She sighed, wondering if her social life was destined to always be this barren. Not that she really had a lot of time for dating. Add to that she didn't really relish the idea of being on a romantic date and getting a head splitting vision. What a way to turn a guy off.

So where did that leave her?

Dateless and relationshipless in LA.

Except for Angel.

And that wasn't saying much since the vampire had denial down to an art form.

She wasn't stupid. She knew he was just as aware of the sexual tension between them as she was. He just chose to ignore it.

Cordelia wasn't finding it that easy.

Maybe it was because she hadn't been dating for the past year or so, or maybe because living in such close contact with the devastatingly handsome vampire was enough to arouse anyone. She only wondered that she hadn't thrown herself at him yet. And she knew damn well that the short little skirts she wore around the office didn't exactly go unnoticed by her partner. She had to take some small comfort in the fact he wouldn't move from behind his desk when she was around him. It would be funny if it weren't so frustrating!

She sighed again as she returned to her magazine, shuffling forward in line.

Well, those 65 intimacy secrets were interesting and she just might try them, if she could ever break Angel's steely control.

The thought had major appeal, she just wasn't quite sure how to do it.

Pondering those thoughts, she flipped to the next page and idly glanced down at it.

She dropped the magazine.

The shock that coursed through her body nearly made her faint.

"Excuse me, miss…are you okay?"

Cordelia turned to see the woman behind her giving her a concerned look.

Cordelia nodded and reached down to grab the magazine, hands still trembling as she picked it up and opened it to the page she'd been on.

She took a deep breath as she took a long look at the model.

It was Angel.

Or someone who could have been his twin.

She felt her heartbeat quicken as she looked at the pictures, almost stunned to see the light and happy grin on his face…not to mention the to die for wardrobe.

She began quickly flipping through the pages, unable to believe the pictures she was seeing.

They were, most probably, the most erotic pictures she'd seen of anyone, with their clothes on.

She gulped as she flipped to a picture of Angel's twin, dressed in black pants and an open necked black shirt, sitting with legs spread on a couch. She felt her body heat as she observed the brunette model's position next to him, with one leg slung over his, and a hand clutching onto his shirt as she pulled him into an almost kiss.

From a distance, or on first glance, she could almost swear the model looked somewhat like her.

Cordelia closed her eyes and immediately pictured herself in the model's pose. She could see Angel, sitting like that on her couch, and could picture the sultry look in his eyes as he leaned in to kiss her. Could almost feel her fingers tightening on the open collar of his shirt, slipping inside to find cool bare skin, rubbing her fingers gently against his chest. Could feel the muscles in his strong legs as she locked one of her own across his, loving the solid, strong feeling at being so close to him, at having him so close to her. Could almost feel his lips, hovering over hers, teasing her with the promise of a kiss as his eyes stared into her soul. Could see herself yanking on the collar of that open necked shirt, pulling his lips to hers and kissing him with all the passion she'd been holding in for so long. Could imagine his arms clutching her to him as he ran a hand up along the leg she'd stretched over his, feeling him slip that hand higher and higher...

"Miss…you're up next…miss?"

The annoyed voice behind her brought Cordelia out of her fantasy with a jolt. As she came back to herself, she noticed the entire line behind her was staring at her, as was the checkout counter cashier. Feeling a blush spread across her cheeks, she pushed the cart forward, setting the magazine on top of her purchases. There was no way she wasn't buying it now.

As she tried to get her wits about her, she was surprised to see the cashier smile at her sympathetically as she scanned the magazine.

"You know, it's funny. You're probably the fifth or sixth person I've seen have that reaction over those pictures, not that I blame you," she said with a smile.

Cordelia looked carefully at the woman.

"What pictures?" she asked carefully, wondering exactly who this woman was.

The cashier smiled.

"David Boreanez. The actor. You know, the guy you were drooling over so much you dropped the magazine. He seems to have that effect on people, myself included," she said with a smile.

"David Boreanez? That's his name? He's an actor?" Cordelia said, realizing she hadn't even looked at the article, simply the picture. So…this man who could be Angel's lighter side, was an actor.

"Really, I didn't even look at his name. He reminds me of someone I know," Cordelia said, determined to find out more about this David Boreanez.

"Lucky you, if I knew anyone who looked like him, nothing would stop me from going after him," the cashier said with a wistful look.

Cordelia smiled ironically. She could think of one thing that would stop most humans from going after Angel. But she wasn't going to enlighten the woman.

"It's complicated…but the resemblance is uncanny," she said, still shaken by the knowledge that Angel had a twin.

"Hey, all I can say is these pictures are going to win the guy a whole new legion of fans, I know I've become one, and I'm certainly going to start watching his TV show now," the cashier finished as she handed the receipt to Cordelia.

"He has a TV show?" she asked, realizing she couldn't remember the last time she'd actually sat down and watched a full TV program. She was usually working at night.

"Yeah, I've never seen it, but its some drama, he plays a vampire who's a P.I. or something, he works on supernatural cases in LA," the girl said, shrugging her shoulders, unaware of how pale Cordelia had just gone.

"Really?" she almost croaked, hoping she wasn't going to faint.

"Yeah, in fact, it's on tonight at 9…check it out, if you like this guy so much, I hear he's fantastic, so's the show," she finished, waving as Cordelia tried to gather the strength to push the cart out to the parking lot.

She drove home without really paying attention to anything. She was still in shock over the fact that there was an actor who was a dead ringer for Angel, acting in a TV show about a vampire in LA.

Who was it that said reality was stranger than fiction?

She looked at the clock on the dashboard, realizing it was 8:30. Only a half an hour until this show would be on. She suddenly realized she had no idea what it was called. But she was going to find out.

Reaching her apartment, she nearly flew up the stairs and had the groceries put away in record time. She headed into the living room, glass of water in hand, and went for the TV guide.

She began perusing the 9pm listings…wondering how she'd know what she was looking for.

She dropped her glass as she saw the listing, knowing immediately it had to be the right one.

After all, how many shows called "Angel" could there be on TV?

She felt the world swirling around her as she closed her eyes, trying to block out the dizziness she felt invading her body.

She suddenly came back to reality, realizing Dennis had grabbed paper towels and was mopping up the spilled water.

She sighed, shaken to the core by her discovery.

"Thanks Dennis, this "Angel" show comes as a shock, I wonder what else I'm going to be surprised about when it comes on," she muttered, sinking back onto the couch and punching up the right channel.

She sighed as she settled back, seeing a commercial was on, waiting for the show to start. It was still 10 minutes away from 9, but she wasn't going to take any chances on missing this show.

"Dennis, why do I have a really strange feeling about all this?" she asked her phantom, fighting the shiver that coursed through her body at the words. She smiled at the air as she felt her afghan come to rest across her body.

"Thanks again Dennis," she said softly, settling back as the commercials ended and the current show came on.

Cordelia's shriek could be heard throughout the building.

Cordelia stared in glassy eyed shock at the images on screen in front of her.

This could not be. This was so not real. This couldn't be happening.

There was no way in hell that Buffy could be on TV. Slaying demons none the less. With Riley, Willow, Xander and Giles by her side.

Cordelia wondered if it was possible to die from shock.

She sat, speechless, as she watched the people she called friends, or at least people who looked a hell of a lot like them, play out a gruesome demon slaying on TV.

What the hell was going on here?

She felt the dizziness hit her again as she struggled to sit up.

Feeling the waves pass, she reached for the phone, knowing she couldn't possibly be seeing what she thought she was.

After a few rings, she heard Wesley pick up, his cultured voice soothing even through the phone line.

"Angel Investigations, we help those in need."

"It's we help the hopeless Wesley," Cordelia responded immediately through her fog.

"Oh, right. Sorry Cordelia…what's up, a vision?" he asked, concern in his voice.

"Not exactly…" she said, hoping her voice didn't sound as strange to him as it did to her.

"Cordelia, what's wrong?" she heard him ask, concern now very evident in his voice.

"I think you both need to get over to my apartment right away. No questions, just do it," she said quietly, not quite sure she could go into this over the phone.

"Cordelia, are you all right? Is there another ghost? Does someone have you?" she heard Wesley's voice stop abruptly as Angel's voice came over the line.

"Delia what's wrong? Where are you?"

She would have smiled at the concern in his voice, but she was still too shocked.

"Angel, get over here, now," she said, hanging up the phone before he could ask any more questions.

***********

Part 2

She waited, glad the phone didn't ring, knowing they were on their way. Maybe they'd make it by 9. She had a feeling she was going to need both of them when this "Angel" show came on.

Not that she wasn't about to have a heart attack from the current program.

Her jaw dropped as she saw the program go to another commercial, and the title of the show appeared on screen.

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer will return after this," said the voice over ad.

Cordelia wondered only that she hadn't fainted yet.

She stared in shock at the screen, her face an unreadable mask.

That was how Angel and Wesley found her five minutes later.

"Cordelia!" Angel's concerned voice barely penetrated her haze. She somehow managed to turn her head towards them, smiling strangely.

"Cordelia…what's wrong?" she heard the panic in Angel's voice, and saw the concern in Wesley's expression as they moved towards her.

"Cordelia…talk to me!" Angel's voice was right in her face now, but she couldn't seem to do more than smile sickly as she pointed to the TV screen.

"I think you'd better see this," she managed, surprised to hear how calm her voice sounded.

She saw the concern on both their faces as they turned their attention to the TV screen.

Kind of appropriate that it was at that moment Buffy's double killed a rather nasty looking vampire on screen.

"What the hell?" she heard the shock in Wesley's cultured voice.

But it was Angel's reaction she most wanted to see. She turned her head to look his way, seeing the absolute shock register on his face. Well, nice to see the image of her, or someone that looked like her, could still do that to him. So much for being over her.

"Cordelia…what the hell is this?" Angel asked, sinking onto the couch next to her, disbelief in his voice.

"I don't know Angel, and it's a really long story. But despite my surprise at this show, by the way, it's called "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," if you're wondering," she said, seeing the shock register in his expression.

"This is a joke right?" he asked, strain in his voice, his eyes glued to the screen.

"No. I wish it were. But guys," she stopped as she saw the two men turn their heads her way at the blandness of her voice.

"What?" Wesley asked, dread in his voice.

"I think the show that's going to be starting in a moment is going to shock us all even more," she said quietly, watching as the credits for "Buffy" rolled.

"What do you mean Cordelia?" Angel asked, dread in his expression.

"Watch," was all she managed as she saw a strange cartoon figure move across the screen going 'grrr, arrgh.'

She was not getting a good feeling about this.

In silence, the three turned their attention to the TV and the program that was beginning.

They watched in silence as the scene opened on a dark alleyway, and a lone figure walking down it. As the camera panned closer, the three saw a huge hulking figure step out of the darkness and into the man's path. Watching with almost detached interest, Cordelia saw the lone figure suddenly whirl, blades appearing from both his arms.

The sick feeling in her stomach got worse as she recognized the move.

She felt both men tense on either side of her, knowing they'd recognized it too.

As the man made quick work of the demon, the camera slowly panned around to show the man's vampiric face as he stared at the creature he'd just killed.

Angel's curse was the only sound in Cordelia's living room as the scene faded to black and a haunting violin melody began to play.

The three sat in silence, staring at the screen as the credits rolled.

Cordelia felt sick again as she watched in horrified fascination, as Angel's double was identified as "David Boreanez" … then gasped as someone who looked exactly like her was shown, with the name "Charisma Carpenter." The evening's strangeness was rounded out by the picture of Wesley, identified as "Alexis Denisloff."

None of them said a word until the commercials began.

After another moment of silence, Angel slowly turned to Cordelia.

"What the hell is happening? Did I or did I not just see…us…or people who look exactly like us, on a TV screen?"

Cordelia gulped and nodded, still not sure what to say.

"Something really strange is going on here," Wesley said quietly.

Cordelia could only nod, still speechless.

"Cordelia, how did you discover this?" Angel asked quietly, seeing her motion to the Glamour magazine on the table in front of her.

Looking at it quickly, he picked it up, watching as she grabbed it from him and turned to the appropriate page. Angel couldn't believe the pictures he was now staring at.

"It's me," he said quietly, staring at the pictures, turning the pages quickly.

"Or at least a happier version of you," Cordelia finally managed, not sure what to say.

"Guys, I really think something strange is happening here," Wesley said, apprehension in his voice.

"Why, just because there are actors out there, who could be our doubles, doing a TV series that reflects, no, mirrors our lives? And Buffy and the Scooby Gang's lives?" Cordelia asked, trying not to sound too puzzled. She was still in shock.

"I just don't get it…how could we not see this? How could we have missed this show? How the hell could we have not known…it's shot right here in LA?" Angel asked, looking at them both in confusion. "Well, first course of action, we need to pay a visit to the WB lot and find out what the hell is going on," Angel said quietly, still trying to figure things out in his head.

"Sure, we can just walk onto a TV studio lot. Trust me Angel, it can't be done, I've tried," she said tiredly, rubbing her temples in hopes of holding back the headache.

"You know, it wouldn't be hard to get on…I mean, all we have to do is tell them we're these actors, after all, we look exactly like them," Wesley chimed in, seeing his friends look over at him.

"He's got a point," Angel said tiredly, turning his attention back to the TV as "Angel" returned to the screen.

They continued to watch in silence, seeing the events unfolding before them with disbelief.

"Well, on the bright side…this doesn't look like any case we've dealt with before, so maybe it is a work of fiction…" Wesley said, trying to keep the apprehension out of his voice.

"True…but there's some connection…Cordelia!" Angel was off the sofa in record time, catching her as she fell, hands clutching her head.

"It's okay Delia, I'm here, I've got you…it's okay," he whispered against her hair, stroking her back soothingly, knowing she wouldn't hear him until the vision passed.

Cordelia sighed in relief as the pounding images suddenly faded, closing her eyes and leaning on Angel for support. As she came back to reality, she noticed the pen and paper already floating through the air towards her, as well as Wesley carrying a glass of water and the aspirin bottle.

"Thanks guys," she said gratefully, gulping down the aspirin and reaching for the paper.

As she wrote, she suddenly stopped, a strange look coming over her face.

"Delia…what is it?" Angel asked, still holding her, frightened by the look on her face.

Without saying a word, she motioned to what she'd written. Angel looked down, feeling a strange sense of de ja vu come over him.

Alleyway between 10th and 11th Streets. Big demon, attacks Angel.

"Okay, I'm really freaked out now, doesn't this seem a little familiar to anyone," Cordelia asked, trying to keep the hysteria from her voice.

"Cordelia, calm down," Angel tried, only to be stopped by her next words.

"Doesn't it seem odd that I'm having a vision about the scene we just saw on TV?" she almost cried, looking desperately at her two friends.

Angel and Wesley looked at each other, concern registering in their eyes.

"She's got a point Angel," Wesley said, confusion in his gaze.

"Damn! We've got to figure this out," Angel said, lifting Cordelia gently in his arms and carrying her over to the sofa.

She sank against him, wondering what was happening to their organized little world.

"Okay, Wesley, you stay with her, I'm going to go get this demon, don't go anywhere, I'll be right back," Angel said, brushing a light kiss across Cordelia's forehead as he headed out the door.

"Angel, be careful!" Cordelia called after him, getting a smile in return.

As he left, the two of them stared after him, then turned their attention back to the TV.

*************

Part 3

"Isn't it a bit surreal to see, in essence, oneself on TV?" Wesley asked, trying to find a normal tone, feeling a bit uncomfortable at what he was watching.

"Sure…I mean, it's not every day you're sitting on your couch, watching actors who could be your twins, sit on a couch and talk about…" she trailed off as they both realized what she was saying and what they were seeing.

"Wesley…" her voice was scared and frightened now.

Wesley gulped as he watched the two of them on screen, in an almost exact imitation of real life.

"Cordelia…I think we'd better…" Wesley stopped as they both watched a crazed looking demon burst through the door, startling their TV counterparts.

"Wesley…if that's art imitating life…" Cordelia began, seeing Wesley race for the bag he'd brought with him.

"If it is…we'll be ready…Cordelia…" he began, seeing she was already moving towards the kitchen.

"I'm getting a knife," she replied, hoping the tremor in her voice wasn't audible to him.

Gathering what she'd need, she returned to the living room, seeing Wesley engrossed in the TV.

"Wesley, what's wrong?" she asked in fear, seeing Wesley only point to the screen.

Feeling a terrible apprehension, she turned to see the horrid looking demon trashing the apartment, the two of them cowering behind a table, obviously weaponless.

"Okay, I'm guessing that now is when Angel appears and rescues us?" Cordelia asked, a strangled tone in her voice as she watched.

As she spoke the words, Angel did appear on screen, crashing through the door and taking on the demon.

"Well, at least we know he comes to our rescue," Wesley said, fear and amazement in his voice, his ax clutched in one hand.

Cordelia's hand tightened around the knife handle, eyes drawn towards the door in apprehension.

"Dennis, I'm counting on whatever help you can give us here," Cordelia called to the phantom, feeling a slight breeze in response.

"Cordelia…" Wesley said, a strange expression on his face as his eyes remained glued to the screen.

"What?" she asked, not wanting to see what was happening on TV. As she turned…she noted in a far off part of her brain that Angel had killed the demon. The majority of her brain was trying not to comprehend the fact that she and Angel's on screen counterparts were involved in a very steamy, very heated, very non-PG rated kiss.

Cordelia felt her world spin out of control, barely feeling Wesley's arms catch her as she fell.

"Easy there Cordelia…it's okay…come sit down."

She barely heard Wesley's soothing voice as he settled her on the sofa. Her mind was elsewhere. Locked in a steamy kiss with Angel.

"Cordelia…come on, snap out of it, you're not going to get your kiss unless we can hold off the demon until Angel gets here," she heard him say, snapping back to the present.

"Wesley…what the hell is going on?" she asked, puzzlement and fear in her voice as she tried to make sense of her crumbling world.

"I don't know Cordelia…I just don't know," he replied, frustration in his voice as he reached for the ax again.

That was the moment the demon chose to crash through the front door.

Wesley and Cordelia were immediately on their feet, both feeling little surprise at anything but the loudness of the door splintering.

"Come on Delia…we can do this…at least if we believe what we see on TV," Wesley muttered, charging the creature, ax held high.

"Yeah but Wesley," Cordelia panted as she threw a chair towards the monster, "aren't we supposed to NOT believe everything we see on TV?"

"Good point…we'll discuss it later," Wesley shot back, trying to avoid being hit by the monster's flailing arms.

Cordelia shuddered as another chair went flying through the air, allowing her the chance to retreat for a moment from the oncoming demon.

"Thanks Dennis," she called out, throwing a candlestick at the creature, hearing it roar as the projectile made contact.

"Wish I'd paid more attention to how I handled this thing on screen," she muttered, looking around for anything she could find to throw.

Several minutes later found both her and Wesley crouched behind the couch, the demon slowly advancing on them.

"By my calculations, Angel should be bursting through the door right about…"

They both sighed as they heard Angel's familiar growl as he launched himself at the creature.

"Now," Wesley finished as the two of them peeked over the couch just in time to see Angel stake the demon through the heart.

"Cordelia, Wesley!" Angel called out, heading over towards them as he saw their faces. "You guys all right?" he asked, reaching out to help Cordelia step around the wreckage of her apartment.

"Yeah, you showed up on cue," she managed, feeling her body suddenly start to shake.

"Hey there, it's okay, I'm here now, everything's going to be okay," Angel whispered, pulling her close to him, holding her trembling body against his, wondering at what had become of their ordered little world.

"What does it all mean Angel? Why are our lives a TV show?" Cordelia asked, not moving from the shelter of his embrace.

"I don't know…but we'll go ask the oracles tomorrow, they should have some idea…I hope," Angel replied, pulling her tightly against him, resting his chin on top of her head.

"Well, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to leave you two to get on with the script."

Cordelia barely heard Wesley's muttered words, too absorbed in the scent and feel of Angel, holding her close, whispering soothing words against her hair. She continued to tremble, hanging onto him tightly, simply glad he'd shown up to save them.

"Shhh…Delia, it's okay, it's all over now…"

His soft words slowly began to calm her, the strangeness of her day finally catching up to her. She pulled her head back to look into his concerned eyes and tried to smile.

"Well, at least we knew you were going to show up to save us," she tried to whisper, feeling a tear slip down her cheek as the emotions of the day finally hit home.

"I'll always show up to save you Delia…always," he whispered, an intense look on his face as he slowly lowered his head to hers. ************************

"How could you let this happen? They weren't supposed to know any of this."

The solemn voice made both oracles look up in surprise.

"How were we supposed to know she'd pick up that magazine," the female replied quietly.

"Well, now that it's done…what happens next?" the disembodied voice asked.

"They'll wake up tomorrow remembering nothing of this…the magazine will be gone and they'll be none the wiser," the male oracle replied in an unruffled voice.

"You're sure of this? They won't remember any of it?"

"Not one bit. Not until they're ready to and the time is right," the female replied.

"Let us hope it remains so…and avoid a next time," the solemn voice replied as it faded away.

The oracles looked at each other and sighed.

*************