FIC: Human Layers (Chapters 4-6)

["Pat Kelly" <bandits@xxxxxxxxx>]

Title: Human Layers (Chapters 4-6)
Author: Pat Kelly
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Buffy and Cordelia get closer during junior year, discovering a few things along the way.
Spoilers: Season 2.
Disclaimer: All hail Joss and his army of Mutant Enemies. I don't own BTVS. I make no money. Long live UPN! Burn the WB!
Note: Unrelated to "An Interesting Night."


Four
------

 

"We found this address, we checked it out with Xander, and it turned out -" Angel was telling Buffy as she sat at her dining room table.

 

"And Xander?" She interrupted, almost finding it funny. "Wow. Everybody's in. It's like a great big exciting conspiracy."

 

"What are you talking about?"

 

"I'm talking about the people I trust. Who's Druscilla?" The souled vampire lowered his eyes. "And don't lie to me. I'm tired of it."

 

"Some lies are necessary."

 

"For what?"

 

"Sometimes the truth is worse. You live long enough, you find that out."

 

"I can take it. I can take the truth."

 

"Do you love me?"

 

That blindsided her. Angel had never been that direct in the whole time she'd known him. Yet as they talked now, she was starting to realize that she hadn't ever *really* known him.

 

"What?"

 

"Do you?"

 

As she was contemplating the answer, one face surfaced in her mind. Cordelia's. Betrayal wasn't the first word she thought of with her. No, Cordelia had been brutally honest with her on a wide range of subjects. Unlike some people. And there was still doubt. Lots of it.

 

"I don't know." She told him truthfully, which was more than he was doing at the moment.

 

A brief look of hurt passed over Angel's eyes. "Maybe it should stay that way."

 

"Maybe I'm the one who should decide!"

 

How did they get here? Everything had been fine. Halloween went by, taking all the evil Chaos sorcerers and costumed insanity with it. There was only one Chaos sorcerer according to Giles, but that was a technicality. Giles had been unusually cryptic, though...whatever. She wasn't embellishing. That was what was important. It had been insanity, and she had become one of her meek ancestors. Anyhow, it gave way to a relatively calm week and a half, and breaks were always good.

 

She had used it to go shopping with Cordelia, begging Willow to come along. It took a few minutes of coaxing and promises of a barb-free couple of hours, but she went. The redhead had been slightly uncomfortable, and no big leapswere made, but there was progress. Cordelia had taken awhile to get used to the fact that someone else was in on their secret, but the cheerleader did come to terms with it, and even bought Willow a shirt as a sort of peace offering.

 

Whether or not she would wear it was a different story.

 

While she was out on patrol the other night though, she had happened to see Angel talking to a woman in the park. That woman was Druscilla, whom she now knew was a vampire, as well as Spike's girlfriend. At the time it had only given her the creeps, and she hadn't thought much of it until Giles told her what Druscilla was. She asked herself why Angel would be hanging with the enemy,but couldn't come up with an explanation that satisfied her.

 

Strike one.

 

Then when she asked him what he'd been doing when she saw him the following night, he had lied to her. He said he'd been at home, reading.

 

Strike two.

 

On top of that, an old friend hers from Hemry had transferred to Sunnydale, Billy Fordham. It was nice to see him. Memories of her previous life came flooding back to haunt her, but it was nice to see him. Cordelia immediately gave him the evil eye, and again, Buffy found it cute, quickly assuring Cordelia that the agreement was still in effect, and that he wasn't a threat in the romantic sense.

 

Angel however, had taken his jealousy to the extreme. He had shown up at the back door just minutes ago, they had come in here, and then he began telling her that he'd had Willow search Ford's personal records. Also, they'd gone to an address with Xander that somehow proved Ford was evil. Angel was being a tad over-protective, and shakily walking the 'obsessive' line. Buffy didn't know whether to call that strike three or not, because he could be right, but itwas the principle of the thing. 

 

"I did a lot of unconscionable things when I became a vampire." He turned away from her. "Druscilla was the worst. She was...an obsession of mine. She was pure and sweet and chaste..."

 

"And you made her a vampire." She figured she might as well fill in the blank.

 

"First I made her insane." He turned back to look at her. "Killed everybody she
loved. Visited every mental torture on her I could devise." Buffy looked down. "She eventually fled to a convent, and on the day she took her holy orders, I turned her into a demon."

 

She stared him in the eye, trying to see the monster that could do that. But he was different now. Wasn't he? She kept picturing people getting slaughtered, a girl slowly crumbling away...all made possible by Angel. Or his demon. Whatever. She couldn't.  There was that danger she'd been so scared of, and it existed within him. She felt sick, and as much as she knew he had a soul, hearing that straight from his mouth, in that instant, she couldn't do it.

 

Strike three. For romance, anyway.

 

"Well...I asked for the truth."

 

He was out; she could tell that he knew. It didn't have to be said.

 

"Ford's part of some society that reveres vampires. Practically worships them. I don't know what he wants from you, but you can't trust him."

 

It hurt him, and she was sorry for that, but at least now she was sureof something. They wouldn't have to wonder or tiptoe around that issue anymore, waiting for the other to bring it up. And it was better this way; they bothknew that. Could they be friends? Time would tell, she guessed. What she had left to do was to figure out what Cordelia meant to her. After she dealt with her old friend.

 

***

 

Cordelia was lounging on the plush sofa in her house, watching some movie on the big screen TV. She wasn't really focused on it; she wasn't really focused on anything. Every time she came home from school lately, she'd look aroundat everything she had, and it was losing meaning to her; it never had any. Shehad outfits and jewelry that she hadn't touched in a year because the style had passed, or she had gotten a ring that had more carets than the last one. She saw objects as dollar signs that held no attachment for her.

 

She had what most people in her parents income bracket would call junk. Expensive junk, but junk nonetheless. Any other person would thank their lucky stars to have her 'junk.' It was inevitable that she would question her life as she thought about that. People would love to be in her shoes, and she never appreciated it. She couldn't.

 

It felt false anymore; all aspects of it were fading away, losing their color. She still cared about what she wore, but didn't care at the same time. It was weird. Like she was a robot who was just following a pre-programmed setof instructions. She had a certain amount of cash in her bank account? Okay, then she had to act this way or buy that. She wasn't enjoying herself, and it was hollow, but she was still trying to latch onto popularity and to everythingthat she was used to. It was like an addiction, and as she should've anticipated, slowly but surely, it had already begun slipping away from her.

 

She was spending more and more time with Buffy in school, a public place. She was having conversations with her openly, sometimes even with Willow. She was breaking the rules where everyone could see, but while she was actively doing it, Cordelia didn't notice. Buffy had that affect on her. It was onlywhen she was alone, like she was now, that she could fully reflect on what she'd done, and just how many rungs on the ladder she'd fallen. It was getting worse every day. Her group was starting to listen to Harmony. Her sway was lessening.

 

When she, Buffy and Willow had gone shopping, she had intelligently decided to drive them to an upscale place in LA where she didn't think anyone in 'the circle' would go. Most of the girls', 'I'm wealthy, accept me' attitudes were just for show, anyway. She kept them around mainly to brag about herself, and they weren't as well off as they acted, so Cordelia didn't think they'd be able to afford anything where she'd gone. Plus, she was the only person among them who had a car. Well, that wasn't true any longer. Harmony had recently gotten one, so the girl could now go anywhere she wanted.

 

It was pathetic. Harmony was complaining about how pitiful Sunnydale'small was, when only a few months ago, she spent all of her free time there if she couldn't get Cordelia to drive somewhere else.

 

No one had said anything yet, but it was only a matter of time. They saw her without guys; each one she looked at, someone who would worship her andwait on her hand and foot, she saw Buffy's face instead. And besides the fact that there was an agreement, they simply paled in comparison. She was turning down makeover opportunities, and she was hanging out with the social enemy. A part of her disliked Buffy for pulling her away from all that. It was a shallow world, and she was smart enough to know that, but it held status. She couldn't blame the slayer, either. Buffy didn't make her care about her.

 

Though the more time they spent together, the more Cordelia's eyes opened, and the majority of her brain was telling her to not like 'the circle,' andto not care about what she owned. She should go deeper, find the actual person beneath it all and see what was waiting. Who she truly was came out around Buffy and the others; she should explore that. She could give her 'junk' to the Good Will.

 

The now minority was saying the opposite, of course. She should hang on for dear life, to her possessions and to her followers. If she took Buffy's path, she'd just go into the unknown and never come out. It wasn't safe, and there was no guarantee it would be worth it. What if Buffy decided to dump her? Then she'd be stuck. She had to get back in before it was too late.

 

Someone was knocking at the door. Cordelia had sent the maid home onceher parents left for another party, and they could take a cab as far as she was concerned. She got up to go see who it was.

 

"Hi." Buffy greeted her when she opened the door.

 

Buffy at her house? It appeared that another rule was about to be broken.

 

"Hey." Cordelia responded. The slayer looked tense. "What's wrong?"

 

"Funny you should ask that. There're some unstoppable assassins after me, and I think they might know where I live. Can I stay here tonight?"

 

"Assassins? Why would anyone want to -? Oh right."

 

"Yeah, the Order of Tarragon. Giles said I should be wigged, so I am." Buffy stood there, waiting. She had felt like she was being watched all day, but even more so on her way over here. "I'm not welcome?" She frowned.

 

"Duh." The brunette sighed, smacking her forehead. "Of course you are." Buffy smiled gratefully, and then walked in, shutting the door behind her. "Damn! I should've made sure you weren't a vampire!"

 

Buffy laughed. "Here." She took Cordelia's hand and placed it over her heart. Cordelia could feel it beating, but that wasn't all she could feel. "Satisfied?"

 

"Uh...uh huh." The cheerleader said, quieter than she had intended.

 

Seconds passed until Buffy finally cleared her throat, and Cordelia, none-too-suavely removed her hand from the slayer's chest.

 

"I don't think they'll come here, but...I don't want you to get hurt, either...you know, it's probably safer if I just go to Angel's."

 

"Angel's?" Cordelia got in front of the door. "No, no, no, no, no! It's fine. I accept the risks, I promise. And besides, you don't wanna bother him...he's probably busy doing things...good vampire things. Like reorganizing his blood packets or...eww! I just totally grossed myself out." She took a breath. "Stay."

 

'Real smooth.'

 

This was what Buffy did to her. All her thoughts, everything that plagued her vanished, and she turned into a rambling, insane woman who desperately wanted Buffy to remain in her sight at all times. Life was simpler when Buffy was around, yet complicated. Especially when there was physical contact involved. And the slayer had a huge smile on her face. Cordelia knew she liked making her incoherent, but she liked seeing that smile, so it was even.

 

"I don't love him."

 

Cordelia stood silent, absorbing the news. Then she formed a small smile of her own.

 

"You don't?"

 

"Nope." It was another one of those moments again, and like the last one, they let it pass. Buffy didn't want to do anything that'd make them both uncomfortable, thus causing them both to regret this whole thing. And Cordelia was glad for that. "Geez. Look at this place."

 

"My father always says you can't have too much luxury. Then again, he says the same thing about alcohol." Cordelia smirked. "So let's get this 'Waiting for Mortal Danger to Come Kill Us' slumber party started. Want anything?"

 

"I actually am a little hungry. Do you maybe have Doritos? Or a similar, non-name-brand type product? I just need something to shut my stomach up."

 

"Lemme check." Cordelia led her into the living room. "Make yourself at home. TV, couch...feel free."

 

Buffy headed straight for the sofa; it was practically calling out to her. But her host went to the kitchen. "I appreciate this."

 

"It's no problem." Cordelia said, searching the cupboards. "How's Giles?"

 

"Still marching with the guilt parade. His past came back to get him and Miss Calendar got caught in the middle. It's eating at him, and it's not helping that she pretends he doesn't exist whenever they see each other in the hall."

 

"Can you blame her? She was possessed by a demon he helped make."

 

"I know. But he's my watcher, so I kinda have to join his camp. I wantto hit Ethan so bad. First it was Halloween..." Buffy yawned, and then she drifted.

 

Cordelia was gone only a few minutes, but when she came back in, her guest was fast asleep. "She must have been exhausted."

 

The sight of Buffy sleeping made Cordelia's breath catch in her throat. There were no worry lines, signs of stress or pain, strength or weakness...the layers had been stripped away. It was pure; it was simple. There was nothing artificial covering her face. No makeup, nothing to hide imperfections. Andshe didn't need it. This was Buffy. No other words of description were necessary, and Cordelia was blown away.

 

Taking the blanket off the top of the sofa and laying it over Buffy's body, she didn't even remember the meaning of the word 'popularity.' How could she not love this girl? It was easy to ask that now, and the answer was just as easy, but as soon as she began to go upstairs, Cordelia knew all her fears would come back. Though she wouldn't forget that she had gotten to see the toughest, most selfless person she knew, in her most unguarded state.

 

And to Cordelia, that was pretty special.

 

***

 

A ringing telephone cut short the cheerleader's beauty sleep in the morning.

 

"Hello?" God. This was the last thing she needed. "No, I'm not drivingyou to her house, Xander...Um, cause she's not missing? Moron...Why do I know that?"

 

Oh no. Why did she know that?

 

'To hell with it. It's too early to come up with an excuse.'

 

"Cause she's downstairs sleeping...Yes, here...It's not a difficult concept...No, it's not...I don't know why. Ask her...I don't have to prove it...I have her severed head in a jar? You're majorly disturbed, you know that? Don't you have to go burn ants with a magnifying glass or something?...Yeah, that was *real* witty. Bravo..."

 

Becoming more awake by the second, Cordelia could hear banging downstairs.

 

"Who are you?" Buffy's voice was asking someone.

 

She cringed. She hoped it wasn't the maid.

 

"I have to go...Shut up...She'll call, okay?...Bye."

 

Rushing to the foyer, she saw that it definitely wasn't the maid. Buffy was facing off with...was she Caribbean? Cordelia couldn't tell, but it was a girl, and they were in almost identical fighting stances.

 

"I'm Kendra, da Vampire Slayer." The girl answered Buffy's question with a thick accent.

 

"What?" Cordelia and Buffy echoed.

 

"Time." The brunette said. "Instant replay, please."

 

"Heard noise outside. Caught her snooping. We fought. At a stalemate." Buffy told her side of the story.

 

Cordelia looked at Kendra, who cautiously let her guard down.

 

"I was sent 'ere by me watcher. He told me dat I would find a man by dee name of Rupert Giles at a high school. Da watcher in dis area. I began heading dere last night, when I saw you." Kendra looked at Buffy. "I sensed dat youwere strong, but I was not sure if you were a vampire or not. I followed you, and watched as you were invited into dis place. I eventually came to dee conclusion dat you were not a demon."

 

"Eventually? What took you so long?" Buffy asked.

 

"You were staring at her neck a lot." Cordelia raised her eyebrows. She hadn't picked up on this. "It is none of my business."

 

"Damn right it isn't." The blonde slayer said angrily, trying to hide her blush. "Well, if you 'came to dat conclusion,' why were you continuing to lurk?" Mocking helped.

 

"I wasn't. I came back 'ere only a few minutes ago, waiting for you to awaken. You are a slayer as well, aren't you?"

 

"Last time I checked."

 

"I was going to introduce meself, but I was attacked."

 

Buffy looked guilty then, and relaxed. "I've been edgy, and I thought you were one of the bad guys. Sorry."

 

"She has assassins after her." Cordelia explained.

 

"Assassins?" Kendra questioned.

 

"Why don't we take her to Giles? Then we can play Twenty Questions fora Slayer like civilized people, and stop Xander from being a bigger idiot than he already is." Cordelia suggested. "After you clean up the mess your little Pay-Per-View match created before my parents come stumbling home. Cause I'msure as hell not gonna."

 

Both slayers looked ashamed.

 

***

 

Buffy sat in the school lounge, numb. She had killed a man. Knocked him down the stairs. Sure, he hit her and was dating her mother, but that didn't justify a killing. Certainly not the killing of a human being. She didn't want to have to deal with this. She felt horrible, and there was nothing she could do to make it better. She noticed all the stares and accusing eyes. She could tell the police wanted to lock her up, and she didn't blame them.

 

And this was happening way too fast. She didn't even have time to bounce back from the 'Assassins Giving Spike Time to Use Angel to Cure Druscilla' ordeal. Talking more with Kendra in the library, she had found out that in the few hours in which the other slayer hadn't been spying on her, she had come across Willy's bar. Angel had gone there to get some information, they fought, and Kendra almost got him killed. She locked him up in a cage in the storage room of the bar, where the sun could easily shine in.

 

Before she even had any reason to go to Cordelia's, Buffy had gone to her house like normal, where this guy with a sliced eye and long hair was waiting to fulfill his contract. Angel just happened to be in the area, and they finished him off together. He snatched a ring off the guy's finger then, and recognized it as belonging to the Order of Taraka. He was obviously having trouble letting go, but Buffy figured that since he had just saved her life she wouldn't say anything. Telling Angel she'd be okay, he reluctantly left, to unknowingly go meet Kendra.

 

She went inside and called Giles, and after he'd repeatedly told her how dangerous the people were, she went to see her favorite cheerleader.

 

Willy had sold out Angel to Spike sometime in the morning, and it tooksome convincing to get Kendra to help her save him. Just because she didn't lovehim didn't mean he deserved to die. While the arguing was going on, Xander was at her house. He hadn't believed Cordelia, so he hurried over there as quicklyas his legs would take him, only to meet Assassin Number Two. The Bug Guy. He escaped to the library fortunately, where Cordelia promptly told him, "Toldyou so."

 

When it came down to it, with the assassins taken care of and Angel dying, Kendra was by her side, and they rescued him. Not only were Spike and Druscilla now history, as the church they had used went up in flames and an organ crashed down around them, she had also made a new friend. But it wasn't like what she had accomplished mattered anymore, because here she sat, a murderer.

 

"Buffy!" Xander said, as he and Willow came to join her. "Are you okay?"

 

"How come you're here?" Willow asked.

 

"I couldn't stay at home. Mom won't even look at me." She said sadly.

 

"What happened? Unless you don't want to talk about it."

 

"We had a fight and I lost my temper. I really let him have it."

 

"The paper said he fell."

 

"He fell." Buffy agreed. "Hard."

 

"What was he?" Xander wondered.

 

"What?" Her brain wasn't functioning well.

 

"What was he? A-a demon? A giant bug? Some kind of dark god with the secrets of nouvelle cuisine? I mean, we are talking creature-feature here, right?" She just lowered her eyes. "Oh man."

 

"But I'm sure it wasn't your fault." Willow defended her. "He started it."

 

"Yeah. That defense only works in six-year-old court, Will." Buffy explained.

 

"Court? Wa-wait. Are they charging you with something?" Xander asked.

 

She shook her head. "I-I don't know. Not yet." She paused. "He was a person, and I killed him."

 

"Don't say that!" Willow exclaimed.

 

"Why not? Everyone else is. And it's the truth."

 

"It was an accident." Xander said sympathetically.

 

"I'm the Slayer. I had no right to hit him like that."

 

"Look, Buffy, I don't know what happened exactly. But I do know you. And I know you would never hurt anyone intentionally. Well, you know, unless..."

 

"Unless they were dating my mother?" The three of them turned then as Cordelia and her flock entered the lounge. The brunette locked eyes with the slayer, and in full view of everyone, she walked over and hugged her. "I gotta go."

 

"It'll be okay." Cordelia whispered.

 

Buffy got up and left, while Xander looked at Willow. "What's goin' on?"

 

That's what the flock wanted to know.

 

***

 

Five
------

 

"Will, what am I gonna do?" Buffy asked her friend as they walked through the quad.

 

"What do you wanna do?"

 

The slayer felt it. At least she thought she did. Everything inside her had been screaming, 'Just Admit It!' When Cordelia had hugged her, showing her support with the 'Ted' thing in front of everybody, that's when it started.He'd been a robot, thank God. And a twisted one at that. Parcheesi? Anyway, doubts became certainties, and she felt giddy. Her. Giddy. It was an odd sensation. Plus, Buffy thought Cordelia had to be pretty sure too, if she risked that amount of contact in public. But was she ready?

 

"I think I'm going to. Tell her."

 

'You only live once, right? Well, in my case twice.'

 

"Wow..."

 

She smiled. "Yeah." She thought to herself. "What do you think?"

 

"I think 'wow.'" Willow said. "I'll be honest. I'm not used to being a Cordelia supporter. Hating her with a fiery passion? That I can do. But I'dhave to be a fool, a big fool, if I didn't see that she cares about you. I don'tknow her like you do, but she's surprised me. It's still hard to accept a little, but when the aftermath ensues, I'll be behind you a hundred and ten percent."

 

Buffy frowned. "Oh yeah. The aftermath. Does Xander know?"

 

"No. I'm proud of myself. I pretended I had laryngitis for a week so he wouldn't make me talk, and then he went back to his usual routine. Ogling girls that aren't me." 

 

"You can't spend the rest of your life waiting for Xander to wake up and smell the hottie."

 

"I know...but..." Willow trailed off. "So are you?"

 

"Yes. I am. I'm gonna do it." She was boosting her confidence level with every step.

 

"Wow..."

 

"Speaking of 'wow' potential, there's Oz over there. What are we thinking, any sparkage?"

 

Buffy was looking at a guy sitting on the bench, strumming his guitar.He played with Dingoes Ate My Baby, and Willow had met him during Career Week.

 

The redhead smiled. "He's nice. I-I like his hands."

 

"Mm. A fixation on insignificant detail is a definite crush sign. For me, it's Cordelia's mole."

 

"Oh! That's a good one!" She got shy again quick. "I don't know, though. I mean, he is a senior."

 

"Hey, you're talking to a girl who's about to go 'alternative lifestyle' and tell the most popular girl in school that she loves her. So I will hearno excuses. Make a move. Do the talking thing."

 

"W-what if the talking thing becomes the awkward-silence thing?"

 

"Well, you won't know until you try."

 

As Willow walked over, Buffy prepared herself. There would be no turning back.

 

***

 

Cordelia was standing cornered in the bathroom by Harmony, Karen, and some other girl whose name she didn't remember. She had just spent a weekend in Vegas watching her parents gamble, and it was really embarrassing. They even had the nerve to call it 'family time.' A confrontation was low on her list of the things she wanted to deal with right now.

 

She knew she had pushed it with that hug, but Buffy had needed it, andshe was caring less and less about other people. But now the questions were coming, and since she and Buffy hadn't come to a decision yet, she'd have to think of a lie until they could talk it over.

 

"Okay, we're concerned about you, and as your friends we thought it was necessary to have a...a..." Harmony couldn't think of the word.

 

"An intervention?" Cordelia supplied.

 

"See? I told you I knew what it was called!" The blonde snapped at the other two. "Yeah, so we couldn't help noticing your long guy-less streak. At first we thought it was just a 'Begging Strike,' but you didn't ask any of us to join. As if that wasn't horrible enough, Jack saw you with Buffy and Willowin LA, and then he told Josh, who told Tiffany, and then Tiffany told Amber, then Amber told Karen, and then Karen told me. I didn't want to believe it."

 

"Sounds like you've got a real reliable system there. Might as well have heard it through the grapevine; at least then you'd have fruit."

 

"Huh?" 

 

"Never mind." Why did she want to be popular again?

 

"We're worried, sweetie. Cause then we saw you...hug her." They all grimaced. "Spending that much time with losers is obviously unhealthy for you."

 

"They're not losers. Well, maybe Xander..."

 

"They've brainwashed you into defending them? How tragic! Come on, there's plenty of guys lining up! Tell us how we can help. Ooh! We can go to the health spa across town after school and put this all behind us. My dad knows a guy, who knows a guy that's having an affair with a girl who works there, so we got free passes."

 

"Look Harmony, it's not as bad as you think..."

 

"You're in denial, honey." The girl she didn't know said.

 

"You poor thing." Harmony said sympathetically.

 

"No, really. You know I went away with my parents, right?" They nodded. "Well, I got tired of watching my them foam at mouth playing their slot machines, so I went back up to my room, and I saw this yummy-looking bellhop." She wanted to gag. "We talked, but we both knew what it was leading to the whole time."

 

"You mean...you did it with him?" Harmony asked, in awe.

 

Cordelia nodded. "He was Mexican, and he quiero me. If it got any steamier...well, you know. And south of the border? Whew." She fanned herself.

 

"Mexican? That's *so* exotic!" As the sheep giggled and a string of 'Oh My God's began, Cordelia had to remember to tell Buffy it was untrue, because this was going to spread like wildfire. "You have to tell us *all* the details!"

 

What Cordelia wasn't aware of, was that Buffy had been listening outside the door. The slayer already knew, and every word had felt like a blow a million times worse than any demon had given her. They tore her up inside, and she wasn't sure if she meant that figuratively or not. She needed air, and she hoped Cordelia wouldn't mind if she didn't stick around for the specifics.

 

***

 

The next day, Buffy sat in the library, in the moping, defeated stage.The anger and irrationality stage wasn't far away. Leaving school right after she had heard Cordelia yesterday, she went home and spent all her unplanned free time locked in her room for the initial stage. Where there was heavy sobbing and crying. After it was over, the shock set in, and every last doubt was erased. She really did love Cordelia. It wouldn't hurt this much if she didn't.

 

As much as she was trying not to think it, maybe Willow had been right. Maybe Cordelia was manipulating her the entire time. She *hated* being manipulated. Her phone had rung several times the day before, but she didn't answer it on the chance that it could've been her. She vaguely recalled her mother trying to pry information out of her, but she hadn't budged. Probably because at the time, she just hadn't registered her presence.

 

All those poets might've been right. Love might be a grand a wonderful thing, but it also sucked when it was turned against you. All you need is love? No, what Buffy needed was a backup plan and some ice cream.

 

Giles was coming down the stairs. "Buffy? I didn't hear you come in. How are you this morning?" His voice wasn't reaching her ears. He walked up to the table. "Buffy, are you all right?"

 

"What? Fine. I'm fine." She responded, snapping back into reality.

 

"Yes..." He didn't think she was, but didn't press it. "Well, I believe birthday wishes are in order." He smiled.

 

It was her birthday? Funny how that didn't make her feel better.

 

"Thanks, Giles." She forced a smile for him.

 

Willow hurried through the library doors then, attempting to look calmand casual, but not pulling it off that well. When she saw her friend's face, she knew she didn't have to be the one to break it to her, so she relaxed considerably.

 

"You heard, didn't you?" The redhead asked, sitting down.

 

"Straight from the horse's mouth." The slayer sighed.

 

Giles, sensing that this was none of his business, went to catalog.

 

"You're at name-calling already?" Willow sat down too.

 

"It's an _expression_, Will." She thought for a second. "No, maybe I am at name calling. You warned me, and I didn't listen. I guess I was setting myself up for this."

 

"Maybe there's another explanation." Willow's eyes widened. "Oh, but did you hear what she...?" Buffy looked at her. Screw other explanations. "I'm shutting up." Then she remembered something. "But hey! Sorry, I know I saidI was gonna shut up, but this isn't about that, and I won't bring it up again ever, unless you wanna throw darts at her head, cause uh, I had her yearbook picture blown up and I take it out and put it on my door sometimes when I'm really mad at her and...Happy Birthday."

 

Buffy smiled genuinely this time. Darts?

 

Now it was Xander's turn to enter, coming to stand behind Willow's chair.

 

"It's the woman of the hour! For she's a jolly good slayer, for she's a jolly good slayer..." Picking up on the fact that his lame jokes were goingover worse than usual, he stopped. "How about that Cordelia, huh? Gotta wonder how much room she's got left on that bedpost."

 

She suddenly felt the need to leave. "Ya know, I have a class that's starting. Or half over." She got up.  "I should probably attend. I'll catch you guys later."

 

When she was gone, Xander frowned. "Well, that's not a perky birthday puppy." Willow slapped his chest. "What was that for?"

 

"Arm spasm."

 

"O...kay."

 

"So much for our surprise party." The hacker said, disappointed. "I bought little hats and everything."

 

"Buffy's surprise party will go ahead as we planned. Except I won't be wearing the little hat." The watcher informed them.

 

"Giles, I don't think she -"

 

"Buffy's turning seventeen just this once and she deserves a party. It's obvious that something is bothering her, but we'll just have to cheer her up."

 

"You're a great man of our time." Xander said as he was slapped a second time. He was suspicious now. "Another one?"

 

"It comes and goes." The hacker shrugged.

 

***

 

"Buffy, are you okay?" Angel asked after she had killed the vampire she'd been fighting.

 

The group, along with Oz, who was Willow's date, and Cordelia, had allcome to the Bronze for her party. They'd been waiting for Miss Calendar to bringher, when she crashed through the window and went into slay-mode. The redhead wanted to throw Cordelia out, as she had invited the brunette before she decided to have sex with someone and break her friend's heart, but she figured she'd let Buffy do that.

 

"Yes. W-what happened?" Giles asked.

 

Buffy gestured behind her. "Uh, there were these vamps outs..." She glanced around at all the decorations and presents. "W-what's going on?"

 

"Oh, um...a surprise party." He said, blowing on a party favor he'd been holding.

 

"Happy Birthday." Cordelia said, smiling.

 

Seeing her, Buffy turned immediately to Angel and flashed him a big smile, and rubbed a hand along his chest. "You guys did all this for me? That is so sweet."

 

"You sure you're okay?" The vampire asked again.

 

"Yes, I'm fine." She looked at Cordelia and was pleased when she saw that the cheerleader didn't like what she was watching. What a shame.

 

"Are you okay?" Willow asked Oz.

 

"Yeah. Hey, did everybody see that guy just turn to dust?" The guitarist wondered.

 

"Uh, well, uh...sort of?"

 

"Yep. Vampires are real. A lot of them live in Sunnydale. Willow'll fill you in." Xander sighed and walked off.

 

"I know it's hard to accept at first..."

 

"Actually, it explains a *lot*." Oz said.

 

Cordelia came over to Buffy once she had managed to tear herself from Angel. The slayer knew she couldn't avoid this without making a scene, so she simply waited.

 

"Okay, why won't you talk to me? And what was with the show?"

 

Buffy laughed. "Please tell me you're joking. Like you don't know."

 

"No, Buffy, I don't know."

 

She almost believed her. "Why are you even -?"

 

Miss Calendar came in then, carrying a large, odd-shaped box. "Hey, can somebody give me a hand here?" Angel and Giles took it from her, setting iton a table, and Buffy used it as an excuse to walk away from Cordelia. "Those creeps left this behind."

 

"What is it?" Buffy questioned.

 

"I have no idea." Her watcher said, puzzled. "Can, can it be opened?"

 

"Yeah. This looks like a release right here."

 

She got the box open, only to find a severed arm inside. Before she had time to properly voice her disgust however, it rose up and began choking her. Angel quickly grabbed onto the arm, and after a few seconds, he was able to wrench it free from her neck and get it back in the box.

 

"Well, clearly the Hellmouth's answer to 'What do you get the slayer who has everything?'" Xander, though frightened, tried to quip.

 

"Good heavens. Buffy, are you all right?" Giles said, concerned.

 

Though she didn't want to, Cordelia stood in the background, showing silent concern. She didn't feel all that welcome.

 

Buffy coughed. "Man, that thing had major grip."

 

"W-what was that?" Willow asked.

 

"It looked like an arm." Oz stated the obvious.

 

"It can't be. She wouldn't." Angel shook his head in disbelief.

 

"What, vamps version of 'Snakes in a Can', or do you care to share?" Xander asked.

 

"It-it's a legend...way before my time...of a demon brought forth to rid the Earth of the plague of humanity...separate the righteous from the wicked...and to burn the righteous down. They call him the Judge."

 

"The Judge? This is he?" Giles questioned.

 

"Not all of him."

 

Buffy raised her hand. "Um, still needing backstory here?"

 

"Um...he, he, he couldn't be killed, yes? Um, a-an army was sent against him. Most of them died... but, uh, finally they were able to dismember him,but, uh...not kill him." The Englishman explained.

 

"The pieces were scattered...buried in every corner of the Earth." Angel continued.

 

"So all these parts are being brought here." Miss Calendar realized.

 

"By Drusilla. The vamps outside were Spike's men." Buffy told everyone.

 

"She's just crazy enough to do it." Angel knew his child well.

 

"Do what, reassemble the Judge?" Willow was confused.

 

"And bring forth Armageddon."

 

A plan was formulated. By Miss Calendar of all people. Angel was goingto get on a cargo ship, and try to take the box as far away from Sunnydale as possible, tonight. Miss Calendar volunteered to drive him to the docks, and Buffy said she would go along. She wanted to say goodbye, because no one knew when he'd be back, but this was also a great opportunity for her to get back at Cordelia, and she couldn't pass it up.

 

***

 

Buffy followed Angel into his apartment later that night, her arms wrapped around herself. She was shivering from the rain they had just run through. Everything was going off without a hitch; they had gone to the docks and Angel was going to get onto the boat, but they were ambushed by more of Spike's men, and the box was stolen. While that was happening, she had ended up in the water somehow, and Angel dove in after her.

 

Miss Calendar had dropped them off at the library, and then went home, frustrated with something. Everyone was researching, hoping to find a way to stop the Judge, but all the books called him un-killable. Cordelia was up in the stacks when they had gotten there, and stayed out of sight the entire time. Angel eventually remembered that one of his contacts had recently informed him that there were a lot of vampires that liked to hang around the old factorythe Anointed One had used.

 

She decided that she and Angel would scope out the factory and the Judge. She had briefly considered going over to Cordelia before leaving, but she was firmly in the anger stage and that impulse faded fast. It was nice being able to avoid her emotions. They got to the factory, and discovered that Druscilla was having a birthday party of her own. Also, the Judge was assembled. Nearly having the humanity burned out of them, they barely managed to escape and run here, through the storm.

 

"You're shaking like a leaf." Angel noticed.

 

"Cold." She told him, her teeth chattering.

 

"Let me get you something."

 

As she watched him get her clothes from his armoire, the only thing she could think was,

 

'Angel would never sleep with a bellhop.'

 

There was something wrong with that thought, though.

 

"Put these on. Get under the covers, just to warm up." He said to her,and she went to his bed and sat. When he didn't turn away, she stared at him, and he got the message. "Sorry." Taking off her top shirt, she winced. "What?"

 

"Oh, um...it's okay. I just have...a cut or something." She assured him.

 

Was it her imagination or was it warming up in here?

 

"Can I...?" He started, but then trailed off, hesitant. "Let me see."

 

Buffy held her shirt to her chest. "Okay."

 

Angel turned facing her, and sat down on the bed next to her. He touched her back softly, inspecting the cut. Uh oh. This was dangerous territory. Her body was conflicting with her brain, but if she did allow something to happen, would she really be in the wrong? Cordelia slept with someone, why couldn'tshe? That was her rationale. They'd be even, right? No harm, no foul, and it wasn't like Angel wasn't attractive. She did care for him, so...

 

But she didn't love him. And she'd be using him to get back at Cordelia. She couldn't do that to him, could she?

 

"It's already closed. You're fine." Buffy leaned back into him, and brought their faces together as he put his arms around her. "I..."

 

He felt good. Very good.

 

"You what?" She asked him softly.

 

It was so tempting. To make her hurt like she was hurting. Would Cordelia even be affected? Angel would be caught in the middle, and...

 

"I love you. I try not to, but I can't stop." He said it with such meaning, such emotion, and she was hit with it.

 

They began kissing feverishly. This was the irrationality stage. She was supposed to be irrational. But...damn, did he say he loved her? Why did he have to say that? This wasn't her. She was better than Cordelia. She wasn't the kind of person who could just...she pulled back abruptly, thus ending the irrationality stage. Just in time, too. Before she made a mistake. Before she did something she probably would've regretted.

 

"I can't. It wouldn't...I'm sorry. I don't wanna hurt you."

 

Angel stood up, putting distance between them as he tried to calm himself down. In more ways than one.

 

"Because you don't."

 

"There's somebody else."

 

"Cordelia." He said, and Buffy slipped on the dry sweater he had givenher.

 

"How'd -?"

 

"Willow told me at the party. Before you got there. She was upset, andshe talked...really fast, but I think I got the general idea."

 

Buffy smiled. "Then why'd you let me kiss you?"

 

"For a second, I wanted to believe something I knew wasn't true." Angel smiled sadly. "If you love her, then don't give up on her until you've heard what she has to say."

 

And here began the facing the music, good or bad, stage.

 

"I know it's not the same, and I know this'll sound like a line...but could we possibly be friends?"

 

"I wouldn't mind that." He said, almost gratefully. Though the likelihood of finding someone like Buffy again, someone to love, was low. But he masked his sadness. Buffy deserved happiness, and as the Slayer, she needed it more than he did. He'd always support that. "You should stay here until the storm blows over. And then -"

 

"And then I'll go talk to her." She finished for him. "So...wanna playGo Fish?"

 

***

 

Six
----

 

Back at Sunnydale High, Cordelia had moved to the library table with Willow, and Giles and Xander were in the stacks. She was trying to read and discover how to save the human race, but her concentration wasn't working that well. What was up with Buffy? One day they were fine, the next, the slayer couldn't be around her for more than two seconds. She had tried to call herat least a dozen times.

 

And Willow was giving her dirty looks when she thought she wasn't looking. Her doubts were coming true. Buffy had disappeared on her, and now she was stuck. Well, she could go back to the fold, go back to being Queen of the Ditzes, but she wouldn't be able to forget. She'd seen the other side, so it wouldn't be the same. On the surface she could hide; they had certainly bought her lie.

 

She didn't even get to tell Buffy about it. Wait...

 

"I'm such an idiot!" Cordelia exclaimed.

 

It was all falling into place now. Buffy had heard, and that started the typical chain reaction. Buffy must have been...why didn't she see it sooner? The avoidance, the silence, the flirting with Angel...and the final stage of revenge was...

 

Xander poked his out from a behind a shelf. "Did you just say what I think you said? And I didn't get it on tape? Damn!"

 

"Willow, where's Angel's apartment?" The cheerleader asked the redhead.

 

"Why?" Willow wondered, hoping her tone sounded angry enough.

 

"Cause if I thought someone I was close to being on the verge of...something with, had sex with somebody that wasn't me, I know what I'd do."

 

"Ha! You admit it!" She paused. "I think."

 

Cordelia sighed. "Just tell me."

 

"No!" She had been holding it in. Time to let it out. "How could you do that to her? I mean, we all knew you were evil, but even I didn't think you could stoop this low!"

 

"Willow -" Cordelia tried. She didn't have time for this.

 

"I'm not finished! She can't confront you, but suddenly I'm feeling brave, so I guess I'll have to! I've got sixteen years worth of rage on reserve; Ican last for a long time, trust me!" She liked this. "It's not like she found out from some random person either! She heard it from you! Rumors are one thing, cause you can't prove them, but-but you...suck! And I hate your shoes!" Whoa. She had said 'suck.' "She was coming to tell you that she loves you, and you were going on and on about your sweaty escapades with an Indian desk clerk!"

 

"She what?" Xander and Cordelia echoed.

 

Her timing had obviously been really bad.

 

"Yeah, and she was really excited."

 

"It was a *Mexican bellhop*, first of all -" Cordelia said. How that stuff mutated was beyond her.

 

"Like that's *so* much better!"

 

"I love her too!" She yelled. Then her words registered. She did. Wow."And there was no desk clerk, or a bellhop, or a room service guy. There wasn't anybody. Harmony grew a brain cell and got suspicious, so I made it up. It's all false. *False*. I have way higher standards than that. I was going to tell her, but I never got the chance, okay? Now tell me where the damn apartment is."

 

Willow was stunned. "Dayton Street. Two blocks b-before the Bronze." Cordelia ran out the doors. "Darn, I feel like a big meanie. And I'm prettysure my throat's all red now."

 

"Willow, you might want to see if you can fetch some water." Giles said. "Xander appears to have fainted."

 

***

 

"Do you have any, um, threes?" Buffy asked, looking at her cards as she and Angel sat on the floor of his apartment.

 

"What're the rules again?"

 

"This is sad." She shook her head. "You've been around two hundred years, and you can't even play Go Fish."

 

"I like Gin."

 

"I don't really need to know your drinking habits, thanks." Too much information.

 

"It's another type of card game." He grinned.

 

"Oh." She hid her embarrassment well. "Think I should call the libraryand see if they got anything on Grouchy Smurf yet?"

 

Just then, someone started pounding on the door, and before either of them could react, it flew open and a drenched Cordelia came charging in.

 

"Get your vampy hands *off* my girlfriend!" The brunette demanded, not surveying the situation first. The slayer and the vampire were too confusedto do anything. "Oh God, I'm too late!" She saw the cards in their hands. "That's...different. Most people smoke after sex."

 

"There was no sex." Buffy finally spoke. "There was going to be, but we...came to our senses." She smiled slightly, amused at Cordelia's little spectacle. "We decided to play cards instead. Talk about two completely unrelated activities...did you say 'girlfriend'?"

 

Angel had gotten up and grabbed the blanket off of his bed. He gave itto Cordelia to use.

 

"Here, you're soaked. I...don't have any towels."

 

She looked apologetic. "I ran. I kinda didn't think to take my car."

 

He looked up the stairs outside his door, and listened. "I think the rain's letting up. I'm gonna go make sure they aren't still searching for us." He smiled at them.

 

They watched him leave, and then things became awkward.

 

"Haven't got a clue on the Judge." Cordelia said, putting the blanket around her shoulders.

 

"Our only option is panicking? Well, there goes my reputation as a superhero." Buffy sighed. "He's connected and powered up now, Spike and Dru aren't dust, and they're working with him."

 

"Triple whammy? Ouch."

 

"Big ouch. Spike *is* wheelchair-bound, though." She paused. "Girlfriend?"

 

"You didn't sleep with him?" Buffy shook her head, and watched as the other girl sighed out of relief. "It isn't true, any of it. I said it just to get Harmony off my back. I didn't know you were listening."

 

Cordelia wasn't lying. The slayer's eyes grew wide, and then she looked guilty.  So she had almost endangered what they had by jumping to a false conclusion? She had a habit of doing that too much, and she knew she reallyhad to stop. It wasn't a good thing; it made her feel lower than scum.

 

"You know what this means, don't you? It means I'm a jerk. Some of the things I thought, said..."

 

"Okay, how about you keep that to yourself?" They walked closer to one another.

 

Buffy brought two of her fingers together and moved them in a turning motion in front of her mouth, like someone would a key. "Locked away forever."
 
"And can we forget this ever happened?" Cordelia touched her cheek.

 

She wasn't used to this 'romantic contact' stuff, but Buffy wasn't trying to run, so she must've been doing something right.

 

"Yes." Buffy closed her eyes, nodding. "Yes, we can."

 

"There is one thing I wanna remember. Willow...she said you loved me."She smiled. "Word of advice, though? Don't mess with her."

 

"Oh, I know." The slayer smiled back, looking at her once more. "She told you that?"

 

"Yep. And I told her that I loved you."

 

"No kidding. Huh. Works out well."

 

"Doesn't it?" She wrapped her arms around Buffy's neck, and leaned in."I think we've done enough talking. Unless you wanna get Willow to help us outwith this next part, too."

 

"Enjoy the gutter?" Buffy asked with a grin.

 

She let Cordelia make the initial contact. After all, she had started the first one; it was the cheerleader's turn. This time was much better, however. Mutual participation was substantially more enjoyable. They stood there, savoring the moment for as long as possible before they had to come up for air. This kiss had taken too damn long to get to, and they weren't going to waste it.

 

They did separate at some point, but that only allowed them to place light kisses on each other's lips. Buffy ran her hand down Cordelia's rain-matted hair. She was looking at the true Cordelia Chase now. Her makeup had washedaway and smeared in the rain, her hair wasn't blow-dried or conditioned, and thehair spray had failed. This was the brunette at her plainest and simplest, and she was still beautiful.

 

"I love you." The girls said together, causing them to giggle. They *didn't* giggle. Not that often, anyway.

 

Not that they had anything against Willow, but they felt that they needed to say it to one another to get the full effect out of the words. They hugged tightly.

 

"Part of you may be a jerk, part of me may be a jerk -" Cordelia began.

 

"May be?" Buffy asked with a cocky smirk. Cordelia sucked gently on her bottom lip, teasing it, to get her to shut up. She wasn't complaining.

 

"But everybody has that part. We're human. We've got parts that are gonna screw up. It's unavoidable. That's why it's a good thing it's the whole person I'm interested in; the good, the bad, and the -"

 

"Don't finish that sentence." She returned the favor.

 

"Sexy." Cordelia said breathlessly, winking.

 

"I think we're on the same wavelength there, but what about -?"

 

"Let them say whatever the hell they want. I'm above them. Not to mention hotter than all of them combined."

 

"Can't argue with that." Buffy smiled.

 

They proceeded to make out some more, their tongues instantly becomingthe best of friends.

 

"You should go save the world. I doubt anybody else is gonna get off their ass and do it."

 

"Yeah, I heard Batman's really let himself go." She smirked. "Could use some help figuring out the 'how.'"

 

"Lucky for you I don't have plans."

 

They grasped hands, and headed out into the night. Buffy had faced the music, and she was extremely glad she had. The tune was pretty incredible. Boy, could Cordelia kiss.

 

(Are you gonna listen to me more often now? Her rational side asked, gloating.)

 

"Not if you're gonna brag." Buffy said under her breath. Cordelia looked at her. "So uh, where's my present?" She asked.

 

"I'm not enough?" Cordelia questioned with mock hurt.

 

"Somebody's full of herself." She thought. "Well, look who I'm talking to."

 

The brunette grinned evilly. "You better run, Buffy. As fast as you can."

 

"Like you'd catch me." She took off.

 

Cordelia was never far behind.

 

***

 

Giles and Willow were discussing a plan to defeat the Judge with Xander, as Buffy and Cordelia came running through the doors of the library. A plan hehad come up with all by himself. He thought it was brilliant, and by the looks he hoped he was receiving, they thought so too. Who said being the victim of an evil British sorcerer's magick spell couldn't be useful?

 

"Are you positive you'll be able to -?" Giles started, but was distracted by the returning cheerleader and the surprisingly joyful slayer.

 

"I won. Pay up." Cordelia requested.

 

"We didn't bet." Buffy told her now girlfriend.

 

"Well, we should have."

 

"That's what everybody always says after they win. You'll just have tolive with..." She grinned, thinking of something. "No. You've definitely earned a reward. A victory is a victory, bet or no bet."

 

Cordelia waited. "So? What is it?"

 

"It's not money, but I think you'll like it." She was drawing nearer and nearer to her mouth.

 

Xander felt faint again and Giles looked down at a book, but Willow just smiled. Cordelia pointed to the group, reminding the slayer that they weren't exactly alone.

 

Buffy blushed. "Right. Fully-functional Judge. Spike on wheels. Healthy Druscilla. Mass annihilation of humanity. I'm on task, I'm focused; I'm ready to do the duty."

 

"The Judge is whole? And Spike and Druscilla survived? You're certain?" Giles asked, glad that they were back on a topic he could contribute to.

 

Buffy nodded. "Oh, I'm certain."

 

"Then we have no choice but to go with Xander's plan."

 

"Could you be any less confident in me?" Xander wondered, hearing the not so enthusiastic tone of his voice.

 

"It's a sound course of action, and there's no foreseeable reason why it shouldn't work, however, the most crucial part is all very much dependent on your acting skills. And if I remember last year's talent show correctly..."

 

"Thanks for opening up old wounds, Giles." Buffy said, as she and Willow whimpered. "It was a dumb play anyway." She paused, killing the memory. "There. It's gone. Now, seeing as before Xander's plan, whatever it is, we had nothing...um..." She was attempting to come up with something inspiring, but was falling short. "Isn't anything better than nothing?"

 

"Have I mentioned how much I love all the support in this room?" He asked sarcastically.

 

It didn't matter. Soon they'd be thanking him for saving their hides and feeding him grapes whenever he so desired. Hmmm...maybe not the grapes, buthe could dream.

 

"You know I believe in you, Xand." Buffy smiled.

 

"Me too!" Willow chipped in. "I woulda said so sooner, but I was goingfor the silent support approach."

 

"Slow down. Xander has a plan?" Cordelia was finding it difficult to disguise her shock. "Xander?"

 

"And guess what, Cor? You get to be a major player." He smiled cryptically.

 

Buffy hugged the brunette around the waist. "Congratulations."

 

The cheerleader smiled. "Care to let me in on the plan I'm a part of?"

 

"No." Xander answered.

 

"Why not?" She demanded.

 

"Because if I tell you, then you won't do it."

 

All three girls raised their eyebrows.

 

"When do you think they'll attack?" Willow asked Buffy, as Xander wasn't going to divulge.

 

"Tomorrow night. That'll give the Judge time to recharge. Here's hoping we catch them at the factory, though."

 

"I can still get into the base tonight." Xander offered. 

 

"The base?" Buffy asked. She had missed something.

 

"It'd probably be wiser...strategy to wait until tomorrow, Xander." Giles told him. "The less time we illegally possess property owned by the military, the more comfortable I'll feel."

 

"Worried about your green card?" Xander grinned.

 

"The Council doesn't like to get entangled in governmental affairs, especially the affairs of this country, and I'm not high priority enough for them to deviate from that attitude."

 

"Mother-Child complex, huh?" Cordelia asked rhetorically.

 

"Aw! Giles! You'd take the rap for us?" Willow beamed, smiling at him.

 

They all smiled at him, in fact.

 

The watcher took off his glasses and rubbed them on his jacket. "It's simply my belief that the world would be far better off if you all were...not incarcerated."

 

"You love us."

 

"Relax, don't get your knickers in a twist." Giles chose to ignore that. "I have patience, you know. Tomorrow it is. But all that tempting firepower..." Xander said.

 

They thought he was going to drool.

 

"Since I'm apparently gonna be a thief's accomplice and most likely end up on the FBI's Most Wanted list, details would be nice." Cordelia said. "Like now."

 

"We'll meet up with Oz and Willow at her house, then a weapon-hunting we will go." He looked the brunette over. "You'll have to wear something trashy...er. And drier. Unless it's a see-through..."

 

"Hey!" Cordelia and Buffy exclaimed.

 

He had blocked out his knowledge of their new relationship as best as he could, but it all came back. He wasn't sure what his stance was yet, but the images he was picturing weren't bad. Weren't bad at all.

 

"The mind wanders to crazy places. I try to control it, but -"

 

"I'll call Oz later and ask him if we can use his van." The redhead said, glaring at her friend.

 

"I'm thinking it'd be better if I don't know this stuff, and just stick to killing the bad things. Besides, if I get questioned by association, I can deny everything." Buffy commented.

 

"How convenient for you." Xander said, eyeing her suspiciously.

 

"Back off, monkey boy." Cordelia warned him. She turned to Buffy. "I need a shower. I'm starting to invent a new odor, and I'm gonna collapse in about two minutes."

 

The slayer pouted. "K." She kissed her then, despite the audience. "But call when you get home. So I know you're safe."

 

"This is that relationship thing where you become freakishly over-protective, isn't it?"

 

"Hell yes." They kissed again. This was one aspect they were going to get a whole lot of enjoyment out of. "Talk to you later?"

 

"Count on it." The cheerleader smiled.

 

Buffy watched Cordelia exit the library, and she was in a happy daze.

 

"Things worked out?" Willow asked with a smile.

 

"*Oh yeah*." She turned back around, and saw Xander's jaw hanging open. She went over to shut it. "If you didn't know before, you do now, and no matterhow you feel about it, you have to promise me one thing."

 

"What?" He asked, gulping.

 

"Don't let anything happen to her."

 

"I won't, Buff."

 

He could see how serious she was just by looking into her eyes.

 

"Promise me."

 

They were dead serious.

 

"I promise."

 

And he meant it. He didn't want to be on the receiving end of a slayerass whooping. No way.

 

***

 

"Okay, what was that? And who are you?" Cordelia asked Xander the following night.

 

He had just talked their way past a guard and into the weapons storage. She had to be a brainless sex object, but it had gone smooth enough.

 

He was searching for what they had come for as he answered her questions. "Remember Halloween I got turned into a soldier?"

 

"Yeah." She didn't want to reflect on that night of horrors, but he had taken charge and helped them all to live through it

 

"Well, I still remember all of it. I know procedure, ordnance, access codes, everything. I know the whole layout for this base, and I'm pretty sure I can put together an M-16 in fifty-seven seconds."

 

She was momentarily stunned. "Well, I'm sort of impressed. But let's just find the thing and get out of here."

 

"Okay." He was onboard with that. "Uh...you and Buffy...what's the deal there?"

 

"Are you being dense?" Cordelia asked. Not even he could be that blind.

 

"Allow me to rephrase. Why you and Buffy? Is it for real or...?"

 

"Yeah, Xander. It's for real." She sighed. "Probably the first real thing I've ever had."

 

He stopped, turning to see the sincerity on her face. "You have no problem with -?"

 

"Dating a girl? Giving up the throne? Breaking every social rule that's been in place since the beginning of time?" She paused. "Surprisingly, I couldn't be more fine with it. I've always set the new trends. Maybe this'll catch on."

 

"What? Gay fever?" Xander asked, worriedly.

 

Alternative couples didn't bother him really, but he enjoyed being heterosexual. His blockage with Buffy and Cordelia was that they had both chose not to go for him, and instead, swear off men forever. Unless they didn't last. But he'd never wish that on Buffy. If Cordelia was who she wanted, and she was happy, then that was that.

 

And the cheerleader was much better for her than Angel.

 

"No, dork." She hit him. "Dissolving the groups. The Jocks, the Goths,the Band People, the Computer Nerds, the Audio-Visual Nerds, the Yearbook Nerds..." There were a bunch of sub-categories. "You get the picture; a high school where people can hang with whoever they want to. Without fear of, you know, persecution or whatever."

 

"And after-school thrashings. Don't leave that out."
 
"Cars, cash, class...wouldn't be a factor. Sunnydale could be a pioneer."

 

"You're dreaming. It didn't work for Marx, it's not gonna work for you. Especially not on a Hellmouth."

 

"I said *maybe*." She reminded him, nearly growling. Puncture her vision? How dare he. "Did you find it yet?"

 

"Almost." There was quiet for a few moments. "You love her, huh?"

 

"I really do." The brunette smiled. "She doesn't give me a whole lotta choice."

 

She was still Cordelia, but part of her had transformed; he could certainly see that.

 

"Does this mean the war's over?"

 

"That's your call. I'll be around more often, it's true, but just cause I'm involved with someone that happens to be your friend, that doesn't change anything with us."

 

"What if she changes it?" Xander grinned.
 
"Then we'll talk it over, and I'll...cave." She said, knowing that was going to be the outcome."But in the meantime, I'm sure you'll still act like a total retard and leave mewith plenty of opportunities to insult you. Though if you're willing to admit defeat..."

 

"Never!" The very idea that he would do such a thing was ridiculous.

 

"So it's on?"

 

He had a gleam in his eye. "Oh, it's on." 

 

***

 

The gang walked confidently out of the elevator and into the mall a couple hours later, with Buffy in the lead and Cordelia beside her. Angel was behind them, followed by Giles and Xander; who were carrying the crate that contained the weapon, and behind them was Willow and Oz. The guitarist suggested thatthis was where the Judge would go, and he had been right.

 

"Everybody keep back. Damage control only. Take out any lesser vamps if you can. I'll handle the Smurf." Buffy informed her group.

 

"I'm dating a bad-ass." Cordelia grinned happily to herself.

 

The Judge was on the second level of the mall, but then he took a few steps down. Druscilla was at the top watching, and her security was blocking all the exit doors. A man came walking by one side of the Judge, and a couple came walking by the other. The ancient demon extended his arms, and bolts of energy emanated from his hands and struck the people, causing them to freeze. The energy then connected to every person in the surrounding area.

 

"Oh, goody!" Dru said gleefully.

 

Suddenly a projectile hit the Judge in the chest, forcing him to lose his concentration and halt the killing.

 

He yanked it out. "Who dares?"

 

Standing on top of a refreshment stand they had made their way to, was Buffy, crossbow in hand. Her friends were ducking behind the stand, and Xander was opening up the crate.

 

"Think I got his attention." She said evenly.

 

"You're a fool." The Judge said to her. "No weapon forged can stop me."

 

Angel, seeing the Judge begin to raise his hand, decided that he had to buy Xander and Buffy more time, so he ran out before they could stop him. Druscilla spotted him right away.

 

"Punish daddy!" She commanded the Judge, pointing.

 

Angel froze in his tracks. The demon smiled, and began to do what he was asked. His energy hit the souled vampire full force.

 

"Hey!" Xander handed the slayer a rocket launcher, and she rested it on her shoulder. "That 'no weapon forged' thing? That was then. This is now."

 

She powered it up and set her sight, opening the trigger guard. The gang took cover, and Druscilla leapt over the railing. The insane vampire was still sane enough to know what it was. The Judge saw the strange device, and was confused. That confusion freed Angel however, and despite the fact that he was still very much in pain, he managed to scramble backwards.

 

"What's that do?" The Judge wondered.

 

Buffy pulled the trigger, and showed him. A rocket flew right into his chest, and he exploded into several hundred pieces. Druscilla was freaking out as those pieces rained down on her, and she tried to escape, but her sire tackled her to the ground. They struggled on the floor, each trying to get the upper hand, and a stake fell out of Angel's coat. 

 

They both saw it, and lunged. Each getting a hand on it, it was a testof strength, and he won out, gritting his teeth as he got on top of her and turned the sharp end toward her chest.

 

Druscilla smiled. "I can see mummy. She's calling to me from the moon;she wants me to play with her, Angel. In the stars."

 

"Go see her again, Dru." He rammed the stake home, and she turned to dust.

 

Buffy came over to him as the sprinklers switched on, dousing the smoke. Getting drenched was quickly becoming a habit. The mall goers were vacating fast, and the gang was taking care of the Judge's parts.

 

"Are you okay?" She asked.

 

"I'm fine." He answered her. "Help them separate the pieces. I'll be there in a minute."

 

As she walked away, Angel's eyes darkened and he scowled. "You just destroyed our best work. She was art. What is it with you?"

 

His face softened then, and his eyes widened in fear. "No...it...you can't..."

 

He scowled again. "I couldn't believe I had to sit back and watch you kill Darla. She made us the man we are today. Do you remember what she felt like?"

 

Angel shook his head. He didn't want to remember. This wasn't possible.

 

"And why'd you do it? For her? Yeah, and now look where you are. She picked a cheerleader over you." He laughed. "That's *really* pathetic. It's about time I took back what's mine. I've been very disappointed in you. You have to learn to share."

 

"How...?"

 

"Go ahead. Keep being a choirboy for now. They might get concerned, and we don't that. But things are about to get *very* interesting."

----------


"And I gavethat man directions, even though I didn't know the way, cause that's the kinda guy Iam this week." (Homer J. Simpson)

"You think you know? What's to come? What you are? You haven't even begun."
(Tara and Dracula to Buffy, BTVS)

"Man, attonement's a bitch."  (Angel, ANGEL)