The Iron is Hot - Cordelia & Wesley
Beautiful Comfort
Author: Kristi
E-mail: angelic_slayerette@hotmail.com
Feedback: Pretty please... I'd love you forever!
Rating: PG-13… probably could be G
Pairing: Wesley/Cordelia
Summary: What should have happened at the end of ‘Expecting’.
Disclaimer: I own nothing! Talk to Joss...
Distribution: Take it if you want it, just let me know where it’s going.
Author’s Note: An alternate ending to ‘Expecting’ in Season One, you know, back when Cor and Wes actually talked! I wrote this while listening to ‘Full of Grace’ by Sarah McLachlan, so pop it in if you’ve got it! This is dedicated to Eva and Patrizia cause anyone who’s willing to bribe me for fics deserves a dedication.
“I can’t believe it’s over.” Cordelia looks up at Wesley with a little smile. “I really want to thank you for everything you did Wesley. I know you were scared after what you saw at the doctor’s office. I won’t even ask why, but just thank you for taking care of me.” She reaches out to touch the side of his face, running her fingers gingerly along the dark purple bruise she had left there. “Does that hurt a lot?”
Wesley winces a bit but shakes his head, “No, not nearly as much as it could have.” She starts to turn away from him, but he catches her wrist, “Cordelia… I didn’t mean to frighten you earlier. I’m just glad that we got to you in time… I shudder to think what could have happened to you if we hadn’t.”
She shivers slightly, dropping down onto her couch. She was suddenly incredibly grateful that Wesley had volunteered to drop her off at her place after bringing Angel back to the office. “Oh God, don’t remind me. That was so scary… just being there, but not being able to control myself. Those things… they were in my head Wesley, reading my mind or something.”
He lowers himself onto the couch, taking one of her hands in his, subconsciously rubbing his thumb over her skin. “It’s going to be ok now. We got to you and killed the demon, you’re never going to have to worry about him impregnating you again.” Wesley had a feeling that his attempt at comfort was coming across more as mindless babbling, but things always got like that when he was around Cordelia. He still had a bit of a crush on her from their time together in Sunnydale, and now, seeing her in this new light, as a woman instead of a schoolgirl, made him care for her even more.
As if reading his mind, Cordelia smiles gently, “You aren’t that good at this whole comforting thing you know… but that’s fine… I know what you’re trying to say and that’s all that matters.” She leans into him, resting her head on his shoulder tiredly. It had been a long night, and despite the nap she had taken earlier, she was thoroughly exhausted. By now she would have been in bed, sleeping away this entire nightmare, but she couldn’t bring herself to send Wesley away.
Wesley looks down at the head resting on his shoulder and sighs. Oh God, who knew that loving her this much would hurt so, he thinks wistfully. Reaching down, Wesley pulls her sandals off her feet, setting them down beside the couch. She mumbles what he thinks is a ‘thank you’ before dragging her feet up beside her on the couch. He releases her hand, wrapping his arm around her shoulder, and allowing her to nestle deeper into his embrace. “Would you like me to go?” he whispers softly, hoping for all the world that she says no.
Cordelia shakes her head, snuggling into his chest, “Please don’t.” Her voice is soft and pleading, something entirely uncommon for the ex-Ice Queen. “Be here for me if I have a nightmare?” Her tone was almost child-like, but her eyes held the wisdom of a young woman who had seen, and experienced, too much in her short time. Just looking into them made Wesley want to weep for all the normal things she could never experience and all the bad things she always would.
“Of course I’ll be here. Wild horses couldn’t drag me away.”
She giggles a little at the obvious reference to the song they had danced to at her prom. “How do you do it? How do you make me forget that one of the worst things in the world just happened to me?”
He shrugs as much as their position allows, “I don’t know. Just a talent I suppose.” He uses his free hand to tilt her chin up so that they’re looking into each other’s eyes. “I’m very glad that I could provide you with even a moment of relief from this ordeal Cordelia. You didn’t deserve this, no matter what you may believe.”
She looks down, catching his hand in hers and clutching it tightly. Cordelia sighs softly, “Wesley…,” she hesitates, unsure of whether she should actually make this inquiry real, “Umm… you would have offered to be a father to my baby… if it hadn’t been a demon… wouldn’t you?”
He clears his throat nervously, wishing that she wouldn’t have asked him such an impossible question. Of course he would have offered, he gladly would have taken care of the both of them, but to reveal that would mean letting her know how he really felt for her. “Cordelia… it’s best not to dwell on things that can never be.” There, that should solve the problem of a direct answer, he decides with a slight nod to himself for his cleverness.
Cordelia almost laughs at his ploy to dodge the question, but chooses to let it slide. She knew what he would have said. Cordy lifts her head up, pressing a gentle kiss on his cheek, “Thank you Wes… I’ll never forget everything you’ve done for me since you got here. I know that things weren’t easy at first, but you belong with us. We’re a family now.”
He nods sleepily, kissing the top of her head lightly as he feels her breathing change. He sits in silence for a moment, contemplating the night’s events. He should be leaving now, getting away before they break each other’s heart, but he can’t bring himself to move from their position on the couch.
Wesley shifts, pulling his own shoes off, and setting them beside Cordelia’s before swinging his legs up to entwine with hers. Carefully nestling her against the back of the couch, he lies beside her, tracing her features tenderly until they’re both lost in a peaceful slumber. Oblivious to all the pains in the world, for at least a little while, they’re just a normal boy and a normal girl sharing a beautiful dream.
The End