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"Willow, why don’t you try this one? I bet Birkhoff would love to see you in it," Nikita grinned as she held up a green silk nightie for Willow to examine. The red head blushed at Nikita’s words even though she was used to them by now. Nikita, Cordelia and Willow were shopping at the Sunnydale Mall and had stopped in Victoria’s Secret, saying that it was only to browse.
"He likes me in a tank top and boxers, Kita," Willow told her friend as she watched Cordelia try and hold in the giggles that were forming. Willow was glad that at least one of her friends from Sunnydale was truly willing to accept her new life. Even though Xander had said he would try, Willow could see how difficult it was for the boy and didn’t want to push him into doing something that would be uncomfortable for him. She knew that, in the long run, that would destroy any chance they had for keeping their friendship intact.
"So, give him a little surprise. You know what a sheltered life that boy has had," Nikita continued to tease. She knew that no matter what Willow wore, Birkhoff would love her.
"I know," Willow replied, fingering the silky material. "Well, maybe as a little present for him. I mean, I mean, variety is always a good thing." Cordelia and Nikita smiled as they watched Willow grab the nightie and head to the dressing room.
"I can’t believe the changes in her," Cordelia commented once Willow was out of sight. "I mean, she is so different from when she was here before."
"Section has that effect on people," Nikita answered gruffly. "Most times its not for the good though." Cordelia looked over at the blonde. She could hear the contempt for Section in her voice and felt bad for her new friend. Cordelia had discovered herself actually liking the people that had taken Willow, understanding why the hacker had allowed herself to grow close to them. They have all seemed to thrive under the strict conditions that they were placed under. Even Angel was different around them. Unlike his time spent with the scooby gang, which was filled with guilt and angst, when around his friends from Section he was almost happy. Smiling and laughing often at something said or done. Cordelia liked him like that.
"Why do you do it then? I mean, I understand the whole not having a choice or dying, but I mean, if you hate it so much wouldn’t death be a better alternative? And that so did not sound good did it?" Cordelia said, slightly flustered at how her question came out. Nikita eased the girl’s discomfort with a smile.
"I know what you mean. And as for why," Nikita shrugged her shoulders, "I can’t say. I guess we do it because, in some way or another, we are all fighters. We don’t like what we do, but we’ll do it because we want to stay alive, no matter what. And, now, I have someone to fight for."
"Michael."
Nikita smiled, "Yes, Michael. But also Willow and Birkhoff. We’re a family, in a strange sense. We care for each other and I don’t want anything to happen to any of them."
"Sort of how the scoobies are. Well, at least, how some of them are." Nikita could hear the sadness in Cordelia’s voice. Before she could say anything, Willow rejoined the group having heard the last part of the conversation.
"Cordelia, you know they care about you," she told the brunette.
"Yeah, but not like they do the others. I’m the outsider now. Xander has Anya. Faith and Buffy are the slayers. Giles looks after Faith and Buffy. Even Oz has them look after him because of him losing you and the whole werewolf thing," Cordelia told them. "I don’t have anyone there. They just put up with me because they need the extra car and the warm body for research."
"Well, what about Angel?" Willow asked, deciding that it was time to see exactly how the former cheerleader felt about the vampire. "I mean, it looks like the two of you are pretty close."
"Yeah, well, he was there when I really needed someone to listen to me, but he’s still all hung up on Buffy," Cordelia sighed.
"I don’t know," Nikita said. "I mean, I might not have seen Liam in a few years, and I don’t know how much he has changed since then, but if he was all the happy with that little blonde," Nikita refused to say Buffy’s name because of the way the slayer was treating Willow, "then he wouldn’t be the brooding person that you all seem to know. That’s not the Liam I remember."
"Yeah, there is a difference between Angel with Buffy and Angel with you. Like he is two different people," Cordelia smiled again at the memory of Angel’s smile. She had always thought that the vampire was handsome, but when she saw him smile and laugh, she realized he was downright sexy. "I like him better with you guys."
"So do I," Willow admitted. "Who would have thought that our brood boy would have such a wicked sense of humor."
"Well, considering how much he and Walter used to hang out, you should have expected it," Nikita grinned.
"So true." Willow turned to Cordelia again. "So, exactly how close are you and Angel anyway?"
Cordelia shrugged. "I don’t know. I mean, he walks me home sometimes or he’ll join me if he sees me at the Bronze. We just like to talk and all. I love listening to him speak about thing’s. I mean, the stuff that he knows is amazing."
"It is, isn’t it," Willow replied, smiling inwardly as she saw the dreamy expression on Cordelia’s face as she talked about Angel. (Oh yeah, she’s got it bad. This shouldn’t be as hard as I thought it would be. Just hope Michael and Birky are having as much luck with Angel.) "So, I take it you like him."
"Of course I do," Cordelia said, a bit too quickly. "I mean, he’s a great guy and all, what isn’t to like about him?"
"Well, some would say the whole vampire thing would be on the downside," Willow pointed out. "Not to mention the whole brooding thing."
"Yeah, well, those people are idiots," Cordelia fired back. "I mean, so he’s a vampire, it’s not like he actually kills people. At least, not anymore," she amended. "As for the whole brooding thing, well who cares. I mean, if you’re actually willing to get underneath the whole angst there, you can find someone who is really a great guy to be around. I mean, you’ve seen it these past two days. He’s completely different."
Willow held up her hands in mock surrender. "You don’t have to tell me that. I’m glad to see him happy. I think that after everything he’s gone through, he deserves it."
"So do I. I just hope it continues even after you guys leave," Cordelia said, for once wishing that Willow and her friends didn’t have to go so soon, knowing how it would affect the vampire. "I mean, once you’re gone, Buffy and the rest will have him back to being all broody again and I don’t think I can deal with that again. Not after seeing him laugh and everything."
"Yeah, I know what you mean," Willow agreed. "Buffy isn’t really happy with the whole Angel, Section thing is she?"
Nikita snorted, "I don’t even know the girl and I could have told you that. I swear, if looks good you would be looking at a corpse right now."
Willow and Cordelia smiled as they both thought about Buffy’s reaction to the other blonde in Angel’s life. "Tell me about it," Cordelia said. "I still love the reaction she had when Angel picked you up the other night in the library. I have never seen that girl so jealous in my life."
"Really," Willow asked, "damn and I had to miss it. Figures."
"You know she actually had the nerve to corner me and try and warn me away from Angel," Nikita informed them as they headed out of the store after paying for their purchases.
"She didn’t," Cordelia exclaimed. "Her and Angel aren’t even going out anymore, what made her think she had the right to say anything?"
"This is Buffy we are talking about Cor," Willow reminded her, "I mean, she can date anyone she wants, but Angel has to stay single forever, remember."
"I know and I hate it," Cordelia admitted. "I mean, Angel deserves someone in his life that will care for him and give him all the love he deserves. Especially since that stupid clause doesn’t exist anymore." Willow grabbed Cordelia’s arm.
"He told you about the clause?"
"Yeah," Cordelia said sheepishly, "it was right after I found out about Xander and Faith."
"Does Buffy know?"
"No, just me," Cordelia admitted, actually pleased that the vampire trusted her enough to tell her about it. "I don’t think he actually plans on telling Buffy either. Doesn’t want to open the can of worms that would come with it."
"But he told you," Willow emphasized again. "You know what that means, don’t you?"
Cordelia was confused, "What?"
"That he likes you," Willow said excitedly.
"Of course he does. He’s my friend."
"No, he likes you as more than a friend," Willow elaborated as she saw the hope in Cordelia’s eyes at the thought of Angel liking her, but Cordelia refused to consider the possibility.
"No he doesn’t. He loves Buffy," Cordelia said, trying to convince both herself and Willow of what everyone else has always said. "Remember?"
"I remember he used to love Buffy, but a lot has happened in the relationship," Willow told her. "Besides, it has to mean something if he told you something that personal. It’s not something that comes up in casual conversation."
"True."
"So, do you like him too?"
Cordelia hesitated before slowly nodding her head. She saw Willow jump up and down from excitement. "I take it you approve."
"You could say that," Nikita grinned. There was something about the brunette that she liked and realized that she and Angel would be good together.
"Well, what would you suggest I do about it?"
"Well, let’s work a bit on that shall we." Willow grabbed Cordelia’s arms, giggling and laughing as she told them her plan.
"So how long do you think the girls are going to be?" Michael asked as he joined Birkhoff and Angel in the kitchen. Angel had offered to let the group from Section stay at the mansion with him and he realized how nice it was to have them there.
"Knowing them, not until the mall closes. Cordelia can put Nikita to shame when it comes to shopping," Angel said, grinning at the thought of the brunette who had become his friend. Michael and Birkhoff looked at each, realizing that once again, Willow was right. Angel had a thing for the girl.
"You know, that’s saying a lot," Michael replied. "Nikita can usually out shop almost everyone."
"Yeah, well, you’ve never seen Cordy at Christmas. The girl refuses to let anyone get in her way."
"So, tell me about her," Birkhoff asked. He liked the former cheerleader for her support of Willow and him. He knew that Willow’s other friends didn’t accept him as part of her life, still believing that she and that Oz person should be together.
"She okay," Angel shrugged, but the other men could tell that it was a half hearted movement. "On the surface, all you see is someone who is blunt, sarcastic and shallow, but if you dig a little you can find someone who is really bright. Surprisingly so. She just acts that way because she knows that’s what’s expected from her. And, because, it usually gets her what she wants."
"Doesn’t hurt that’s she extremely pretty," Birkhoff added.
"Yeah, there is that also," Angel smiled. "But it’s the whole package you know. The other kids don’t see it, but that could be because, now that she is no longer with Xander, they don’t really care to see it. She’s just there, you know what I mean. I think that’s why we get along so well. We’re both outsiders."
"But what about you and Buffy," Michael asked.
"What about her," Angel replied. "There’s nothing there, at least, not for me anymore. Buffy keeps trying but I can see that she will never be able to get past my actions after I lost my soul. I think that’s one of the reasons that I never bothered telling her that the clause is gone."
"So no one knows about that?"
"Cordelia does. I told her about it one night when we were talking," Angel stated, not noticing the grins on Michael and Birkhoff’s faces. "I don’t even remember how it came up. We were talking one minute, the next I was telling her about my soul being permanent. Just felt right, her being the only one to know."
"It couldn’t have anything to do with the fact that you like her, could it?" Birkhoff said. Ever since he and Willow had gotten together, Birkhoff had become more aware of what other people around him were feeling.
"Of course I like her. She’s a great girl."
"You know what I mean, Liam," Birkhoff said. "You like, like her." Angel looked down at the mug in his hand, mumbling something to himself. "What was that?"
"Well, maybe, a little." Angel set the mug down on the table in front of him, running his other hand through his hair. "I mean, she accepts me for who I am. She wants to know about my past. She doesn’t let me sit around and brood all day, which is a lot more than I can say for Buffy and her friends."
"So have you ever thought about doing anything about it?" Michael asked, realizing how much the acceptance shown to the vampire had meant to him.
"No. She doesn’t see me that way," Angel told them. "I’m just a friend and I don’t want to risk that. I’ve already lost too many friends."
"Liam, I would say that you wouldn’t be risking all that much. I mean, has she told anyone else about your soul?" Angel shook his head as Michael asked the question. "Well, that should be a good indication that she cares about you, otherwise she would have told the others. Not to mention, I’m sure that Buffy isn’t too happy about your friendship with her." Michael hadn’t missed the jealousy in the slayer’s eyes, not only when Angel was hugging Nikita, but also when he was talking to Cordelia at the Bronze the first night in town.
"No, she isn’t. She’s actually asked me to stop hanging out with Cordy."
"I hope you told her no," Birkhoff said, his dislike for the blonde growing.
Angel smiled, "Yeah, I did. Told her since the two of us were no longer going together, that it was none of her damn business who I hung out with."
"Okay, so Cordelia is willing to risk the wrath of her only friends to be with you. I would say that would be a sign that she cares for you as something more than a friend," Michael finished, hoping that his old friend would listen to him.
"Okay, fine, if I concede to you that Cordelia might like me like that, what would you suggest I do about it?"
"You don’t have to do much, not if Willow and Nikita have done their job right." Angel looked at Michael in confusion. Michael saw this and told Angel about Willow’s plan to get Cordelia to admit her feelings, just as Angel had. Angel smiled at the thought of the red head’s attempts of matchmaking, guaranteeing himself that if it worked, he would find some way to repay her.