Cordelia looked over her shoulder as if she felt Angel's presence. He moved further into the shadows to watch Cordelia pleasure herself. She worked her body to a fevered pitch, which soon left her panting heavily as she found her release. Cordelia smiled at her reflection in the mirror. She looked like someone who had just crawled out of her lover's bed. She mussed her hair then frowned at the results. Her breasts weren't sitting right. She adjusted the strop on her bra to pull them higher. Her brow creased as she tugged more flesh from the minuscule contraption, leaving only the bottom most portion of her breasts covered. Testing it out, she moved her arm about to mimic caressing a lover. Her nipple popper out with the barest movement.
"Let's see you resist this Angel," Cordy laughed softly. "You'll beg me to go to your bed and stay there. I'm Cordelia Chase, and I always get what I want; whatever I want."
Moving over, she posed on the bed to wait. The latest magazines stood in a stack by the bed. She pulled 'Cosmo' off the top and started thumbing through it.
Angel moved back to the elevator and wondered just how far the girl, 'his friend', was willing to go. He pushed the elevator button and stepped out.
"Cordy are you here?"
No one answered; Angel moved around then headed for the bedroom. His eyes narrowed as he saw her posed, pretending to sleep.
Her hands moved on her body and she sighed out his name. "Mmm, Angel. Yes, baby like that. Mmm, I love you too Angel. Need you baby, need you now."
Cordelia heard him come out of the elevator and call to her. She quickly put away the magazine and got ready to put on her carefully thought out show for Angel. She got hot just thinking of the handsome vampire finally joining her in bed. She thrust her hips up to simulate her body accepting a lover. Her nipples popped free of their confinement. Cordy moved her head back and forth on the pillow.
Angel leaned against the doorframe watching the show put on for his benefit. It was almost comical, if it weren't so blatant and calculated. Here he thought he had a 'real' friend. Someone who understood the loss of his soul mate, only to find out she was using him. He didn't understand her driving need to have him as a lover. If she wanted money, she was certainly beautiful enough to capture the attention of a rich man. There were always men who kept young mistresses sometimes they even married them.
He cleared his throat loudly. Cordy's eyes fluttered open looking at him from the bed. "Wake up Cordelia, we need to talk." Angel turned and went back into the living room to wait.
Damn it, what does it take to get him turned on? He should have been beside me in a flash to make the dreams real. She pulled on the short robe and slid her feet in to the tall shoes. Her heels clicked as she made her way into the room.
Angel could see she had once more adjusted her breast. My gosh, does she really think all it takes is one peek at a nipple to make a man ravish her? I'm surprised she even wants a lover as much time as she spends with her breast herself.
"What did you want, Angel? I'm sorry I must have fallen back to sleep. Since I didn't get much sleep last night." She let her voice and face insinuated the reason why. Cordy sat beside Angel on the couch. Her body turned towards him. Her chest thrust out and her legs parted. She hadn't bothered to tie the robe.
"I'm sorry Cordy by this situation between us has to change."
She smiled brightly. Here it comes. He is going to ask me to be more than friends. I knew I could snag him.
"You are going to need to find somewhere else to live."
Cordy was already picturing Angel carrying her to the bedroom. Her head snapped up as his words broke through her daydreams. "What?" She screeched loudly. "I mean why, Angel. We are friends there is nothing wrong with us living together. Especially after last night, I thought you wanted there to be more between us." Her eyes grew bright with tears.
"Save the act, Cordy. I know nothing happened, no thanks to you I might add. I have been here for a while. I have to say you might actually have a shot at the movies. Your little show was quite entertaining to watch. So, pack your bags. I'll give you enough money for a month. You can find an apartment and a job or buy a bus ticket back to Sunnydale. I really don't care." Angel got up off the couch. "Oh and Cordy, put the figurine back. The ones you've already taken I'll write off but not that one."
She shot up off the couch. "How dare you accuse me of stealing? I don't know what I was thinking, trying for Buffy Summers leftovers. Its obvious she was so bad in bed you must like men now." Spinning in her high heels, she marched towards the bedroom. Angel's laughter made her even angrier. "What is so funny?"
He tried to contain his laughter to answer her. "You. If a man doesn't want you, he must be gay. You have a lot to learn about men and their wants. Sure plenty will be happy to take what you are handing out freely. But a man, a grown man wouldn't. He wants something more from a partner than the knowledge of what goes where."
Cordelia slammed the bedroom door when Angel once again started laughing. "I'll show you, damn it. I'll show you all. Just you wait and see if I don't."
Buffy ran back to the house going directly to where Johnny and Max were playing on the floor with Lil. She had to smile at the two men who struck such fear in others, rolling on the floor making silly faces. Lil's laughter tinkled through the room as she waved her plump little arms like a conductor.
The little girl saw her mother and was on her feet in a flash. "Up, up, ma," Lil demanded.
Buffy tried to hide her smile. "What do we say?"
"Peas, Ma." Lil wrinkled her nose the same way Buffy did.
Buffy swung her daughter into the air causing Lil to laugh harder. "Mo, Ma, mo." She kissed Buffy patting her cheek with a dimpled hand. She leaned her forehead onto her mother's. "Peeaass."
Cuddling her baby close then pretending to bite her nose, Buffy hoisted her back into the air. Her heart swelled whenever she was near her baby girl. Lil was the one truly pure, good thing in her life. She did not intend ever to let anyone harm her bright beautiful girl. Lil was so advanced for her age sometimes Buffy worried. Then just put it down to her heritage. The little girl walked at seven months but had been talking since she was five months old. Now at a little over a year, she could articulate almost anything she cared to convey. Lil ruled the house and everyone in it, especially her mother. She was a sweet baby who rarely fussed.
Johnny came up beside his two girls to tickle Lil. "You okay sweetheart? He didn't do anything did he?"
"I don't understand how he even got on the property. Or knew where to find you for that matter." Buffy kissed Lil than sat her down. "The Powers are interfering, Johnny. We may not have a lot of time if they are dead set on shoving Angel into the mix. I just don't understand, why now?"
Buffy began to pace the room and Lil followed behind mimicking her mother. The little girl tried to put on a stern face but her sweet features just wouldn't cooperate. Johnny and Max tried hard not to laugh at the picture of the little blonde cherub's attempts to look like her mother.
"Johnny has all the background information been completed on the Watchers? We know which column each one of them lines up under?" Buffy looked at the mob boss waiting for an answer.
"Yeah, we got the last couple just yesterday. Oz should already have them in the database. What are you thinking, sweetheart? Talk to me." He could almost hear the wheels as then turned in her mind.
"Maxie take Lil upstairs then call Lorne and tell him to close Caritas for the night. He is going to do a private reading. Send a car to pick him up. Also get a hold of Spike, have him bring the sisters. I'm going to need Tara here but I'll call her myself. I'll explain as soon as I have the last few pieces of information."
Buffy resumed her pacing but stopped when she felt a tug on her leg. She looked down to see Lil staring up at her. "No, Maxie. Lil, no go." Her little chin stuck out as she refused to leave Buffy's side.
Buffy bent down to hug her. "Baby girl be good for Mommy. I'll be up in a little while and read to you. Later when Lornie, we'll ask him to sing for you."
Lil nodded then walked back to Max, who scooped her up and growled into her tummy. "Bear, Maxie, Bear Ma," she giggled. Her little fingers pulled his hear. Max's head came up. "Grrr, me bear too."
The big man listened to the little girl chatter while he carried her up the stairs. He would kill anyone or anything that even breathed wrong at Lil. Max lost his heart the first time he ever held her as a newborn.
Lorne arrived an hour later. Buffy pulled him in to the study, locking the door behind her. "Okay Tinkerbelle, what is going on? It isn't Lil, is it? My little princess is all right, isn't she?" His melodious voice was heavy with worry.
"No, she is perfect as always. I need you to read me, Lorne. Angel is here and the Powers sent him. I need to know why. I am not going to let any of them mess this up. Not when I am so close." She looked at her green friend expectantly.
"Cookie, if the Powers are determined to interfere, how can you stop them. I've never heard of anyone being able to do that." He was frightened for Buffy. She didn't know what the Powers could do to her if they chose to.
"There is always a way around everything. My life has taught me that. Did you know I was prophesied to die at 16? It was in the Codex. Everything in that book has always come true. I died but I didn't stay that way. A friend gave me CPR. You see Lorne, its all about the fine print. Once I know what they have planned, I'll know where to look for the writing. Are you ready?"
The Host nodded wondering what her voice would sound like. Buffy sang a simple lullaby that was Lil's favorite. Her voice wouldn't sell records but it wasn't unpleasant either. When she finished, Buffy waited to hear what Lorne had seen. He wasn't sure hoe he could tell her everything or even if he was meant to. She watched as he squirmed in his chair.
"All of it, Lorne. I want to know everything you saw."
He shivered form the hard tone of her voice. Lorne knew he had no other choice. Buffy would know if he lied. She had the uncanny ability to smell any subterfuge. "Well it seems your right, cupcake. They intend for your vampire and you to fight." He barely had the words out of his mouth when a glass shattered against the wall.
"Damn them, they expect me to kill my child's father? I just want him to stay away from me. To never see him again."
"Uh, Twinkie, I wasn't finished. I saw you two fighting together. You were on the same side."
Buffy's eyes blazed with anger. "Angel won't join my fight. He doesn't do well when the odds aren't in his favor. So, they must think his being here is going to stop me. Well it won't work. Now tell me the rest."
Thirty minutes later the two came out. Lorne was pale and Buffy's face was flushed. Johnny couldn't tell if it was from anger or embarrassment from having to sing. "The others are in the den waiting. Do you still want to have Max being Lil down?"
"Yes, it will all make sense once I explain it to everybody. We'll go wait for you to join us. There is a really big Martini calling Lorne's name." Buffy laughed at the excited look on the anagogic demon's face. "Oh, Lorne afterwards, I promised Lil you would sing her a song. Hope that's okay. She knows something is happening and I wanted to get her mind onto happier things."
They all gathered in the den as Buffy and Lorne entered. She looked at all the people in the room and realized how lucky she was to know them. Both Lil's changed her life forever. Her aunt loved and accepted her, warts and all. Lil gave her a home and a new life. Her death gave her a new destiny. Then there was Lil, her little girl, with her sunny smile and wet kisses. Again Buffy was given unconditional love and it was returned. The friends she gathered a long the way on her quest for vengeance were now her family.
She had to protect them all but she wouldn't give her plan up. Now she had to tell them all what she planned to do. This part was harder and she wondered if they would agree. Buffy glanced over to see the sisters swirling around Spike. She couldn't keep the smile from her face. The soft sounds of 'ooh Spike' were heard.
"Oooh Pike." Lil chirped from Max's lap. Everyone laughed and the blonde vampire actually blushed.
Buffy leaned over and kissed Lil on the nose. "Be good."
Lil patted her mother's cheeks and smiled brightly causing a loud 'Aah' to the sounded throughout the room.
"I know you all want to know what is going on. What I asked you to come here for tonight? The Council will be here in two days. They have decided to observe the newest Slayer without her Watcher's knowledge. Based on their findings they will decide whether she will survive the Crucitorium or not. It seems Mr. Travers decides as Head of the Council. It is up to him and his selection committee to determine a Slayer's worth. If she doesn't meet their standards then they find an opportunity to take her out. I always wondered why Slayers died so young. Well, the Council in all their wisdom decided that if a Slayer did anything outside of their rulebook, she wasn't a good Slayer. Since the Slayer belongs to them, their words, they may do as they determine necessary. From all the information we have gathered, we now have a complete list of who is either a part of this or aware of it and did nothing about it." Buffy took a deep breath and Doyle interrupted.
"Lass, where are you going with this? We all know some of this already. Anyone that is or associates with demons knows something about your Council." Doyle felt a shiver race down his spine and the hair stood up on his arms and on the back of his neck. He had a very bad feeling he knew what she was going to say.
"I'm almost to my point Doyle, I promise. Before coming to talk to everyone I sang for Lorne. I'm sure he will need lots of alcohol to make his head stop ringing." Lorne lifted his glass to her but didn't smile. He knew what she planned to do and prayed it would work.
"As I was saying, we have our list of who has been naughty or nice. I'm going to tell you what I plan to do with it." Buffy talked for almost an hour non-stop. She explained in detail what she wanted done. Everyone listened with surprise, fear and intrigue. Her plan was simple in appearance but the nuances were complex. It all came down to timing. A timing so precise that a few minutes could change the outcome completely. None of them wanted to lose Buffy or see her harmed. They also knew she would do this with or without them.
"Now there are some loose ends here in town we need to tie up before we start. Johnny, you and Spike put your heads together. I need you two to make sure Angel and Cordelia are out of the way. Angel has no one to talk to but Cordelia is the gossip queen. It would ruin everything if she blabs to everyone in Sunnydale that I'm alive. Don't hurt them just get them out of the way. Of course, it wouldn't bother me if they weren't too comfortable where ever you put them." Buffy smirked giving both men a knowing look. They both had reasons to want to harass Angel and Cordelia was gravy.
Johnny popped open his phone. "Benny, make a pick up. Yeah, the two you have been watching. Do a grab and snatch. Take them to the old warehouse on the docks, you know the one." He snapped the phone hut then looked at Spike. "Benny will have them within the hour. We can decide by then what to do with them."
"Sounds good mate. Have a few ideas for Peaches. The cheerleader is all yours though, that bit is a yapper."
"What do you need of us, Slayer?" The Furies asked. Their voices weaved in and out of one another's. "We will help, we will help."
Buffy bit her lower lip then decided. "I know this isn't your normal job but I want you to take Lil with you until this is over."
Max, Johnny, Rachel and Cammie all protested. Buffy put her hand up and they quieted down. "This is the hardest thing I've ever done. I haven't ever been away from her. She sleeps at night while I work. There are wards on the house but I can't stop the feeling that she isn't safe here. Until this is through and I know the Council can't hurt her, I need her where no one can get to her, not even me." Tears ran down her cheeks at the thought of not seeing Lil each day.
"We understand, we do, we will protect Lil. None shall harm her none shall find her. Yes we can, yes we will."
The oldest Fury floated forward. She touched Buffy's temple sorting through her minds. She saw the plan unfold completely; Buffy's emotions lay bare to her probing touch. There was love, hate, revenge, but underneath it, all was a need for justice, for things to be set on the path they were meant to be. The oldest Fury withdrew her touch and looked into Buffy's eyes.
"When the time is right we will help you send out your message. We will watch, we will help, yes we will." She floated back to her sisters but didn't join them in their pastime of touch-the-Spike. She watched Buffy closely as if she spoke directly to her mind and heart.
Buffy returned the look then nodded. She moved over to bend down in front of Lil. "Baby girl, Mommy needs you to go with the ghosty girls." She grinned when Lil smiled brightly.
"We goes ghosty giwls, Ma. Where?"
"You are going to go and play with them for a little while. Mommy has to do something. They will play with you and sing songs. You will have lots of fun."
"No, Ma go to." Lil frowned at Buffy then crossed her arms stubbornly.
"Lil, Mommy needs you to go with them so you will be safe. Mommy has to take care of some Big Bads. I'll think about you all the time and it won't be for very long. I promise, sweetie. Do this for Mommy, so I don't worry about my baby girl."
Lil nodded reluctantly then threw herself into Buffy's arms. Buffy held her close kissing the top of her head. The Furies moved forward causing Lil to cling to Buffy.
"It will be all right Lil. Mommy loves you with all her heart and will see you soon. Let's go get Mr. Gordo, so he won't be lonely without you." The little girl nodded her head against Buffy's chest. Mother and child walked upstairs with the three sisters floating behind.
In Buffy's room, she picked up the little pink pig and placed it in Lil's arms. The little girl cuddled the stuffed animal lovingly. "Mist Godo, we's going on a twip with ghosty giwls. We has to be good and Mommy comes back soon."
Buffy pulled together the essentials Lil would need and added them to a large bag she had already packed. The youngest Fury took it from her as the oldest stepped forward to take Lil.
"We will protect Lil, yes we will."
Buffy kissed her baby girl then waved as the furies spun out of sight. She slowly walked back down the stairs.
"Now on to the rest of the plan. Tara can you do it?"
The sweet blonde witch stepped forward. "I looked up what you asked and it doesn't appear to be that hard. The problem is you could get stuck."
"I know but it is a chance I'm willing to take. The other information I gave you, is that true too?"
Tara nodded. "Yes, it will work but again it is really volatile. I'm not sure what else it will do to you, Buffy. Are you sure?" Her normally serene features showed her concern for her friend.
"Yes, I've thought this through from every angle. This is the only way that assures us that only the ones involved will be there. I can control the situation better this way."
"When do we leave, luv? I could do with a spot of violence in ole Sunnyhell." Spike asked as he leaned against the wall watching Buffy.
"Good, you are going to be needed. I'm going to want to get in touch with all the non-violent demons as well. Gunn, your crew should be able to take care of that. I want them in plane sight but don't let them get hurt. The Council knows the difference. They don't realize it yet but this will be their Crucitorium. Their actions will determine the outcome - their lives or their livelihood, for most anyway."
Gunn and Allona nodded in understanding. Oz quietly stood and walked up to Buffy handing her a computer print out. He didn't say a word just went to take his seat again beside Allona. The two had been dating for several months now. They made an interesting couple considering she was at least a half-foot taller than Oz. It didn't seem to bother either one of them. Alonna took his hand and he gave her an Oz smile.
"So this is it. The whole Council tied up with a neat little bow. I feel like Santa. Now, I get to decide who gets prezzies and who gets a lump of coal."
Cordelia threw her clothes into every suitcase she could find. It didn't matter that she took Angel's as well as her own. She felt he owed her at least that much. Especially after, she had willingly overlooked his dead guy status. Cordy shook her head angrily. "I should have known better than to get involved with a Sunnydale reject. Nothing decent ever comes from that town."
She tried to close a large suitcase. Finally, she had to sit on it to snap it shut. Cordy stripped the bedroom bare of everything she could fit in 'her' luggage without messing up her clothes.
"I'll show him. I'll show everybody. Just you wait and see, Angel. I'm going to be a huge star then you'll be sorry you threw away your chance to have me."
She smoothed down her shirt then stepped into the bathroom to fix her hair and makeup. "I bet the minute I step outside some big Hollywood producer will see me. He'll stop and help me. I'll take Angel's money and stay at the Beverly Hill's Hotel. By Monday morning, I bet I have a movie contract. Ooh, I better get an agent right away to handle all the offers that will come flooding in."
Angel waited patiently for Cordy to finish packing. He already had a check waiting for her. Looking at the entire situation with clear eyes, he realized he never knew the real Cordelia. Angel figured that today he saw her real personality when he told her she'd have to leave. She went from the caring friend, he knew in Sunnydale, to a spitting, angry viper. He wondered how far this situation would have gone if it weren't for Whistler.
Angel thought about what his future would be like with the 'real' Cordy. He couldn't help but shutter, picturing himself being ordered to act a certain way to please her. The image of himself fat and complacent flashed in his mind's eye. No, he wasn't going to let that happen. Especially, since he knew Buffy was alive. She not only was alive but also had a child, their child. He smiled thinking of the tiny little girl with golden curls and huge brown eyes. "Lil, her name fits her perfectly." He didn't realize he spoke out loud.
"So, that's the real reason you won't be with me. You met someone else. Someone named Lil. What about your precious Buffy? I guess you weren't as in love as you thought. Soul mates, what a load of crap. You're just like every other man I know. Not satisfied with what you have, so you throw it all away when a new girl comes to town." Cordy spat the words at Angel even as she pulled a heavy suitcase across the room to the elevator. She went back for another one, glaring at Angel when he tried to help.
When she finally had all her luggage by the elevator, Cordy turned back to Angel. "Well aren't you going to help me get them out to the street, so I can get a cab?"
"Cordelia, I'll drive you where ever you want to go."
"Oh, no, buddy. You had your chance to play nice. Just give me some money and help me out of this dump. To think, I was willing to live here with you. What was I thinking? How did Buffy overlook your cold clammy skin? I don't know why I came here with you. I should have gone straight to Hollywood and started auditioning. I bet I would already have a movie deal."
Angel quietly grabbed several suitcases tuning out her voice as she continued to rant. He learned how to block out her voice soon after their arrival in LA. After only visiting with her in Sunnydale and even living in the mansion, Angel never spent so much time alone with her before. He never knew anyone who could talk all the time about the most inane things - clothes, shoes, and hair. The list went on and on.
He handed her a check for $5000 and several hundred dollars in cash. Cordy snatched them from his hands without a thank you or a backwards glance. She picked up a small satchel leaving the rest for Angel to carry.
"As soon as the taxi gets here, just have them honk and I will bring everything out."
"Fine, just hurry up after you hear the horn. I don't want to be here any longer than I have to." Cordy straightened her shoulders then strutted out of the building.
A large black limousine pulled up to the curb. A window rolled down revealing a large man in a uniform. "Miss Chase?"
"Yes, ooh, is this for me? I knew he really cared for me. He must be trying to keep Buffy from knowing about us." Cordelia talked to herself while the driver watched.
"Where would you like me to take you, Miss Chase?" The driver stepped out to hold the backdoor open for her.
"The Beverly Hills Hotel. Oh, silly me, I almost forgot. Would you be a sweetheart and honk the horn. Someone will bring out the rest of my luggage." She gave him a megawatt smile and handed him her satchel. Cordelia moved to slide into the lush interior. As soon as the door shut, a hand closed over her mouth. Her eyes went wide and she tried to scream.
"If you're quiet, you won't get hurt." A rough voice whispered in her ear.
She felt her hands being tied behind her back then everything went dark. A hand removed the cloth put over her face. Her body slumped against the far door.
"She's not a bad looking, dame. Sal, honk the horn, so we can get this show on the road." Benny, one of Tony's top men looked Cordelia over from head to toe. He liked big-busted women, didn't matter whether they were real or fake. He smiled thinking how much fun he could have with the set on the woman in front of him.
Angel walked out struggling to carry as much of the luggage as he possibly could. Sal rushed over to help him. "Sir, the lady wanted to talk to you for a minute. Let me take care of this and you can finish up with Miss Chase."
Angel wasn't surprised to see that Cordelia called for a limo to take her wherever she decided to go. He opened the door to peer inside and felt something smash into the back of his head. The last thing he saw was Cordelia passed out in the seat. Sal easily moved the unconscious vampire into the limo and slammed the door shut. He finished putting the suitcases in the trunk then went inside the building. Twenty minutes later, he returned with a large duffel bag and added it to the already full trunk.
Sal climbed behind the wheel and slowly pulled away from the curb. Benny made short work of restraining Angel with special chains. Tara put a spell on them so no matter how strong Angel was; he wouldn't be able to break free. The car pulled up outside a large warehouse on the docks. He honked the horn and the large doors opened allowing him to drive inside.
The doors closed as soon as the limo cleared them. Five large men, wearing guns in shoulder holsters, surrounded the car. Sal got out and opened the left side passenger door. Two men stepped forward to haul Angel out of the car. He started to regain consciousness and vamped out. The men held on tightly to the chains ignoring his snarls and demands to be released.
Benny got out then leaned back in to pick up Cordelia's limp body. Two of the guards looked her over then looked at Benny with a smile. They knew his weakness for big-breasted woman. At least their duty would be entertaining watching Benny work his magic on the unsuspecting woman.