who ever winced at Cordelia singing on Buffy and Angel.
Note: Timeline wise I guess just before Waiting In The Wings except Caritas is up and running.

Cordelia leaned over the bar surveying Caritas. It was late and there were relatively few patrons tonight. Angel and Gunn were still out, cleaning out a demon nest near the docks but they had promised to swing by later. Fred was babysitting Connor and Wes was off on one of his mystery jaunts. She never asked and he never told but somehow he always managed to come back with the information they needed. Cordelia had offered to give Lorne a hand that night as his usual barman was off involved in some sort of mating ritual.

Knowing she was going to be on her feet all night she had chosen simple flat shoes, a short indigo denium skirt and a strappy little top. She had clipped her hair back from her face and gone for the minimal make up look. Unusually the club had been quiet and Cordelia had enjoyed the evening, chatting to some of the demons who could chat to her and getting a lesson from Lorne in how to mix the perfect Sea Breeze.

In the second incarnation of Caritas, as well as re-building the stage, Lorne had also installed a piano and had become quite adept at playing by ear. This was how he had taught Cordelia how to sing and he had been playing on and off throughout the evening. He now beckoned her over. As she moved round the bar and threaded her way through the tables, he switched into a long introduction to the song he had taught. She recognised the tune and began to shake her head but the look on his face shamed her and she moved round, sharing the pianist seat with him, squashing him up a little.


Let me sleep
For when I sleep I dream that you are here
You're mine and all my fears are left behind
I float on air
The nightingale sings gentle lullabies
So let me close my eyes


Cordelia’s voice, well practiced with this song, soared above the piano and softened slightly as she continued singing. The club’s patrons, having heard Cordelia sing before had been prepared to wince or to put their hands over their ears. It didn’t take long for them to discover that Cordelia had got a whole new voice. And they liked it, clapping quietly to show their appreciation as she continued.


And sleep, perchance to dream
So I can see the face I long
To touch, to kiss
But only dreams can bring me this
So let the moon shine softly
On the boy I long to see
And maybe when he dreams
He'll dream of me


Cordelia shut her eyes and, for once, enjoyed singing. No audition stress, she knew the song backwards and Lorne was beside her, compensating for the few duff notes she sang. It all came so easily to her, never before had she felt so free.

Lorne felt the contentment emanating from Cordelia and revelled in it, the glow of her enjoyment at singing was amazing. What a woman she was, he thought. What a lady. So much love to give, so free with her emotions and so honest with herself. It was refreshing to meet someone like that who wasn’t scared of telling it how it was. He had to be honest with himself, he had come to adore her during the previous three weeks. She had worked so hard and he knew that he had been a tough teacher. He was so proud of her. She deserved the best and although she still hadn’t heard about the audition she went for, she had moved on, chin up, ready to face the world again.

Angel didn’t know what he had. Although, he mused, listening to Cordelia sing the bridge, her voice strong and sure, that was often the way of things. Sometimes two people didn’t even realise they were meant for each other until it was too late. He hoped it would not be so for these two.


I hide beneath the clouds
That whisper to the evening star
They tell me love is just a dream away
Dream away


Neither Lorne nor Cordelia had seen Angel and Gunn enter the bar. Angel smiled as he heard Cordy’s voice singing with Lorne’s quiet piano accompaniment, sounding true and clear. She sat, her eyes closed, completely oblivious to everything except the music.


So let the moon shine softly
On the boy I long to see
And maybe when he dreams
He'll dream of me
Oh oh oh dream of me


Lorne and Cordelia finished the song and Lorne moved off into another recognisable song, another one that he had taught Cordelia to sing in her new found voice. He didn’t want her to move, he wanted her to stay beside him tonight so he could enjoy the fruits of his labour. Although she was not confident enough yet to improvise along with the piano, she held the tune comfortably and Lorne embroided little alternative melodies around her voice.

Angel and Gunn, from long familiarity with the bar, got their own drinks and found themselves seats at the back, out the way and listened to Lorne and Cordy. Angel glanced over at Gunn who was listening in silence. This kind of music wasn’t really his thing but he seemed pretty entranced.

“Is this what all the secrecy was about?” Gunn asked eventually “Cordy getting singing lessons from Lorne?”

Angel nodded “She asked me not to say anything. I guess she was embarassed.”

“Did she think we’d tease her or something?” Gunn seemed hurt.

Angel shrugged “I guess you’ve never heard Cordy sing.”

“I have. She sounded like a bat out of hell. She sure don’t sound like that now. And I have to say - Cordy’s looking pretty good these days.”

“Yes she is” agreed Angel who suddenly realised what he had said and hurried to finish his sentence “I hope she finds someone she can be happy with. Someone human. You know, who isn’t a demon or a ….”

“A vampire?” Gunn laughed at him “Man, you need to loosen up. She’ll end up with whoever she wants, that girl. Don’t ever think she’s with you cos she has to be. She’s here because she wants to be.”

Lorne and Cordelia finished their impromtu duet to quiet applause from the clientale.

“Thank you, we’ll be here all week.” Lorne joked as Cordy got up and did a little curtsey. She caught sight of Angel and Gunn, half hidden in a corner and waved to them. Lorne watched her go off and join her friends and hoped that Angel and Cordelia would sort themselves out in the near future. The feelings he was getting from Cordy while she was singing were incredibly strong. He wondered if Angel knew how Cordelia felt. He made a silent bet with himself that he didn’t. It was obvious to everyone that Angel loved Cordelia. Except to Cordelia. He watched Cordy receive a hug first from Gunn and then from Angel. Was it his imagination or did Angel’s hand linger on her hip, and did Cordelia hold him closer than she had Gunn. Lorne shrugged and turned to the demon standing behind him. Time to get back to work.

“Hey guys, what are you doing here?” Cordy asked, embarrassed that they had heard her sing.

“Cordy, you sounded amazing” Gunn complimented her making her blush.

“You certainly did” Cordelia glanced up and caught Angel’s admiring gaze. Her blush deepened at his words.

“How did you two get on tonight?” she asked, trying to divert their attention. The two of them grinned.

“It was fun” said Gunn “none of our blood got split which in my view is always a bonus.”

Cordelia glanced at them both, they seemed fairly happy and, for once, unbruised. It was time to head home, she thought, she had done her bit for the evening and turned to wave at Lorne who was watching them from his seat the piano. He nodded back and carried on playing. Cordy grabbed her jacket from where she had stashed it from behind the bar and followed Gunn and Angel out of the club.

The night air was cool on her face after the warmth of the club. Angel had left his car right outside and now opened the door for her, helping her in a courtly fashion. Gunn leapt easily in the back.

“You can drop me off on the way to Cordy’s - I’ve got some people to see.”

Angel simply nodded and seated himself next to Cordelia. He dropped Gunn off at an intersection, outside a large abandoned looking building. Angel told Gunn to be careful and Gunn shrugged off his warning.

“They’re my friends Angel, we’re just gonna catch up.”

Angel pulled away from the kerb and caught up with the traffic again. He was suddenly very aware of the woman by his side. It was as if he could feel every breath, hear every heartbeat. He though she was oblivious to his sideways glances, leaning back in her seat comfortably with her eyes shut, enjoying the feel of the wind on her face.

“Angel, what’s the matter?” her voice startled him in the silence “If you keep looking at me, we’ll crash - and that would be bad.”

Her eyes opened suddenly and met his intent gaze. She gave him one of her glorious smiles that made his toes curl up. He realised that somehow, they had managed to make it to her apartment without him hitting anything but he had no recollection of the journey at all.

“Want to come in?” she asked him, curiously formal and shy. He nodded once and followed her from the car to the house. Cordelia hesitated at the door for a moment before turning back to Angel.

“I think we need to talk Angel.”

He was suddenly scared “We do? About what?” was she going to tell him that she’d found someone else? That she had finally managed to get an acting job which would take her far away from him.

“I think we need to talk about us.” Her voice was steady but he could hear her heart fluttering in her chest - she was as nervous about this as he was.

“We do?” Jesus - he couldn’t seemed to get any other words out other than “we do”. She must think he was some kind of moron.

“But we’re not going to do it tonight.” She smiled at him. “If you come in now, we’re going to eat ice cream and watch movies.”

“OK” said Angel, finding it still difficult to talk.

“Is that an OK Cordelia I’ll have a tub of Cookie Dough Fudge Mint Chip? Or is that an OK Cordelia I’ll head home now to my son?”

Angel looked hesitant for a moment and then a wonderful idea occurred to him.

“Actually, it’s a OK Cordelia - lets grab the ice cream and head back home to our son.”

“Our son?” she questionned, half smiling at his reference to Connor as hers and Angel’s. Angel gave her a sly grin, knowing what her weaknesses were.

“OK, but only for tonight. Let me just grab my stuff.”

Cordelia swung the door open and headed into her bedroom to pick up an overnight bag. Angel waited patiently by the door, and then his attention was caught by a photo on the wall he hadn’t seen before.

It was of Cordelia and himself, obviously taken late one night when they had all come home from slaying. He was sitting on the couch, his head fallen backwards and she stretched out across him, her head pillowed on his thighs. Their hands had somehow become intertwined and they were both sleeping like babies. He did not remember that night but it must have been sometime recently as Cordelia’s hair was short. He looked at the expressions of peace on both of their faces and wondered if he looked like that when he slept alone.

“Ready” Cordelia joined him at the door, and peeked over his shoulder to see what he was looking at. She grinned.

“I thought you looked kinda cute” she said by way of explanation “Come on Fang Boy - it’s ice cream time.”




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