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Cordelia stretched out her muscles, her vision blurred, she tried to reach for her alarm clock.
"Dennis!" Cordelia finally yelled, not able to get out of bed.
The ghost complied, shutting off the restless beeping. Cordelia smiled, she began to rub her head in her pillow, softly moaning thinking about her sleep.
Cordelia felt a sudden draft and looked up to see Dennis holding the blankets away from her reach. After trying unsucessfully to get them back, she finally gave up.
"Alright, I'm up." She groaned and headed for the shower.
All things considered, Cordelia had pretty much recovered from her recent mind spliting experience. Although, every once in awhile she swore she saw a boil.
She walked swiftly to the hotel, not really knowing why, just knowing she felt much safer there.
When Cordelia walked through the door and almost laughed, when she saw Angel trying to teach Fred how to use the computer.
"On... Off... Oh Wow!" Fred exclaimed looking at the contraption.
Angel heard the door and smiled softly at Cordelia. "Hey, how are you feeling?" Angel walked up to her, with now concerned eyes.
"I'm fine. Really! I don't know what is worse, having my visions in the physical sense, or seeing things everytime I glance at the mirror, that aren't even there." Cordelia smiled at Angel's concern.
"Paranoia is very normal, after that ordeal, Cordelia." Wesley's voice filled the room.
"Maybe, you should rest a little longer.." Angel reasoned with her.
"I'll be fine. Besides, take a rest from these things?" Cordelia points to her head. "If I could do that, I would go on a permanant vacation."
Fred hurried up to Angel, trying not to intrude, but none the less annoying Cordelia. There was just something about her, she didn't like.
"Angel? I was thinkin' maybe... I could start helping you guys... you know if you.. if you don't mind." Fred finished her thought as slow as possible. Angel smiled genuinely at the girl that stood in front of him.
Months before, she was nothing to him. Now, he couldn't see not having her around. She was coming into her own, and when she reached it, Angel knew he would be glad he kept her.
::
"Spinning Axe!" Angel yelled to Wesley from the hallway. Wesley replied, hurling the hunk of metal at Angel. Angel swung with such precision, many would be in awe.
The bluish demon, had some how grown taller. Once, decapitated by the vampire, blue liquid oozed from its veins.
"Great! Just great! You know, we just had these carpets shampooed!" Cordelia stalked over to Angel, who stood over the dead demon.
Angel looked over at Cordelia, with a slight smile. He then tossed the axe on the floor, and proceeded to walk into the kitchen. Leaving Cordelia dumbfounded.
"Fred? Its safe.. you can come out now." Angels voice filled the room.
Fred poked her head out from the cupboard. "Oh, Right..." Fred stood to meet Angel, or at least his chest. She looked up at him adoringly, everything about him was so perfect. Although, why wouldn't it be, he was a vampire. Stupid! Fred hit her hand against her face, which received a strange look from everyone. She just smiled, trying not to take note, herself.
Angel could sense her discomfort, turning his head to face the others. "Cordy, why don't you take Fred to bury this one." Angel smiled at the thought of his two girls getting along.
Cordelia secretly rolled her eyes and sighed. "Don't forget to scatter the pieces." Angel reminded the two, as they walked in the demons direction.
Gunn strolled into the lobby, only to see Cordelia and Fred pulling a blue-ick demon toward the door.
"What did I miss?"
::
Cordelia coughed as she inhaled the demon's scent. Almost gaging, Fred tried to keep up with Cordelia, who by the looks of it knew the sewers pretty well.
Cordelia had gotten stuck with the body, while Fred carelessly handled the head, as nothing more than a basketball.
Cordelia grunted as she flew the body parts into the hole. Fred finished by covering the hole, she smiled feeling like she had really helped.
Once, the two were walking, Cordelia decided to find out this girl's intentions.
"So, I know your all de-slaved now... But I was just wondering how long you were planning to wait, before trying to jump his bones?" Cordelia's statement, would have seemed normal to anyone who knew her. But in this state of mind, Cordelia forgot that Fred didn't know her.
"Well, um... I guess, I have... haven't thought about it." Fred's face hung defeated, as she suddenly found something interesting on the ground.
"Look, you don't have to be all non-wordy on me, Fred. I know, what you want when you look at Angel. And I am hear to tell you, that you ain't gonna get it... See Angel, he's got some major issues and the last thing he needs is to be in re-vamp mode. Do you get what I am saying?" Cordelia stared at the girl, to solidify her point.
Fred only nodded sheepishly. "Yes." Quiet as mouse, Fred answered.
Cordelia sighed in satisfaction, "Good. Its not that it would bother me, its just before you would know what hit you... Angelus would be draining you and before I know it I am out of a pay check."
The walk back to the hotel, from that moment on, had been silent.
When they reached the door, Fred made it a point, not to make eye contact with the vampire. Which was hard considering, she could see him walking toward her. Defeated she gazed into his soulful brown eyes.
"How did it go?" Angel asked like a school boy, it was obvious he wanted her to feel like one of them.
*Which is something, she will never be.* Cordelia thought to herself.
"Oh, Just fine... I got a little dirt.. but it was fine." Fred managed to sound, half-way convincing, before heading to her room.
Angel sensed this and turned toward Cordy, "What's up with her?"
Cordelia only shrugged her shoulders, and plastered a fake smile on her face.
::
"Damn it!" The blonde vampire cursed as the thing inside of her kicked vigariously.
"I can't believe people have you things for fun." Darla snarled, getting a few weird looks directed toward her.
"Once we find your father, I will be rid of you for good." Darla smiled as she reached the the park, where you could see perfectly the city of Angels.
"Angelus, soon... soon..." With that Darla, reached over to a woman on the bench, feeding to keep her energy up.
Returning to her face, Darla began to rub her belly, noticing it had grown in a matter of seconds.
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::UNDECLARED::SPLASH::END PROLOGUE::ONE::TWO::