Shadowwalker 4/?

[Carol.Clarke@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Title: Shadowwalker
Chapter Four: Love 101
Rating: PG-13 now, later? 
Disclaimer: Joss Weldon and Mutant Enemy own it all 
Summary: Buffy died but it's not the end. 
Thanks: Cheryl Hill
Note: Spoilers for Gift. I couldn't deal with Buffy being dead. And this
idea was bouncing in my head for a while. Hope it's not too disjointed. 

Love 101

They had settled back and ordered a meal. Cindy was telling them all about
Cordelia's plans for her up coming wedding in a week. Martha too was excited
about all the arrangements for the wedding. She was going to be the flower
girl and the young half demon was thrilled. So thrilled in fact she let her
third eye slip open as she continued to excitedly explain about getting to
be a flower girl. 

Both Willow and Tara saw the eye open but Tara just squeezed Willows hand in
a way that said don't worry honey. They had both been around magic and
demons too long to panic. 

"I take it this is your first time as a flower girl." Tara said smiling at
the ten-year-old. 

"This is the my first wedding." Martha answered shyly. She was smiling ear
to ear. Cindy who had been a little nervous at first relaxed when the two
witches didn't seem to get upset over the girl's extra eye.

"Mine too." Cindy said smiling down at her future sister in law. She loved
Kalibs' family almost as much as she loved Kalib. 

"Actually we went to a wedding about three months ago. Cordelia was at it as
well, though she didn't plan it. Anya, our business partner, and my best
friend Xander got married." Willow said. 

"So whatever happened to Mr. Giles if you don't mind me asking?" Cindy
asked.

"He is still a partner, just a silent partner, he returned to England."
Willow said sadly thinking of the day after Xander's wedding when she and
Tara had put him on a plane to London. He had legally turned over the
business to the four of them and returned home. It was one of the few times
she remembered him sober after Buffy's death. 

The group was silent and Martha closed her third eye and shifted to a more
human form. She still didn't realize she was shifting. While the group was
silent Cordelia Chase and Nada Romanoff walked up to the table. They had
left Buffy in the car waiting for them. 

"So who died?" Cordelia asked. She was Surprised to see Willow and Tara but
guessed it would be easier to keep Buffy under wraps if she could control
part of the situation. 

"Cordelia?" Willow asked looking up from the table, then over at the other
girl with the ex cheerleader. The girl was small, maybe five two with brown
sanding hair, maybe 18 or 19 at most. And clearly gay. The pride march tee
shirt she wore on top of her blue jeans was a dead give away. 

"So what are you and Tara doing in town and how come you didn't call me?"
The seer asked picking up Martha and sitting down in her chair putting the
girl on her lap. 

"We did call, left a message even. Angel said you had the week off." Willow
answered looking Nada up and down. Something felt out of place about the
whole thing to the witch. 

"I have been helping Cindy plan her wedding." Cordelia said with a smile
looking over at Cindy and shifting Martha around on her lap. Martha was
small for a ten year old so she fit easily into Cordelia's lap. 
"They were just telling us about the wedding. Martha said she is going to be
the flower girl." Tara said with a smile and winked at the girl. 

"Tara and Willow are both witches, and have a store." Martha explained to
Cordelia. Then turning around and whispering in Cordelia's ear she said, "I
think they would like you to plan their wedding too."

"You're both getting married too?" Nada asked quietly coming up and standing
right beside Cordelia.

"Nada sit down, you are always hovering." Cordelia replied to Nada. Both
Willow and Tara just looked at each other as Nada grabbed a chair and pulled
it up between Cindy and Cordelia. 

"So how do you know each other exactly?" Willow finally asked.

"Oh, Martha and Nada are my future in laws. They are Kalib's sisters." Cindy
said with a smile.

"And you Cordy?" Willow asked still sensing something wrong. 

Cordy leaned back for a second to think of an answer. Then she spotted
Nada's tee shirt. What she said next just came out, had she even thought
about it she would have never in a million years replied this way. "Nada and
I are kind of like you and Tara. And I am not looking for affirmation
either." In truth later she would wonder if it was her or some kind of
divine intervention that had made her reply that way. 

"We are?" Nada said shocked. 

"It explains why you two always argue." Martha said smiling. 

Cordelia just set there smiling and looking at her old friends wondering
what the hell she was thinking. What had gone through her minds was: Buffy
is outside in the car. Willow must not know Buffy is alive yet. I have to
tell her something that will take her mind off of Buffy outside in the car.
What can I say that will totally occupy her mind and make her not think
about why I am sitting here with these people? 

"Cordelia you know..." Willow started to say thinking about the little
girl's third eye earlier. Willow was looking at Martha and then back to Nada
and at the center of their forehead. It was easy to see they were sisters
with or without the third eye. 

"She knows I am only half human." Nada said following Willow's gaze moments
to her younger sister. She was used to people's reaction to her mixed
parentage. 

"I am sorry, of course she does. It's just a shock. I never thought Cordelia
was... I mean I am, but Cordy, she dated Xander, ...and most of the football
team. Not that that means anything either. I dated Oz before Tara. And well
we had that talk, fashion thing talk, I mean we talked about fashion and
you. And how you like fashion." Willow babbled looking at Nada and Cordelia
like they had three heads. 

"Honey you're in serious babble mode." Tara said quietly taking Willow's
hand in hers. 

"We need to be getting to the theater unless you have more business Cindy."
Nada finally said picking her little sister up off Cordelia's lap. 

"I think we're done, I will call you tomorrow about the order. It was really
nice meeting you both." Cindy said leaving a tip on the table. They had long
since paid the bill. 

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"Sorry it took so long Buffy." Nada said climbing in to the back seat of
Cordelia's car. 

"Does Mom know you and Cordelia are dating?" Martha said hopping into the
back seat on the other side of Buffy.

"Since when?" Buffy asked arching her eyebrow and looking at Nada.

"You got me? Personally I think Cordy lost her mind years ago, but that is
only my opinion." Nada said crossing her arms and pouting.

"My god you really are dating." Buffy joked. 

"Ha Ha" Nada said frowning.

"They argue all the time. On TV people do that when they are in love."
Martha said.

Cindy who had gotten in the front passager seat and was buckling up her seat
belt said, "Martha, real life isn't like TV." 

Cordelia was also buckling up her seat belt and starting the engine. "Ok I
panicked. It was the first thing that came to my mind. And it's your fault.
You just had to wear that tee shirt. You have absolutely no fashion sense at
all. You're like a female Xander." 

"I believe you dated Xander too." Buffy said smiling as the car pulled out
of the parking lot.

"She is not dating me." Nada said again crossing her arms and sitting up. 

"I said I panicked." Cordelia replied as her mind began comparing Nada to
Xander. It was too late her mind was already thinking about the
possibilities. Nada would be so much easier to dress than Xander. Her mind
was already picturing Nada in the blue dress she had seen earlier that day
with a blue satin bra to match. 

The car was silent for a few minutes then Buffy asked. "So what made you
panic?"

A long silence followed then Cordelia slowly turned her head back to Buffy
and quietly replied, "Willow and Tara were Cindy's business appointment."

"Oh" Buffy replied then became silent.

They pulled into the cinema complex and Nada got Buffy's stolen wheelchair
out of the truck. As Nada put Buffy in the chair the ex slayer looked up at
Cordelia and asked, "Cordelia, were they ok? Still together? Just were they
ok?" 

"They are fine. They still miss you." Cordelia replied.

"Good. Don't tell me anymore." Buffy said sadly.

"When you're stronger, it might be safe for you to see them again." Cordelia
whispered. 

"It was dangerous when I was still alive. Now... no it's best they go on
thinking I am dead." Buffy said with complete resolve. "So Martha what movie
are we seeing again?" the blond said completely changing her body language
and tone. It was clear she was changing the subject. 

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They were both laying in bed together at the Hyperion Hotel in the dark
staring at the ceiling and watching the shadows move across the walls.
Finally Willow rolled over and turned on the light. 

"You felt it too didn't you." Willow said turning to face her lover.
"She was lying, sort of. Yeah I felt something." Tara admitted. They both
were very bothered by their run in with Cordelia Chase. 

"Ok I can accept her being gay or bi, or whatever. I have always thought she
had a domentax kind of thing going anyway, but that girl is way too young
for Cordelia. And Cordy would never let her out in public dressed like that.
When she dated Xander she chose all his clothes. She is totally crazy about
how people dress. The girl was in like tee shirts and jeans. I know this
sounds stupid but it's just not Cordelia." Willow babbled. 

"I know what you mean, I just feel something is out of place. But I could
see the two of them together. I just don't think they are a couple yet. But
it isn't them that is out of place. I am not making any sense either I
guess." Tara said putting her head on Willow's shoulder. 

"You know how we talked about going out to a gay club while we were here,
maybe we could get Cordelia and her whatever to go with us. Maybe if we
spend some time with them we can figure it out." Willow said letting her
resolve face slip on her face.

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"I can't believe I am going along with this." Nada replied as the car slowed
to park at the Hyperion Hotel. 

"You didn't, your mother made you go out with me." Cordelia reminded her
'date' for the night. 

"Great my first date, and my mother made me go out with you." Nada said
sarcastically. 

"Just play nice. It's important." Cordelia replied.

"You know Martha still thinks we are really dating." Nada complained.

"How many times do I have to say I am sorry." Cordelia said, "Besides you
look good in that outfit."

"I'm supposed to be grateful you didn't make me wear a dress." Nada said
looking down at her attire. 

"It is possible to be a dyke and dress well." Cordelia said stopping the car
and putting it into park. "Now just be yourself when you go inside."
Cordelia was actually nervous about this part of her plan. Nada was going to
have to meet Wesley, Gunn and Angel and sell her story. She now understood
why you should never lie, you have to go along with the lie forever. Still
she was nervous, more nervous than she had been introducing any of her dates
to Angel and the boys before. Cordelia had always made it a habit to
introduce all the guys she was dating to Angel. He was a good friend and it
made her feel safe introducing them to Angel. 

The two women entered the hotel holding hands. The boys were all standing
around and immediately tried to look like they weren't standing around
waiting for her. Cordelia had broken the news to them the day after she had
run into Willow and Tara. The two witches were both seated waiting for the
four of them to go on their double date. 

"Hi Guys." Cordelia said waving at her co-workers. "This is Nada, Nada this
is Gunn, Wesley and this is...."

"Get back." Nada said quietly getting in front of Cordelia suddenly as she
reached inside her shirt and pulled out her cross necklaces. "Vampire," the
girl whispered.

"I thought I told you." Cordelia said reaching around and putting her hand
over the cross and placing it back inside the girl's shirt. "He is a good
guy, he has a soul. Remember the long story I told you about my boss, ok?" 

"Angel" the vampire in question said holding out his hand. Nada looked at
him very hard then slowly took his hand. 

"The Angel, I have heard of you. Sorry." Nada said slowly thinking about all
the things Buffy had told her about her one time boyfriend even before
Cordelia had told her about her vampire boss. Her reaction was pure
instinct. 

"It's nice to meet you." The vampire said smiling.

"I am half human, half Xen Kil Tra Demon, it's ok to ask." Nada said
guessing the vampire could smell her demon half part. 

"Xen Kil Tra, peacemaker demons?" Wesley asked.

"My mother's people have been called that, along with a long line of other
names yes." Nada said looking at Wesley. "My mom is on the redemption kick
along with most of her kind. We're not the most evil breed out there. Mostly
my mom is like into being a housewife, or she was until my dad got killed."

"Yes, well, the Xen Kil Tra are known for a peaceful non-violent culture."
Wesley said not knowing what else to say. 

"Ok so has she passed the test can we go out." Cordelia said pulling Nada
towards her. An action that felt oddly right. 

"Damn I can't believe you're dating a girl. But hey." Gunn said coming up
and shaking Nada's hand. 

"Let's go." Tara said quietly holding her hand out to Willow. Both witches
still sensed something out of place. Tara could see it circling the two
women, pulling them together. The blond witch was sure that the two were
being put together by some external force but even that force wasn't what
she and Willow were sensing. It was as if they were being called, summoned
for some purpose that neither understood. And Cordelia and this girl were
the ones delivering the summons whether they knew it or not. 

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They had done the club scene. Cordelia had to fight to get Nada in with a
very bad fake ID. But they had done the scene. They had danced and had a few
drinks. Then they had taken Willow and Tara back to the hotel. 

"It's late why don't you crash at my place. You won't have to sleep on the
floor." Cordelia offered. Oddly she didn't want to let the girl go home. She
could feel something pulling at her heart. Something telling her that Nada
was her future. It was like the vision she had that brought her to Buffy. No
headache, just a feeling coupled with visions. She was seeing a possible
future for herself and it didn't seem wrong. In fact it seemed really right.


"I have seen your couch, I am not sure the floor isn't better." Nada said
sarcastically.

"I was thinking the bed. I was thinking my bed with me. Sharing my bed."
Cordelia said slowly.

"Are you, ... I mean. Never mind." Nada stammered out as the car stopped
infront of Cordelia's apartment complex. 

Cordelia turned off the car. Turned around and leaned over in the seat and
carefully kissed Nada. Pressing her lips into the other woman. It wasn't a
conquering kiss; just a simple kiss that said love is possible. 




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