The Iron is Hot - Cordelia & Wesley
All I Want For Christmas
Author: KathDisclaimer: It all belongs to Joss Whedon, David Greenwalt, Mutant Enemy, etc.
Rating: G
Summary: Wes/Cordy; Angel Investigations celebrates Christmas together.
Spoilers: For everything up to 'Dad'
Feedback: It would make me more than happy. To vze25s65@verizon.net.
Notes: Thanks to my wonderful beta tag-team Dub and Barb. I wrote this for Barb, who has never given up on the Wes/Cordy subtext. Merry Belated Christmas!
Cordelia Chase stepped back from the front hallway table, where she'd just finished arranging her collection of crystal Christmas figurines, and smiled. With red and green garlands strung along the tops of the windows, the smell of honey-glazed ham filling the air, and Bing Crosby's mellow tones crooning from the CD player, her apartment was finally starting to feel warm and Christmassy, just in time for Angel Investigations' first annual office Christmas party that night. She moved to the dining room table to unpack more decorations and paused to critically eye the large Blue Spruce currently occupying one corner of her living room.
"A little more to the left." Cordelia stood back and tilted her head, first one way then the other. "No, my left, Dufus."
An exasperated sigh came from somewhere behind the tree's thick branches. "Really, Cordelia, that's where I had it a moment ago. If I didn't know better, I would swear you were making this difficult on purpose."
Cordy continued searching through the cardboard boxes she'd gotten out of her storage closet in the basement. "Quit complaining, Whiny Boy. You volunteered to help."
"Volunteered?! Coerced is more like it." After a great deal of rustling, the tall, slim form of Wesley Wyndham-Pryce emerged from behind the Christmas tree. "I thought you Americans all went in for those silver, artificial trees these days anyway." He scowled and began searching the front of his dark blue pullover for the stray needles he knew were lying in wait, ready to poke him at inopportune moments.
With an "Aha!" of triumph, Cordy pulled an ancient-looking, paper-mache yellow star from a box. "Nope, not my family. The Chase home always had the largest real tree in Sunnydale, even if Daddy had to fly it in from up-state."
A whisper of melancholy clouded her face, as she ran her fingertips along the cracks and bumps of the tree topper she'd made in art class when she was seven. She remembered how every year her mother had made a show of wanting to replace it with something fancier, more expensive, yet, every year it had still managed to find its way onto their tree. When the IRS hadn't been interested in 'worthless' family ornaments, Cordelia had been quick to claim them.
Somewhat embarrassed by the tears now threatening at the corners of her eyes, Cordy set the star aside and began to busy herself with a stubborn tangle of Christmas tree lights. It wasn't until Wesley's hand appeared over hers that she realized he'd moved towards her. His voice was as gentle as his touch.
"Here, let me do that."
Cordy looked up and an unspoken understanding passed between them. The holidays could be difficult for those without family to share them with. Their recent introduction to Fred's parents had only served to remind them all of what they were missing. Perhaps that was why Cordelia was so determined to have the perfect, traditional Christmas this year - AI's first as a new complete family.
"Thanks." Cordelia relinquished the bundle, smile firmly back in place on her face. Wesley couldn't help but wonder if that hadn't been her plan all along. "You do that and I'll go check on dinner." With that, she disappeared into the kitchen.
***
Twenty minutes later, Cordy sat on her sofa, feet tucked up beneath her. Wesley had finally given up on the lights and was sitting next to her, sipping from a large green mug with a bright Santa image painted on it.
"I've missed this, you know."
Cordy raised an eyebrow. "Hot chocolate?"
"No," Wesley laughed. "This...you and I, sitting together, having a quiet chat."
Both eyebrows were raised now. "Wesley, you and I never did 'this'," she mimicked his gesture between the two of them. "Unless you count all those boring research sessions."
"Perhaps you're right," he conceded. "Still, we were quite the team, weren't we? Locating the 'big ugly', sending Angel off to kill it."
"Oh yeah, we were a regular Woodward and Bernstein." Off his look, she added, "My mother had a thing for Robert Redford movies." Both paused to watch, as a long strand of tree lights floated up into the air and began wrapping itself around the top of the Christmas tree. Dennis, having taken over the task from Wesley, had finally managed to untangle them all.
"Besides," Cordelia continued, in an oh-so-casual voice. "You don't need me to hang around with, now that you've got Gunn."
Wesley choked on the drink he'd just taken. "What?" he sputtered. "I don't have Gunn, and anyway, what about you and Angel?"
"Me and Angel?! What's that supposed to mean?" Cordy shot back, defensively.
Wesley set his mug down on the coffee table. "Only that the pair of you seem to be spending quite a bit of time together these days."
"He's training me to fight, you know that. You even said you were proud of the initiative I've shown!"
"Yes, well, after all these years, it's about time!"
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were jealous!" Cordy folded her arms smugly across her chest.
"Jealous? Not bloody likely. You're the one who started it, with that comment about Gunn." They both stared at each other angrily, then burst out laughing, having realized simultaneously how childish they were being.
"Okay, now that sounded familiar." Cordy giggled one more time.
"Name calling and hair pulling," Wesley mused, grinning back at her. After a moment, his expression grew serious again. "You do realize how much I still value our friendship, even though I'm friends with Gunn as well, don't you?"
"Yeah, I know." She paused. "It's not that I don't love Gunn, or Fred, but... sometimes I miss when it was just the three of us against the world, y'know?"
"The well-oiled machine," Wes murmured, echoing Charles' first description of their little group. Both lapsed into silence, deep in their own thoughts. The CD had changed, and Mannheim Steamroller was now performing their rousing version of 'Deck the Halls'. Wesley watched as Dennis finished with the lights and plugged them in. Alternating flashes of red, green, yellow, orange and blue danced merrily off the walls and ceiling.
"Do you ever wonder... how different things might have been?" Wes suddenly asked.
"Y'mean, if we'd gotten together back in Sunnydale?"
Wesley had long since stopped being surprised at Cordelia's uncanny ability to read his mind, so he merely nodded, without actually looking in her direction.
"Well, let's see," she pondered, while tapping her index finger thoughtfully to her lips. "Mr. and Mrs. Watcher, expecting the first of our politically correct 2.5 kids by now..." Wesley's head whipped around. "What?" she retorted defensively. "I was homeless. Do you really think I'd have moved in with you without getting a diamond on my finger? A sizable diamond."
"Well, I..." Wesley squirmed, either in response to the idea of being married to Cordelia, or because she was now looking him up and down, appraisingly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm just trying to remember what I used to see in you back then."
"Thank you," he huffed.
"Kidding! Geez, Wes, you take everything so literally." Even after all this time, it was still fun to push Wesley's buttons. "Although... I guess I do recall thinking your accent was kinda sexy. And I liked your suits."
"Hmmm." Wesley's lips were still pursed together, but Cordy could tell by the way they twitched at the ends that he wasn't taking her completely seriously. "And here I thought you'd found me attractive."
"Well, you were older, and from another country, and... not Giles. Besides, I didn't have much to compare you to, y'know." She waited a beat. "But then, of course, came The Kiss..."
Wesley groaned and threw his hands up, in mock despair before defending himself. "I really don't think I should be held entirely responsible for that fiasco. After all, your lips were involved as well."
"Yes, but I was young, and impressionable and relatively inexperienced." Cordy ignored the responding snort.
"And I had recently found myself unemployed, faced possible deportation, as well as my demise at the hands of a giant, demonic Mayor-snake," he countered.
Cordelia nodded thoughtfully. "So, I guess it's safe to say, neither of us was exactly at our best."
Wes slouched down into the couch cushions and crossed his arms defiantly across his chest like a pouty little boy. "Agreed."
Cordy sat back next to Wesley and reached over to pat his arm sympathetically. "You didn't deserve to be treated the way they treated you... Buffy and the others. You were just trying to do your job."
Wesley's expression softened as he turned his head towards her. "It meant a great deal to me to know you were on my side, my only ally. And to be honest, while I may have been trying to do my job, it was one for which I was terribly ill-prepared. But thank you, nevertheless."
"Hey, you know me. I just call it like I see it. Besides, who needs those old Watchers anyway?!" Cordy sat up again, causing Wesley to flinch at her sudden enthusiasm. "Look at all you've accomplished since then. You're the boss now, and people actually listen to you... at least sometimes, when you're not babbling on and on from one of your boring ole books. You don't fight like a girl anymore..." She began to tick the examples off on her fingers. "You've got a much cooler hairstyle and you're not all that bad looking, I guess... You've really changed a lot!"
Wesley beamed up at her, unused to such praise from Cordelia. His eyes were twinkling as they searched out hers. "You haven't, you know." Just when she was about to protest, he added, "You're just as beautiful as you ever were."
Now it was Cordy's turn to be surprised. Recovering quickly, she flashed him her mega-watt smile. "Thanks." Leaning down, she reached out to touch his hair. When he unexpectedly rose up to meet her, their lips met. They held the kiss for several seconds and both seemed to be enjoying it before they flew apart, startled.
"What just happened here?" Cordy jumped to her feet, putting some distance between them.
Wesley rose as well and pointed an accusing finger at her. "You kissed me."
"No. You kissed me." She pointed back, just as accusing.
"You were running your fingers through my hair..."
"To get this out, Mr. Jumps-to-Conclusions." She held up something long, thin, and green.
Cursed pine needles. Wesley bit down on his lip and attempted to fight back the blush he knew was rising in his cheeks.
"Okay, look," Cordy began to pace in front of him and seemed to be reasoning with herself as much as with Wes. "We just got carried away in the moment. It's Christmas, and music was playing and we'd had too much... chocolate..." She stopped and looked him in the eye. "I've got guests arriving any minute, I need to change my clothes and I don't have time for this. Let's just forget the whole thing ever happened, okay?"
"A-alright." Wes managed a weak, somewhat relieved smile.
Cordelia was already heading for her bedroom. She called back over her shoulder, "You check on the ham. It should be just about done. I'm going to get changed."
Only after she'd disappeared around the corner did Wesley allow his disappointment to show.
***
Gunn pushed himself away from the table and patted his full-to-the-brim stomach contentedly. "Ah, now that was one terrific meal. I can't eat another bite... unless there's pie. Is there pie?"
Next to him, Wesley stared at Gunn in mild disbelief. "Are you sure you haven't been replaced by a shape-shifting Kowl demon? Their entire body cavities are hollow, so as to store food for months of hibernating."
Fred giggled from across the table. Gunn turned and grinned evilly.
"Wouldn't you like to know."
For a split second Wesley actually looked worried. Lorne, who was sitting across from Gunn, raised his wine glass and tapped it lightly with his spoon. "I think a toast is in order." They all raised their glasses in turn. Angel, in his haste to join in from the end of the table - even though he hadn't partaken in the meal - lifted up Connor's baby bottle instead. This of course led to winks and smiles and an 'Awww' from Fred.
"To Cordelia," Lorne continued. "For the magnificent feast."
Everyone echoed his sentiments. "It really was terrific, hon. Best Christmas dinner I've ever had," The Host added.
"Only Christmas dinner you ever had," Gunn reminded him.
"Well, that's true. We're not big on celebrating religious holidays in the demon world. At least, not your religions."
Cordelia glowed proudly, as she watched everyone enjoying themselves, and listened to the playful banter that constituted meaningful conversation among their group. Then she stood to make a toast of her own. "I just want to thank all of you for coming tonight, especially Fred, for postponing your flight home to see Trish and Roger until tomorrow."
Fred blushed. "Aw, that's okay. Mom and Dad understand. They're celebrating over at Uncle Melvin and Aunt Sara's tonight anyway."
"It wouldn't have been the same without all of you here," Cordy continued, with an affectionate smile. "And I want to especially thank you, Wes, for coming over early to help with the cooking and getting ready. I couldn't have done it without you."
"Here here!" They clinked glasses again.
"Well, since Wesley and Cordelia did all the work making dinner, Gunn and I should do the dishes," Fred offered, jumping up to begin clearing plates.
"Say what?!" Charles grumbled, but nevertheless, rose from his seat and began collecting dishes and silverware.
When he and Fred had finished, they joined the others in the living room.
"Okay, now it's time to trim the tree," Cordy announced.
Gunn winked at Fred. "I was gonna say. I thought it was lookin' a little bare." They were each handed a box of ornaments and set to work. Even Dennis got into the act, floating colored balls to the hard-to-reach back and top of the tree. Angel hung back, unsure, and when Fred noticed, she came over to encourage him.
"Hey, c'mon. Cordy says the sooner we get the tree decorated the sooner we can open presents. She seemed real eager about that."
"How come Lorne doesn't have to do it," the vampire protested, pointing to the Host, who was also hovering nearby.
"That's because someone has to be the coordinator, sweetcakes," Lorne shot back, having overheard him. "And, no offense, but my color sense is better than yours. Too many monochromatics make Angel a dull vampire. No, Charles. There are too many red ones in that spot already. How about putting that orange rocking horse there instead."
Fred nudged Angel again and he gingerly picked up a felt candy cane by its hook, as if it were a tiny Mal'hek demon ready to bite, and approached the tree. He looked back over his shoulder, and when Lorne didn't object to his placement choice, Angel hung it on the tree. Fred beamed at him, pleased.
Wesley was kneeling beside one particularly deep box, sifting through handmade ornaments in various stages of decay, trying to decide what to put on the tree next, when Cordelia came over and bent down beside him. He tried not to notice the strawberry scent of her hair, or the way her hand bumped his as they reached down for the same ornament.
Cordy was his friend, Wes kept trying to remind himself. She'd made it perfectly clear that afternoon that she wasn't interested in being anything else. Perhaps he was merely lonely. If his brief crush on Fred had taught Wesley anything, it was that he'd truly missed the light-headed, can't-stop-smiling giddiness inherent in the early stages of infatuation. Something he hadn't experienced with Virginia. Something he hadn't really felt since the first time he'd seen Cordelia breeze into the Sunnydale High School Library, nearly three years ago. Although he'd firmly accepted the failure of their early attempts at courtship, Wes had to admit there were still moments... Between the traded insults and smart remarks, when she wasn't doing her best to ignore every word he said, there were times when a simple smile in his direction would still leave Wesley warm and tingling all over, when a word of sincere praise or a heartfelt 'thank you' could cause his heart to skip a beat. This was merely another of those moments, he reasoned, intensified by the unexpected nature of the kiss, as well as pressure to be 'with' someone for the holidays.
"Wesley, are you even listening to me?"
Startled out of his thoughts by the annoyance in Cordelia's voice, Wesley's head jerked up. "I'm sorry, what?"
"I said I think we're done, unless there's something else in that box you want to use."
"Oh, uh, no." Wes stood up and joined the others in admiring their handiwork. "The tree looks lovely."
"Great!" Cordy rubbed her hands together and ushered them to sit down. "Now we can open the presents."
Fred volunteered to play 'Santa' and sat next to the tree, passing out the gifts. Soon, the air was filled with the sound of tearing wrapping paper.
Angel, under guidance from Cordy, had given everyone an adorable framed photo of himself holding Connor, who was wearing a tiny Santa hat. Fred, after slaving away in Angel's kitchen for days, presented them all with large tins of homemade Christmas cookies.
Wesley, to no one's surprise, had bought books for everyone. To Fred he gave 'The Tao of Pooh'; Angel got 'Your Baby and You' and 'A Single Father's Guide To Parenting'. For Cordy he'd chosen 'How To Dress Like $1,000,000 For Pennies A Day' and for Lorne: 'The Do-It-Yourself Guide To Interior Design'. To Gunn, Wesley gave 'A Beginner's Guide To Chess', which came with a small game board.
"Just to show you there are other games than those electronic ones you're so attached to."
Gunn opened the box and looked over the pieces - "Cool, man. Thanks." - then promptly began bashing two of them together, yelling "Die, horsy scum!"
Gunn himself had gone the easy route and given them all gift certificates: to clothing stores for Lorne and Cordy, Kids 'R Us for Angel, Borders Books for Wesley, and Blockbuster Video for Fred, so she could catch up on the five years of movies she'd missed while in Pylea. Naturally, Cordelia had gotten them all clothes.
It had been agreed upon that Lorne be exempt from having to buy gifts, seeing as how he was still forced to live at The Hyperion and Caritas was still in a shambles. Even so, The Host graciously announced there would be free drinks for a year, once he got the club up and running again.
***
All the gifts had been opened and viewed, dessert had been served, and Lorne had even whipped up a batch of hot buttered rum. Now, Fred was holding Connor, reciting 'The Night Before Christmas' to him, Lorne and Angel were looking over Cordelia's Christmas CDs and having a friendly argument over who had recorded the best Christmas album ever, while Wesley was sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of the coffee table, attempting to teach Gunn the finer points of chess.
Cordy sat perched on one arm of the sofa, cup of rum in hand, surveying the scene with satisfaction. She laughed softly at the annoyed frown on Wesley's face at the capture of one of his chess pieces. Apparently, Gunn was a quick learner. Cordelia realized she'd been watching Wesley a lot tonight: the way he joked with Angel and teased Gunn at supper, by holding the basket of rolls just out of reach; the funny faces he made at Connor to make him smile, when he thought no one was looking; his kindness towards Fred, returning her 'thank you' hug, although still uncomfortable with the idea of touching her, after the 'Billy' incident. Only Cordy saw his sad smile of regret, and it hurt her to think of the potential relationship he and Fred might have lost out on.
Wesley was a good man and he deserved better. Cordy was starting to feel guilty about the way she'd blown off their kiss earlier. At the time she'd been shocked, not so much by the kiss itself, but by her reaction to it. She'd enjoyed it! If it had been anyone but Wes... but it was Wes, and it was wrong, so she'd quickly changed the subject, and gotten on with the party.
However, something inside her wouldn't let the idea drop. It started as a vague longing in the pit of her stomach, and the more she thought about it, the more persistent it became. Wesley was comfortable and familiar. Next to Angel, there was probably no one who knew her as well as he did. He was kind, and sensitive, and helpful... and she had found him attractive once.
What if she'd been mistaken? What if Wesley was right, and the crazy lives they led meant that the only happiness they would find was with each other? But, he'd been talking about Fred when he said that, not her. He wasn't interested in her any more than she was in him.
Was he?
Cordy shook herself. This train of thought wasn't getting her anywhere. She was just being silly and sentimental and would probably wake up tomorrow laughing at the very idea of her and Wesley. I mean, c'mon. Wesley? Realizing her cup was empty, Cordy slipped off the couch and headed into the kitchen for a refill.
***
"Checkmate!" Wesley grinned across the chessboard at Gunn and resisted the urge to gloat. After all, Gunn had done quite well for a beginner. Unwinding his long legs, he pushed himself up off the floor and offered his spot to Lorne, who had come over to observe from the sidelines.
"On the floor... in this suit? I don't think so, darlin'." The Host pulled up a chair from the dining room table, while Gunn set up the board for another game. Wes stretched to get the cricks out of his back and decided to see if there was any more pie in the kitchen. Cordelia was already there, serving herself a drink from the pot warming on the stove. He smiled at her brightly and took a plate from the cabinet above.
"The party is going well, I think. Everyone is having a good time."
"What, oh yeah. Good."
Cordelia's distracted tone made Wes pause. "Is something wrong?"
"No, of course not. What could be wrong?" Cordy tried to hurry past him, but he moved to stop her.
"I certainly hope you're not still angry about this afternoon. I assure you I didn't mean -"
"Of course I'm not mad," she responded a bit too quickly. "Nothing happened, right? And even if it did, it was an accident... like we just bumped into each other."
"Well, you're good for a man's ego," he joked.
"Hey, you're the one who didn't like the kiss."
"I never said that," he protested.
"Then you did like it?"
"I -- did you?"
"What if I did? Are you going to hold it against me? I'm only human y'know."
"What? No, I only meant that if we both felt something, perhaps we should -"
"Aha! You said 'we'. So you did feel something too then," she crowed.
"Well, you are a beautiful woman."
"And you're a fairly attractive guy."
"Cordelia!"
"What?!"
"Why are we arguing?"
Cordelia opened her mouth then snapped it shut again. Wesley moved closer, placing his hands gently on her shoulders, his voice softer now. "Cordy."
She tilted her head up to look into his eyes. "Hmmm?"
Wesley leaned down and kissed her. This time neither felt compelled to end it until they heard applause coming from the doorway. They turned to find all their friends crowding in the doorway, staring. Fred was beaming, Gunn - the source of the applause - was grinning broadly, and Angel... if anything, Angel looked somewhat disappointed. Lorne had been watching them from the back of the group and now merely rolled his eyes.
"Like, who didn't see that coming?" He waved a dismissive hand and left, with Angel not far behind.
Fred tugged at Gunn's sleeve. "Hey, I wanna stay for the show," he protested.
"I think they'd rather be alone, Gunn." She tugged again, and this time he reluctantly followed her. Fred smiled back at the couple once more and made sure the door was closed behind her.
Wesley pulled Cordelia to him, and felt her arms circling his waist. "So, what now?"
"Now you kiss me again, Bozo. Geez, do I have to spell everything out for y-" The rest was lost when his lips pressed against hers. "Mmmm," she murmured eventually.
"What?" Wesley pulled back just enough to breathe.
"Remind me to write a letter to Santa, to thank him for the great Christmas present."
Wesley reached up to lovingly caress her cheek. "Be sure to tell him 'thanks' for me too."
The End