"Stop it." Cordelia smacked Angel's hand away.

"Cordy I just don't think it's a good idea ..."

Cordelia made a shushing noise and glared at him. "What do you mean, it's not a good idea? It's a great idea. Now stop fussing." She reached out to press the door bell.

Angel grabbed her hand and whispered urgently. "It's just not something ... I mean, I don't think Buffy would want to. It's not something I like to bandy about."

"Bandy?" Cordelia stifled a giggle. "You're so 18th century sometimes."

Annoyance crept over Angel's face. "Whatever." He breathed unnecessarily, controlling his frustration. Sometimes Cordy just pushed his control to the limit. "I just mean that it's not something I like to advertise - you know, the whole me being a demon blood sucker thing."

"Demon schemon. Who cares? Anyway," she rolled on. "We might as well use her fridge. Do you want your blood to be all hot and gooey tonight?" She held up the cooler as if to emphasise her point. "Feel it, it's already getting warm. Another few hours in the car and it'd be all gooey like cheese, and who wants melted, off-blood when you can have cold, chilled nice-ish blood?"

She pressed the bell adamantly as if the issue was completely settled. Which it was not in Angel's opinion.

"Well it wouldn't be warm at all if someone hadn't forgotten to freeze the ice packs before we left."

Cordelia placidly ignored him.

Angel tried reasoning with her. "Cordy ..." He began, injecting a little more annoyance in his tone as he tried to swipe the pack from her hand. "The night's going to be awkward enough as it is. You and Buffy will be in the same room -"

She pooh poohed his argument, expertly swatting his outreached hands away. "All the more reason for you to have fresh, chilled blood. You'll need all the vamp nutrients you can get to recover from it. And if you think I'm going to put up with a sick vampire on the road to Vegas, you've got another thing coming, broody boy."

"We're going to Vegas?" Angel asked, startled. "When did this happen?"

"Just now." Cordelia said infuriatingly.

"And ... when were you going to inform me of your Highness' decision?" Angel gritted out through his teeth.

"I just told you, didn't I?" She smiled winsomely at him knowing she had won the argument. Angel may be manipulative at times, but Cordelia Chase still had her moves, particularly when it came to guys. And Angel was most definitely a guy... well, vampire.

Angel blinked as she peered innocently at him. How come he always let his devious seer get the better of him?

"Cordy. Give it to me -"

"No!" She fended his much stronger arms away.

"I mean it, give it -"

"Hey!" Cordelia protested as Angel succeeded in swiping the cooler. "Give it back! God, you'd think you'd be grateful for your blood to be all nice and cool." She gave him her most luscious pout. "I'm only doing this 'cause you're my friend. Do you think I'd do this for every vampire that I knew?"

She attempted to grab the cooler back but Angel used his vampiric speed and strength to repel her efforts. She continued pouting, knowing full well its devastating effect on him.

"C'mon Angel ... please?" She wheedled, stepping closer and wrapping her small hands around him in her attempt to recover the cooler. "It's for your own good after all. Please?"

Angel allowed himself to be distracted by her devastating pout, but was wise enough to keep enough of his senses to combat her devious tactics.

He grinned devilishly. "I'm touched Cordy, I really am. But ... I don't think so. Now behave." He paused as he tried to peer inside. "Why isn't someone answering the door?" He pressed the door bell another time.

Cordelia almost stomped her foot in frustration. Why was he being so stubborn about this?

"Angel ..." She entreated.

"No. I'm putting it back in the car."

She stared at him defeat. "Fine. Put your stupid blood in your stupid car. See if I care."

Angel shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. "Okay."

As he started walking away, Cordelia made a desperate lunge for the cooler but Angel's vice-like grip was too strong. They began to battle for the blood, their hands engaged in the ultimate war for its possession.

The door opened amidst their intense jockeying for the pack, revealing an extremely confused Buffy observing their childish antics with the air of a patient adult.

"What are you guys doing?" She asked curiously.

Angel and Cordelia looked at her sheepishly, Angel carefully concealing the cooler behind his back. "Buffy. Hi." Angel stared at Cordelia, daring her to keep quiet. "We're here."

"I can see." Buffy said primly, not put off by Angel's strangled tone. "Cordelia ... I'm glad you came." Trying to smile broadly at the other girl she added, "Come in."

"Thanks." Staring pointedly at Angel, she hastily grabbed the cooler from behind him. Holding the cooler up as Angel battled for it one last time, Cordelia said brightly, "Buffy, we were wondering whether we could put this in your fridge tonight?"

Buffy surveyed the cooler in Cordelia's outstretched hand curiously. "Sure. What is it?"

"It's Angel's blood." Cordelia said matter-of-factly. "It's threatening to go all icky and off if we leave it in the car. You know how that is."

Buffy screwed up her nose in disgust but led the way to the kitchen. "Actually, I don't. Which I'm kinda grateful for now that I think about it."

Angel rubbed his neck apologetically. "I'm sorry Buffy, I tried to stop her ... I mean -"

"Relax Angel, it's no big. It's not like Spike doesn't leave his blood here sometimes." She rolled her large eyes heavenwards. "Although it is kinda of the ick when you go to grab some cranberry juice and it turns out to not exactly be ... juice."

Angel rocked still behind the girls as they proceeded to the kitchen.

"Buffy, did you just say that Spike sometimes leaves his blood here?" He asked, surprise giving way to bafflement.

"Yeah. Him and Dawn hang out a lot." Buffy cleared a space inside the well-stocked refrigerator and frowned. "Do you guys want something to drink?"

"Do you have soda?"

Buffy silently handed her a can. "Angel?"

He shook his head mutely, still unable to process the improbability of Spike leaving blood in Buffy's kitchen. "Spike?"

She smiled at his amazement as Cordelia looked on. "For the last time - yes. I told you about that. You know, the whole Initiative chip in his brain so he can't hurt anyone thing and the whole Glory thing ..."

"Yeah but ... I guess I didn't think you'd ever let him inside the door, much less ..."

"Yeah well, " Buffy said quietly. "It's strange how things turn out sometimes." She gave him a small smile. "Besides, he really tried taking care of Dawn while I was gone and I'm grateful. He seems to really care."

Angel refrained from voicing his true concerns about Spike. While it hurt in a strange way to think that Spike was more a part of Buffy's life than he was, one look at Buffy's round blue orbs told him that he had nothing to worry about in terms of Spike's genuine regard for her and Dawn.

It was just really strange to think that Spike of all vampires was now welcome inside Buffy's home. Like he had in some way taken Angel's place by Buffy's side, being her devoted supporter, helping her when she needed him to help.

It was really, really strange.

Angel was the king of understatements sometimes.

"Angel!" The meaningful silence was shattered as Dawn came bounding into the kitchen, hugging the vampire in excitement.

"Dawn." Angel hugged the younger Summers back, a smile of delight lighting up his normally sombre face. "You've grown."

"Yeah well, I hear that tends to happen sometimes." She looked around and spied Cordelia. "Hey Cordelia."

"Hey Dawn." Cordelia smiled sincerely at the younger girl as she bounced to the fridge to grab a soda. "When did you guys get here?"

"Just then." She leaned in closer to inspect Dawn's straight, lustrous hair. "You've done something to your hair." She noted, fingering the strands carefully.

One of Dawn's hands flew to her hair self-consciously. "Yeah. I was experimenting with those coloured hair wash things. Didn't really turn out though."

Cordelia continued to scrutinise Dawn's hair, her expression thoughtful. "Which colour did you use?"

"It was ... I forget exactly. Mahogany or something. I didn't want to do anything too drastic you know, in case it turned my hair green or something."

"Maybe next time you might want to try something with a bit more of a reddish tint to it. You've got beautiful hair Dawn. " She ruffled the younger girl's hair fondly. "Yeah I definitely think you should try something with a bit more red."

"Thanks Cordelia." Dawn said, genuinely surprised at the interest the older girl gave her. Cordelia had mostly ignored her presence whenever she had had to come to their house for Scooby meetings, and this was probably one of the first times that she had even said more than ten words to the teenager.

Buffy was also surprised but hid it quickly. Obviously many things had changed in the past few years and it would just take some getting used to.

Buffy eyed Dawn's outfit curiously in the languidly awkward silence that ensued. "Where do you think you're going?" she demanded, sounding slightly too momish for her taste.

Her sister huffed defensively, "I'm just going to Sarah's for a while." She added snarkily, "Don't worry, I'll be back before dinner."

"No you're not." Buffy gazed instinctively out the window. "The sun's just set and there's no way you're walking two blocks. You might as well wear a t-shirt that says 'I'm right here, bite me'."

"Well, duh. Of course I wasn't going to go out alone." Dawn's smile was sweetly contrite and perfectly insincere. "Angel can walk me there."

"I am?"

"He is?"

Angel looked as surprised as Buffy felt. "And have you bothered asking him first?"

"Well ..." Dawn looked at Angel, grinning impishly. "I'm sure he doesn't mind, right Angel? Besides," she glanced slyly at her sister, "I was gonna wait until Spike turned up, but I figure you'd appreciate it more if you could spend some quality time with him. "

Buffy's face suddenly coloured a deep shade of red but she resolutely allowed the comment to pass. She pursed her lips. "Just be back before 8." She smiled apologetically at Angel. "Do you mind walking her, Angel? I'd usually trust Spike, but he isn't here yet ..."

"No, it's fine Buffy." He turned to Dawn who had hurriedly put on her jacket and was now waiting impatiently by the door. "I'll take care of her."

"Thanks Angel." Buffy eyed Dawn suspiciously, but the younger girl paid no heed. "I mean it Dawn. Before 8."

Dawn rolled her eyes impatiently. "Sure, whatever."

Smiling in farewell, Angel closed the door behind them, reserving the slightest of grins for Cordelia as their eyes met.

Buffy and Cordelia turned their gazes awkwardly towards each other, suddenly realising they were utterly and completely alone. And neither really had any idea what to do next.

 

(c) Vivian Ngan October 2001