The Iron is Hot - Cordelia & Wesley
Precious
Author: TopazAngel
Rating: NC17-for now-language, sexual situations
Feedback: PLEASE!!! I am a FEEDBACK WHORE!!! If you don’t send feedback…Just do it, okay!!! topazangelcc@yahoo.com
Distribution: The Iron is Hot, Shippers United, Anywhere else as long as you tell me where it is going first.
Pairing: Wes/Lilah (at the beginning), Wes/Cordy (main pairing)
Genre: Drama, Angst, Romance
Spoilers: Angel Season Four up to and including The House Always Wins
Teaser: Cordelia comes back to LA with no memory. She is scared away from Angel and friends…She runs into an old friend, who tries to help her get back to normal.
Disclaimer: I own nothing…Joss, David, ME, WB, and Fox own all…Please don’t sue me…I own nothing…I already said that, huh?
AN: Okay, this seems a LOT like STB…But I promise I have been planning this since THAW aired!!!
Prologue
“Who are you people?” Cordelia asked the people who had just walked in.
“Cordelia?” He asked her again, “Is that really you??? Am I dreaming?” He asked.
“Cordelia??? Is that my name?” She asked him, sadly.
“Yes. You are Cordelia…I am Angel. You really don’t remember anything?” He asked her again.
“No…Where am I?? Is this a hotel?”
“No…Not really. You work here…We are private investigators.”
“Oh. Umm, I think I wanna go home. Where is home? Do I have a home?”
“Umm, not exactly…You sorta got kicked out when you didn’t pay your rent for a couple months,” Fred said as sweetly as possible. Cordelia’s face fell.
“Oh.”
“But we brought your stuff here! You can have a room,” She continued.
*****
Cordelia let the three people who said they were her friends lead her to a room.
“So, you can stay here…Its where we put all your stuff,” Fred told her.
“Thanks.”
“Do you need anything??”
“Can I be alone?” She asked. Fred nodded and walked out of the room.
*****
“Angel, what happened to her?” Fred asked.
“Maybe she is just disoriented…I mean, who knows how long it took her to come back…”
“Why is she even back?” Gunn asked.
“What do you mean?” Angel asked.
“Hey guys!” Lorne said behind them.
“Lorne. You have to leave.” Angel said.
“What? I just got back.”
“Yeah…But Cordelia did too…And she can’t see you.” He replied.
“Cordy’s back? Well, let me go say hi!”
“NO! She has amnesia or something…She doesn’t remember us, and I don’t want to scare her.”
*****
Cordelia had decided to look through some of her things. She saw a stack of picture albums
“Hmm, Prom, Sunnydale High, 1999,” She said, looking at one of the albums…It had been specially made for the school.
She came to one of her and a guy, “Ooo…He could definitely be my type,” She said looking at the older looking man, “And I was HOT!!!” She added. She looked at the back of the picture, “Me and Wesley…Hmm, Wesley? That is a nice name…Very classy…” She said to herself, I wonder how long we stayed together.” She put the Prom photos up, and pulled out another album.
“The Scooby Gang? Huh. We were an interesting bunch!” She said, looking at a picture of her with Oz, Willow, Xander, and Buffy an Graduation night.
She came to another picture. It was of her and Wesley just after he first came to LA, “Wow, I must really like this guy!” She said to herself. She then came to a more recent picture. It was of the whole group (Sans Lorne) the night of the ballet. She was standing in between Angel and Wesley, she looked at the bottom of the picture. In a girls handwriting, someone had written ‘The iron IS hot.’ “Hmm, I wonder what THAT means!” She said, to herself, with a laugh. The group looked very happy…”Almost like a family,” She mused. She slipped the picture into her pocket, not knowing why, but knowing that she wanted to remember where this one was.
That was the last picture in the album. She assumed that was when she had disappeared.
All the sudden she looked up to see Angel standing in the doorway.
“Hey…Any luck?” He asked.
“A little. Umm, I found these,” She said, showing him the pictures. She noted the pain in his eyes when he looked at them.
“Where is he?” She asked.
“Who?”
“Wesley?” He looked up at her in surprise, “How did you…”
“His name was written on my prom pictures…This is a recent picture, isn’t it?” He nodded, “Then where is he?”
“He isn’t really friends with us anymore…”
“Were we together? Me and Wesley? Cause I found a lot of pictures of us together, going all the way back to high school.”
“You and Wes? No…You were just good friends.”
“Oh,” She said with disappointment. She had liked the idea that she might have had someone. And Wesley was kind of cute.
“I’ll let you sleep.”
“I think I wanna get some air…There is a garden right? I thought I saw one…Can I go walk around outside?”
“Sure…I’ll co-”
“No, I wanna go alone…I need to think.”
*****
Cordelia felt the cool breeze hit her face. She felt so alone. She knew that Angel and the others were just trying to help, but they really couldn’t. She needed to figure things out.
The garden was beautiful. She assumed she loved it when she was her old self. She heard something in the bushes, but assumed it was the wind and continued to walk.
“Okay, now, I KNOW I heard that…” She said to herself. She twisted around to see Lorne standing behind her. She screamed.
“Honey…Honey…Calm down…Its just me!” He said trying to comfort her.
But it was too late. She pushed passed him, and ran out of the garden.
“Cordy!” Angel said, running outside.
“I didn’t know she was out here Angel.” Lorne said to him.
“Where did she go?”
“I don’t know?” They looked around the courtyard.
“She couldn’t have gotten far!”
*****
Cordelia didn’t know what was going on, but she knew it wasn’t anything good. She just ran. She didn’t know where she was going, but she knew she couldn’t stay where she was.
~END PROLOGUE~
**********
Cordelia didn’t know where she was going, but she ran. Fast. She knew that Angel would wonder where she was, but she couldn’t go back there. Not with that thing. The thing that seemed to know her.
She ran into something. It was like a wall, but it wasn’t.
“Why, hi there. Are you running from something?” The tall man asked her.
“I was, but I’m okay now,” She said.
“Let me walk you home.”
“No…That’s okay,” She didn’t trust the people that knew her, and she wasn’t ready to deal with a stranger.
“Oh come on…LA is a scary place…You don’t wanna walk around alone at night…” He said. She really wasn’t loving the creepy tone in his voice.
“No I’m fine!” She said, walking away, “Really,” She said, walking as quickly as possible.
“Oh come on…” He said grabbing her arm.
“I believe the girl said no,” A man said from behind.
“Cordelia took the distraction to pull her arm away from the man, who was now showing his true face. She screamed, loudly. The man behind them rushed the vampire, who pushed Cordelia to the ground.
She saw the two men fighting. She watched the one who had come from behind, as he hit the one who had attacked her. She could only see his back, but she sensed a familiarity in the way he fought. She starred in horror as the man put a stake through the vampire’s heart, and he turned to dust.
“Are all-” He began, but stopped himself when he realized who he had saved. “Cordelia?”
“Umm, I think so…I know you…” She said softly, realizing that she did remember the man standing in front of her. Well, she remembered him from the picture anyway, “You’re Wesley.”
“Yes. I know that. What are you doing here?? Alone?”
“I ran away from the hotel…There was a thing. It tried to attack me. I think it was a demon,” She said in horror.
“Why didn’t you run to Angel?? Does he know you’re back?”
“He knows. I just couldn’t stay there. I don’t…I mean…it’s all so confusing.” She told him in broken sentences.
“Why were you talking to a strange man in the middle if the night?? You know that is stupid.”
“I don’t know! I don’t know anything…Who I am…Who you are…I don’t remember.”
“Oh, but you knew who I was.”
“They showed me stuff…You were in pictures.”
“Oh. I see. Where are you going?”
“Not back to where they are. I get the strangest feeling that Angel is lying to me about something…And I think you know. Can you tell me about me? I mean really? I know that I am Cordelia Chase…They told me that much. And that you people are my friends. They aren’t private investigators? Are they?” She asked him.
“Well, yes, and no…Look, lets get you somewhere safe…They will be looking for you. Them and other people once they find out you are back.”
*****
Wesley took Cordelia to his apartment. He gave her some clothes to change into, so she wouldn’t have to go to sleep in blue jeans.
“Okay…So tell me. About me.”
“Well, Angel and you have known each other for a very long time. You were working with him on his path to redemption-”
“Redemption for what?” She asked.
“Angel is a vampire on the path to redemption. He has a soul now, and he is trying to atone for his past. You got visions sent by the powers…” He told the whole story. Everything up to the point where she disappeared. Including the stuff about himself and Holtz and how he took Connor.
“So that’s it? I just poof!! And now I am back…But why?” She asked.
“That is the question at hand.”
“So, we were all friends…Until you took Connor, for very noble reasons, might I add,” She said.
“Yes. Quite good friends. You and I have known each other for quite sometime. Since you were in-”
“High School...I found some pictures from Prom…You went with me.”
“Yes…I did.”
There eyes locked for a moment and Wesley was tempted to kiss her, but the phone rang.
“SHIT!” He said. He knew exactly who it was, and he didn’t want to deal with her right now, “I have to get that,” Cordelia nodded.
“Hello? No not tonight…Because I can’t Lilah! Not that either! No…I am just tired. I’ve had a long day, okay…I’ll see you then.” He hung up the phone.
“Was that your girlfriend?” Cordelia asked. Wesley noticed a hint of disappointment in her eyes and voice.
“Yes…No…Something in between I think…”
“Oh…Well, I have a had a rough night. I think I’ll just get some sleep.”
“Okay, you can take the bed…I’ll sleep in here on the couch.”
*****
Meanwhile, Lilah hung up the phone. She looked at the man sitting in front of her desk.
“Yes, she is definitely with him…He was too preoccupied to be alone. We need her. She knows something. I know it! The powers wouldn’t have sent her back for no reason…” She told the other lawyer.
“I’m sure we can fix the problem…We just need to get him away from her…Which should be easy…Somehow Angel just needs to find out that he has her, and he will go get her…Hence the trap.”
**********
“Wesley?” Cordelia called from the bedroom. She sounded desperate. Like something was wrong. He rushed in as soon as he heard her.
“Cordelia? Is something wrong?” He asked, rushing to kneel by the bed next to her.
“What? Umm, no,” She said, looking around, “I guess I was just dreaming…”
“Oh…It must have been really bad…” He said to her.
“Yea, it was,” She said.
“Well, are you hungry? Because I can make you some breakfast.”
“Actually, yea, a little,” She said, “But I don’t know what I like.”
“That’s okay…Luckily, I remember,” He said walking into the kitchen.
*****
“Where could she have possibly gone?” Angel asked no one in particular.
“Angel, I’m sure she is okay.”
:”How can she be okay? She doesn’t remember anything Fred, what if something happened to her? She is all alone…I really wish I knew where she was.”
*****
“Wow! This is REALLY good!” Cordelia said, taking a bite of the scrambled eggs, “You were right…You DO know what I like.”
“Well, we have had breakfast together many times.”
“Yeah…Are you sure we were never together?” She asked him.
“Well, not in the strictest sense…I mean, we did a little flirting and the like while you were in high school, but it never got serious.”
“So, were we good friends then? Cause I get this vibe from you.”
“We were…Until everything happened.”
“You mean with Angel and his son?” She questioned.
“Yes…Because of that. You and Angel were always closer than you and I…And when it came down to me or him…”
“I chose him.”
“Everyone did…And trust me. I deserved it…I was wrong.”
“Yeah, but you know that…So, its good.” The phone rang, just as they began to really start to bond.
“Lilah…No…I’m not gonna have time tonight,” He said glancing over at Cordelia, briefly, “No…Look, I am gonna busy for a few nights. What do you mean? Who would be here? I’m sure I don’t know what you are talking about! I have to go!” He hung up the phone.
“Was that you not girlfriend?” Cordelia asked him.
“Yes…But she is nothing resembling a girlfriend.”
“Last night you said-”
“Well, I am sure now. She’s NOT my girlfriend.”
“So, she’s just your sex partner?” She asked bluntly.
“I guess you could say that.”
“Oh…You don’t seem like the type to…”
“I’m not.”
*****
“Okay…He isn’t gonna break…I need to get him out of his apartment some other way…Or maybe we could get Angel in. Get Smith on the phone…We are on to plan B,” Lilah said.
*****
Cordelia slipped her jeans back on. She put her hand in the pocket and found the picture. She wanted to ask Wesley about it. Something told her that picture meant something. Something told her to keep anyway, so there had to be something about it.
But she knew it probably wasn’t the right time.
“Cordelia?” Wesley called.
“I’m here…I was just…Thinking,” She said, walking back into the living room.
“Oh…So, what do you want to do?”
“Umm, we could…What do I like to do?” She asked him.
“You used to like to shop.”
“Ooo…Shopping that sounds fun!”
“Yes well, unfortunately, money is an issue…”
“Oh, yeah…Money. Well, we could stay in and watch a movie…” She said.
“That sounds good.”
“Umm, what kind of movies do I like??”
**********
Wesley had assured Cordelia that she loved Julia Roberts movies, so they rented Pretty Woman and Runaway Bride.
“Ya know for a movie about a hooker, this movie was pretty good!” She told him.
“Yeah, that’s why it is your favorite…” He told her.
“Oh yeah…I guess so,” She said, “Umm, Wes.”
“What is it?”
“Do you know what this is?” She asked, pulling the Polaroid from her pocket.
“Ah yes…” He began, “This is the night we all went to the ballet.”
“We went to the ballet?”
“Yep.”
“And what does that mean?” She asked, pointing to the writing on the bottom of the photo.
“Oh, yes…it’s a bit of advice you gave me. I was a little nervous about something, and you were sort of telling me to go for it,” He said to her.
“Oh…So I like gave advice?”
“Yes…But I don’t know why you would have this…”
“Hmm, I wonder…Wesley?”
“What is it Cordelia?”
“Never mind.”
“No, what is it?”
“Well, I mean, I know that we weren’t anything…But I mean, I really like having you around. You really are helping me…I’m glad that I am with you.”
“I’m glad that you are here too…”
“Umm, I know this is gonna sound a little weird, but do you mind if I kiss you?” He looked up in shock, but before he could answer she had already pressed her lips to his. He was reluctant, but he let himself fall into the kiss.
Before he knew it, he was pushing through her welcoming lips with his tongue. She didn’t fight. The kiss was growing more passionate as the seconds passed. Before either of them knew they had stood up from the couch.
Wesley was leading her to the bedroom, while neither of them ever thought to break their embrace.
They were standing in front of the bed.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Wesley asked her softly. She just nodded, and slowly began to unbutton his shirt. He just followed her lead, and pulled her shirt over her head. They fell onto the bed, and began to wildly kiss. Wesley felt her reach down and unbutton his pants. He again, was following her lead, and did the same.
She groaned a little as he pushed his erection into her. She felt pure pleasure overcome every inch of her being, and let her self cry out his name.
*****
“I’m sure she is okay…” Fred reassured Angel, for the thousandth time in like two minutes.
“I just wish we knew where she was…”He told her.
“Well, I think I can help with that,” Lilah said, walking into the office.
“Umm, what are you doing here?” Fred asked.
“Like I said. I know where glow girl is…I can help you.”
“You help us? This sounds wrong.” Gunn replied.
“You have her…Where is she? You know I can snap your neck in two seconds…BRING HER TO ME!!!” Angel said, feeling the anger rise in him.
“Whoa…Calm down…I said I knew where she was…I didn’t say that I had her.”
“Then tell me where she is!”
*****
Cordelia woke up the next morning wrapped up in Wesley. She gave a little smile. He looked peaceful when he slept.
“Mmm,” She purred, snuggling closer to him.
“What?” He whispered, softly.
“I was just thinkin’” She told him.
“About what?”
“About what we could do now that we are awake…” She said, kissing his chest.
“And what would that be?”
“Oh…I don’t know…”
Suddenly they heard banging on the door.
“WESLEY!!!! I KNOW SHE’S IN THERE! OPEN THE GOD DAMN DOOR!!!” Angel screamed.
“Its Angel,” She whispered.
“Stay here.” He said. He slipped on a pair of pants, and walked to the door, “Angel?” He called.
“WESLEY! OPEN THIS MOTHER FUCKING DOOR NOW!!!! I KNOW YOU HAVE CORDELIA!”
“Cordelia is asleep.” He said firmly.
“THEN WAKE HER UP!”
“She is sleeping, and I don’t want to disturb her…This is the first good night’s sleep she has had in God knows how long.”
“Wesley…Let me in the God damn apartment!!” He yelled, though not quite as loud this time.
“No…She doesn’t want to see you.”
“What?” Angel asked, obviously hurt by Wesley’s statement.
“She told me that she wasn’t ready to talk to you yet…She wants to stay here.”
“Does she know that you are FUCKING that evil bitch Lilah!?” He asked, “Because I think she would want to stay here if she did.”
“Lilah is over…And my personal life is not of your interest.”
“No, but Cordelia is-”
“Was Angel…I was,” Cordelia said, walking out of the bedroom.
“What? Cordy is that you?”
“Angel, I want to stay here…With Wesley.”
“Fine…If that’s what you want! Stay here! But don’t come crying to me when you need help!” Angel said.
**********
“What do you mean? Wes actually wouldn’t let you see her?” Fred asked Angel, who still hadn’t calmed down.
The only reason he hadn’t stayed at Wesley’s apartment was because he knew it was going to take every ounce of his being not to break down the door if he had stayed.
“He wouldn’t let me in…”
“So, did she say anything?” Gunn asked.
“Well…Yeah…She said that she wanted to stay there…But-”
“But what…If you heard her say it-”
“NO!” He said, forcefully, “She wouldn’t choose over me…He stole my son…He betrayed all of us…He isn’t gonna take Cordy too…I know that he has told her stuff…He has to be making her stay there. There’s no way she just…Would.”
“Maybe she is confused Angel. Maybe she doesn’t know…Its just a place to stay…Its not like anything is going on between them,” Fred told him sweetly.
*****
Cordelia was standing in the kitchen watching Wesley prepare dinner. She was a little scared now that she had seen what Angel was like angry. Apparently there was more to him and her than he was saying. He had acted like Wesley had stolen her from him or something, and if he knew that they had had sex…Well, she assumed that she wouldn’t have wanted to be there to see it.
“Dinner is served,” Wesley said, setting to plates of spaghetti on the table.
“Smells good,” She said, sitting at the table. She picked up the fork and took a bite, “tastes even better,” She said, smiling.
“Why thank you.”
“Is Angel really pissed?” She asked, her face changing from happy to grim.
“I am sure he will get over it. He is very possessive. And after losing Connor…”
“Losing me probably hit him hard…Especially since Connor, well, decided to let him swim with the fishes,” She said.
“He will get over it. It would probably be best if he didn’t know what was going on between us.”
“I was sort of thinking the same thing.”
*****
Lilah was staring at her phone. She was tempted to call Wesley, and gloat about her victory…So, she did.
She let his phone ring three times. Then he answered.
“Hello there Lover boy…” She purred into the phone.
“What do you want he groaned.
“What no warm friendly hello…Angel been by yet?”
“You’re the one who told him that Cordelia was with me.” He said flatly.
“Why yes…Yes I am. She go running back into his arms?”
“No. She chose to stay here. With me.” He said.
“What?” Lilah’s face fell. All of her plans lied on Cordelia running back to Angel…Not staying with Wesley.
“Yes Lilah. I’m sure you had some big plan. But it failed. Cordelia is here. Not there.”
Lilah slammed down the phone. This was going to be harder than she thought.
*****
“Was that your NOT girlfriend again…What does she have to do with me?” Cordelia asked,
“A lot actually. Lilah works for Wolfram and Hart. They are pretty much evil. And well, for some reason they want you.”
“Oh.” her face fell.
“Cordelia…I really want to help you. Trust me. You are safe here. I promise. Do you trust me?” He asked.
She looked into his deep blue eyes for a hint that he may have been lying. For a hint that he couldn’t be trusted. But it wasn’t there. She saw nothing but kindness in his eyes.
“I trust you.”
“Good…Because I am not going to let anything happen to you.”
*****
Angel had sent Fred and Gun home. They weren’t helping, and had actually started to get a little on the annoying side. They had no idea what he was going through, and hated the fact that they pretended to understand.
He was alone in his room brooding when he saw the door swing open.
“What do you want?” He asked, without looking up.
“To help you.”
“Again…Why do I find it hard to believe that you aren’t in this for yourself?” He asked her.
“Okay…It is a little selfish. Since she got back…Wesley has been preoccupied, and I am sick of it,” She lied, “So, I am gonna help you get her back, so I can get him back.”
Angel thought for a moment, “Why would I help you?”
“Because we can help each other. Come on…I just want me sex partner back…And I know you want your girl back.”
Angel looked at Lilah. He knew that she couldn’t be trusted, but he also knew that he needed to get Cordelia back. And he would do anything to get her back. Wolfram and Hart may have been evil, but he knew Lilah had the resources he needed. And if she tried anything dirty, he could always find ways to stop her.
“Fine. What do I need to do?”
“Just come with me.”
**********
Cordelia couldn’t sleep. She kept remembering what Wesley had told her. These people were really after…And she had no idea why. What could they possibly want with her. She crawled out of her spot next to Wesley. She decided that late night television was a good way to take her mind off of it all.
She sat on the couch with the remote control in her hand.
“Infomercial, infomercial, MASH, infomercial, gosh! Is there anything worth watching on at two AM!?” She asked.
“You’d think so…So many people being awake and everything,” She heard Wesley say behind her.
“What are you doing up?” She asked.
“I could say the same for you…”
“Couldn’t sleep.”
“Mind if I watch with you?”
“Go ahead,” She said, shifting on the couch so there would be room for him.
“Cordelia…”
“What?”
“I know that you are scared and confused.”
“I am…But you make it better,” She said, smiling.
“I am glad I can make it better…Cordelia, I don’t know if this is going to fast for you, bu-”
“Too fast!? Wesley we have known each other since what, ninety-nine!? How is this happening too fast…If you ask me, this should have happened a little faster…Well, without the amnesia,” she laughed. He smiled with her.
“Yes…I suppose that would be better,” He added.
“Wesley. I don’t know what I felt about you before,” She suddenly got serious, “Or how Angel fit into my life…But now…I,” She tried to force the words out, but not knowing who she was…It scared her a little, “Wesley. I think that I love you.”
He looked up at her, with the kind eyes that she had really gotten used to, “Cordelia…I don’t know what to say. I mean, I love you too, but-”
“No buts…We love each other right now. That’s all that matters.” She said, pushing into him for a passionate kiss. His tongue slowly broke through her lips, that willingly opened and let him in.
They help each other tightly, neither one of them wanting to break their embrace.
Wesley pushed her down onto the couch and pressed onto her. She began to unbutton his shirt desperately, as he pulled hers over her head delicately.
His lips began to travel down her body. She cried out as he teased her inside with his tongue. She shivered as the tingling sensation from her arousal moved up her spine and she let her self cry his name, as his tongue began to explore the depths of her inside.
He moved back up and she fingered the waistband of his boxers. The moved her hand inside and began to pull them down. Cordelia felt Wesley press into her, as he reached the point of arousal.
She let herself cry out again as he entered her.
He moved up and down on top of her. He started out slowly, but grew more quickly and desperate as time went on. He cried out as he came inside her and she reached her orgasm.
Neither one of them noticed the apartment building across the street, where there was someone video taping the whole thing.
*****
Lilah answered the phone as soon as it began to ring, “Morgan. Are you sure? Well, our boy Angel is gonna LOVE this isn’t he?” She said hanging up the phone.
*****
“What do you want?” Angel asked Lilah, as she walked into the hotel.
“Well, lover boy…We are working together on this, and well…I have something you might like to see…” Lilah said, pulling a blank video tape out of her bag.
“What’s that? And why in the hell do I want to see it?” He asked.
“Lets just say…it’s a tape of your girl and my guy looking…A little more than friendly.”
Angel stared blankly at the tape in the woman’s hand. He couldn’t for the words. He knew what was on the tape, and he really didn’t know if he wanted to see it.
“Come on…Don’t you wanna see her?” She asked, temptingly.
“Okay.”
*****
Angel watched the screen intently. He saw everything.
Cordelia had let him do that to her. Wesley had taken advantage of Cordelia, when all she needed was a friend.
Angel couldn’t force himself to believe that Cordelia had actually wanted to do that. Not with Wesley. Cordelia loved him. She wouldn’t fuck Wesley. Not if she remembered.
*****
“Good morning sleepy head…” Cordelia purred as Wesley opened his eyes.
“What time is it?”
“Almost noon, but I will forgive you…I mean, you didn’t get much sleep last night…”
“Well…I was a little busy-” He was cut off by a loud bang on the door.
“Wesley! Let me IN!” Angel screamed.
“Not again…” Cordelia mumbled, as she rolled her eyes.
“Don’t you SLEEP during the day!?” She asked him.
“No…And I want to talk to you!”
“I’d better go talk…He won’t leave us alone until I do…” She said to Wesley grumpily. She slipped some sweat pants and a baggy t-shirt on, and drug herself to the door.
“What?” She asked grumpily.
“How could you let him do that to you?” He asked her.
“Do what?” She asked.
“You let him fuck you! How in the HELL could you do that?”
“How did you-”
Before she could finish her sentence, Angel showed her the tape, “Its all on their. How could you let that mother fucking bastard do that to you!?” He asked more forcefully.
“Don’t call him that!!! Angel…You really need to mind your own god damn business…Who I sleep with is MY business not yours…And I LOVE Wesley!!! That’s right! I LOVE him!!!! Now you need to get the FUCK away from me!!!! And whoever you have across the street with the fucking video camera…Just tell them to stop.”
“What the hell did you just say?”
“I said. I. LOVE. WESLEY…And GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!!!!” She screamed.
Wesley walked over to her, “Calm down Cordelia. Go in the other room…I need to have a talk with Angel.”
“Okay…I don’t ever want to see your god damn face again…Do you understand me!?” She said, before walking away from Angel.
“You…You bastard…You took Connor…Do you think I am gonna let you take Cordelia too?”
“Cordelia is her own woman Angel…She is not yours or mine for anyone to take.”
“You know what Wesley? I can’t WAIT until she gets her memory back…Because you know as well as I know that as soon as she does…She will remember loving ME! She will want to come back to ME!”
Angel saw Wesley’s stone face falter for a moment.
“That’s right Wesley…You know I am right…And I hope I am there when she tells you that she never even liked you,” Angel smiled maniacally.
With that he left. Wesley stood at the door and stared blankly as the man walked off.
Angel was right. And he knew it.
**********
Wesley walked in the bedroom to tell Cordelia that the coast was clear.
“He leave?” Cordelia asked.
“Yes. He did.” Wesley answered flatly.
“Wes? What’s wrong?” She asked him.
“Just a little tired…” He lied. He didn’t want to tell her what Angel had said. He wanted to pretend that he never heard it in the first place.
But he knew that Angel was right. Cordelia wouldn’t stay with him once she regained her memory. He couldn’t help it. She would remember everything. And she would want to forget that any of this had ever happened.
“Do you want to get something for breakfast? Well, lunch…” She asked him.
“No. I’m not very hungry.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine.” He lied.
*****
Cordelia and Wesley sat down for dinner. He hadn’t said much all day, and she was worried about him.
“Are you sure you are okay? You look like you aren’t feeling well.”
“I feel fine Cordelia.”
“Did Angel say something to you?” Wesley flinched, “He did, didn’t he? What the hell did he say to you Wesley?”
“Nothing…”
“Don’t give me that shit! What did he say to you?”
“He didn’t say anything Cordelia…I promise. I just think I need some fresh air.”
“Do you wanna go for a walk?” She asked him.
“I think I’ll go alone. I need to think.”
“Okay,” She said sadly. He could tell that he had hurt her, but he need to think about what Angel had said. He couldn’t get the words out of his head.
*****
Wesley had walked around the block four times before he had seen her. She was stalking around his building.
“Lilah. What the hell are you doing here?” He asked.
“I just wanted to see you…Come on baby…You can’t resist me…” She purred softly, but with a hint of evilness.
“Lilah…I have moved on-”
“Oh yeah…Amnesia girl. I know. I saw. Come on Wes…You can’t be kidding your self…”
“What are you talking about?”
“What? You actually think she’s gonna stay with you once she gets her memory back? She will remember what you did…Then she will remember Angel. You remember Angel, right? The guy with the good hair, large muscles…The guy who doesn’t betray his friends by kidnapping their babies…The Champion. Do you really think she will choose YOU over HIM?” She laughed.
Wesley didn’t say anything, but he didn’t have to. His face went from angry to depressed in less than a second.
“I’m right you know…You would be better of kicking her to the curb, and letting me back into your life.”
“GO.” Was all he could manage to get out.
“What you don’t want a lit-”
“I don’t want anything from you Lilah. All you ever were was a toy…She means the world to me,” For a split second there was hurt in Lilah’s eyes.
“Sure…But do you mean the world to her?” Lilah asked, before walking away.
Wesley just stood on the sidewalk for a minute.
Two people had told him the same thing. Two people he never wanted to see again.
Two people…
Were right.
**********
Wesley had been gone for over an hour and Cordelia was really starting to worry. LA wasn’t a safe place. Especially at night. Especially alone. She was about to go out and look for him, when she heard the door open, and then quickly slam shut.
“Wesley! Where the HELL did you go!? I was worried.” She said angrily, and then softly.
“I was just thinking.” He answered.
“About what?”
“Nothing…I just had to get out. Clear my head.”
“Wesley…Don’t lie to me…What did Angel say to you?”
“Nothing that wasn’t true.”
“What did he say?”
“He said…” He couldn’t lie to her, but he didn’t want to tell her what Angel had said either. She would just get angry that he had listened to Angel. The side that couldn’t lie to Cordelia ultimately won, “He said that you only loved me because you couldn’t remember…And that once you got your memory back you would leave me.”
“WHAT!? And you believed him!?”
“How could I not believe him? Cordelia…You loved him. Any idiot could have seen it. He was the most important thing in your life…Once you remember all the things you two have been through together…You’ll go back to the way you were.”
“And what way is that?” She asked.
“The way you refused to see me because you didn’t want to hurt Angel…The way you abandoned me just like the rest of them, when I thought you would be the one to understand.” He never wanted to say any of these things to her. He wasn’t the type that shared their feelings and thoughts, especially when it could get him into trouble. But he couldn’t help it, everything just came pouring out before he could tell himself to shut up.
“Is that what you think? That I will just run away because I remember all the shit that has happened to me. Wesley, I don’t know why I did what I did…I don’t remember doing it…But I KNOW that if I could take it back, I would. I feel like I could never do that to you…Wesley, I love YOU! Not Angel. Even when I get my memory back, I will remember this. I will remember the things you said and did. I will remember us.”
“I know you will…But you will remember him too.”
“You’re right. I will. But I will also remember the way he acted now. The way he treated you. Wesley YOU are the most important thing in my life…Not him.”
“I’m sorry Cordelia…But I can’t know that, and neither can you…”
“Fuck knowing! Fuck memories! And most of all Fuck Angel. I LOVE YOU!!!! If you can’t see that…Then I don’t know what to do.” She said softly.
“You can’t do anything Cordelia.”
“Fine…You know what? I am not gonna sit around and watch you feel sorry for yourself!” She said getting ready to walk out.
“Cordelia wait! I love you.”
“Then believe me when I say that I love you…And I will NEVER leave your…NEVER.”
“You promise?” He asked.
She leaned in for a passionate kiss, “Of course I promise.”
**********
“Sweetie you need to get up…Its your first day of school!” A woman said.
“You think I’m never lonely because I’m popular?”
“As defending champion, you nervous?”
“I hate you!”
All the sentences and faces in Cordelia’s dream began to merge together. She didn’t know who was saying and doing what.
“The iron is Hot.”
“I am in love…With Angel!”
Cordelia’s eyes fluttered open. She looked around. All the memories of her life began to pour into her head at once. She felt weighted down with memories.
“Oh my god…” She whispered. The last two weeks were the last memories she regained. She looked around Wesley’s bedroom.
She didn’t say anything. Waking up Wesley was the last thing she wanted to do. She quietly got out of the bed, and slipped on her sweat pants and a t-shirt. She crept out the door. She had to see Angel.
*****
The Hyperion looked, and felt, different. She didn’t know what it was, but it didn’t feel as…welcoming.
“Angel?” She called.
“What do you want?” He asked grumpily, “Shouldn’t you be off with Wesley somewhere?”
“Angel…I remember.”
“What?” He asked.
“I remember…Everything.”
“That’s great!” He said, rushing to give her a hug. He took her in. He was so glad to have her back.
He never thought about why she was back, or how she got her memory. He was just glad that she had.
*****
“Well well…What have we here?” Lilah asked Wesley, “Where did your precious princess Cordelia go?” Lilah asked him.
“I don’t know.”
“Oh you mean, she just…left…I guess you didn’t mean anything to her after all…You were just a good fuck…Its okay…I can relate…Why do you think I keep coming back?” She teased.
“Leave.”
“Excuse me?”
“Get out of my apartment. Never come back.”
“Oh…You know you don’t really want that…” She purred, as she began running her fingers down his bare chest.
“Do you want me to make you leave?” He asked, grabbing her arm forcefully.
“Oh, so you wanna use force, do you? I can do that…” She said pulling her arm away from him.
“No…I don’t want to use or do anything with you…Now leave.”
“She isn’t coming back…If that’s what you are thinking…”
“How do you know?”
“Oh lets just say that a friend helped precious get her memory back…She ran back to the Hyperion this morning…”
“Lilah. What is in this for you?” He asked her.
“Oh nothing…Except you…” She lied.
“Why do I not believe you?”
“I don’t know…Why is that?”
“Its her, isn’t it? You want her…”
“No…I don’t…And work is none of your business.”
“And I am none of yours.” He said.
“Fine…But I will be back. And you will want me.”
*****
“Can I get you anything?” Angel asked Cordelia, as he took her to the room they had made for her.
“No…I’m fine.” She answered.
“Are you sure…I can get you something to eat?” He questioned.
“No…Angel. I am fine.”
“Okay…Well, I’ll leave you alone. You can just look through your stuff you know…Get used to being back.”
“That would be nice.”
Cordelia felt strange. She knew how Angel felt about her. At some point she remembered feeling the same way.
But things were different now. She remembered all the things that Wesley had done for her. And she remembered the way Angel had yelled and screamed like she was his…Like he owned her.
She remembered sweet and gentle Wesley.
She began to go back through her pictures and memories. She found the prom picture that she remembered seeing before. It was the whole gang. After prom. That felt weird. The whole gang…All paired off.
*****flashback*****
“So, do you like her?” Cordelia asked Xander. They had all gone to the Bronze’s after Prom party together. Cordelia and Xander were sitting at the table.
“Yeah. I do…She’s actually a lot like you.” He joked, “Do you like him?”
“Who him? Wesley?” She glanced toward the man who was getting punch for the both of them, “Yeah. I do. He is so sweet…He’s really the kind of guy I could see myself with for a long time.”
“Well, I am glad you’re happy. You deserve it after all I put you through.”
*****present time*****
She began to tear up. She had known it then. Wesley was everything. She remembered back to the night of the ballet. The picture.
She remembered.
*****flashback*****
“Lorne…Can you just take the friggin picture already!?” Cordelia asked. She was standing in between Wesley and Angel.
‘Man! Wesley looks HOT tonight!’ She thought to herself, ‘I did NOT just think that!’ She remembered earlier that day when she had convinced him to go for it with Fred.
And now she was starting to have feelings for him again. And after all this time.
“Hey! Lorne! Can I have a copy of that picture?” She asked.
*****present time*****
“What have I done?” She asked herself out loud.
She ran downstairs.
“Angel! I have to go!” She said hurriedly.
“What? Go where?” Angel asked.
“To see Wesley!”
“What!??” He asked.
“Angel. You aren’t gonna stop me. Don’t try.” She said, running out of the hotel.
*****
“Wesley!” She screamed, while banging on the door, “Look. I know you are probably pissed at me for leaving, but when I woke up, I could remember everything, and I had to get out…Just…Please let me in?” Her voice faltered.
The door swung open.
“Cordelia? I didn’t think you were coming back…I mean, I thought you would want to be with An-”
“No. Wesley listen. I know that you think that I love him, and now that I remember I don’t love you…But there is something you need to know.”
“And what’s that?”
“I have loved you since high school. Wesley, at Prom I knew…I knew that you were the rest of my life…Even after that terrible kiss at graduation.”
“Cordelia, you don’t have to do this…”
“I know. I want to.” She said, stepping into the apartment, “Come on, she said taking his hand, and dragging him into the bedroom.
“What are you doing?”
“Showing you that I love you, even with all the memories of what you did,” She said, pulling on to the bed on top of her.
“Cordelia, I-”
“Shut up Wesley. I want this. And I know that you want this…So come on,” She said, pulling her t-shirt over her head, briskly…Desperately.
Wesley followed her lead, and pulled his own shirt off. He pressed down on top of her, with a deep kiss. He forced her mouth open with his tongue.
His hands trailed down to the waistband of her sweatpants. He pushed them down and began to pull down her panties. He inserted his middle and index fingers inside her. She cried out as he pushed deeper inside her.
She felt him pull out of her and proceeded to unzip his pants. He had reached his arousal, and began to thrust inside her.
They rolled on to their sides, and began to move together quickly…Heatedly.
Until they both reached their point of orgasm. Wesley pulled out of her.
“I love you Wesley,” She said softly.
“I love you too Cordelia,” he replied.
He watched her fall asleep.
‘She really is precious,’ He thought to himself, remembering Lilah’s mocking words, as he watched her sleep, looking just as radiant as she ever had.The End