Vikings, Sires and Siblings

Part 7

"No. If you're going, I'm going."

"Cordelia, this could be dangerous."

"Exactly. Look, Xander is my friend, and Spike is ... well, Spike is Xander’s. So therefore, I am going with you. Deal with it and move on."

Cordelia folded her arms over her chest and glared at the dark-haired vampire. Angel sighed and gave in.

"Fine. I'm leaving in an hour. If you aren't packed and ready, I'm going without you."

"An hour? Geez, I'll hardly have time to pack my make-up in an hour."

Cordy took off up the stairs and Angel grimaced.

"That's kind of the point."

He muttered under his breath. He did not want to put Cordelia in danger. After what Spike had told him, how he had betrayed Xander, how Xander had thought he had killed Spike - not to mention Willow and Tara - Angel was afraid the next attack on them might actually result in someone’s death. He had hoped to keep his seer out of harm’s way.

Angel went upstairs to his suite and began packing his own things. He had a few books he wanted to bring as well, on thrall and other mystic forms of hypnotism.

~!~

They were still a few minutes away from Sunnydale and Angel had told Cordy everything he knew about what was happening to Xander and Spike. He also told her that he wanted her to be extra careful, and to stay out of the way if it seemed like they were fighting.

"Hello? You think I want to get my ass kicked by my ex and his over-bleached snuggle-bunny?"

"No, but you have a tendency to stick your nose into other people's business."

Cordy arched one perfectly manicured brow at him and gave him an icy stare.

"I do not stick my nose into other people’s business."

"You don't? Then what was that thing with Wes and Gunn?"

"I was just stating the obvious."

"The obvious being that the reason they were so hostile was because of unresolved sexual tension?"

"Yes."

"Cordy, they're not gay."

"Pfft. Not everyone falls into neat little categories, you know. Just because they don't like other men doesn't mean they don't have a thing for each other. Honestly, Angel, for someone so old, you really don't know much, do you?"

Angel just shook his head. He didn't know how he could explain to Cordelia that Wes and Gunn were not likely to ever fall into bed together. That in fact, the hostility was genuine. She wouldn't believe him, even though he could smell the anger whenever they were in sight of one another. It was all about Fred, which was why Cordy would never believe him. She just didn't see Winifred Burkle as the type to inspire men to fight over her. Honestly, neither did he. She was a nice girl, but she was sorta flaky, and she was far too skinny, and she was a bit mousy-looking. He preferred a woman with some meat on her bones, an ample bosom, and a pretty face. But to each his own.

~!~

Pulling up outside the gate, Angel pushed the intercom button and waited for the gate to swing open. After a few minutes, a screen came up and he saw Willow’s smiling face.

"Angel, Cordy! You guys made it. Great! Uh, come on up to the house, I'll buzz you in."

The gate swung open and Angel drove through. He was stunned by the sheer size of the house and the surrounding property. It was huge, looked like it had a lot of security precautions. Then again, he figured with this being the hellmouth, and Xander being the Master, he would need a good system. Xander as Master of Sunnydale still made him shake his head in wonderment.

As he parked the car, the front door opened and Willow and Tara came out to greet them.

"Hey guys."

Cordy got out of the car and hugged the red head.

"Willow, it's so good to see you."

"Uh, thanks. Good to see you, too. Um, come in. Xander and Spike are in the gym with Buffy. They've been training for the last hour or so."

Angel got his bag out of the trunk of the car and looked over to where Cordy stood. He sighed in resignation and pulled her three suitcases out as well before closing the trunk and attempting to gather all of the luggage. Tara smiled and picked up one of the bags.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome."

Tara headed for the door and Angel smiled. Now this, was the kind of woman he would have gone after in his human days. Tara was very pretty and had the kind of curves a woman should have. Of course, she was also a lesbian, and he was unfortunately smitten with his seer. Unfortunate because, first of all, he was cursed, and second of all, she drove him up the wall most of the time. But then again, perhaps the curse wouldn't be a problem with her? After all it was hard to be "perfectly happy" when you were constantly frustrated by your lover, wasn't it?"

~!~

"Oh my God! This place is gorgeous!"

Xander looked up from where he lay sprawled on the mat, at the sound of his ex-girlfriend’s voice. He rubbed the back of his head, rolled over and climbed to his feet. He mock-glared at his mate and Buffy - who had double-teamed him and took him to the floor - before shaking his head and smiling ruefully.

"Guess we'll have to pick this up later. We should go talk to Angel and Cordy."

Spike tossed him a towel and grabbed one for himself. Buffy grimaced and pushed her sweat-soaked hair out of her eyes.

"If it's all the same to you guys, I'm going to shower and change before the fashion critique."

Xander grinned.

"Sure thing Buff. You realise though, that no matter what you come out in, she'll find something to pick at."

"Yep, just don't want to give her too many options. If I go out there looking like this, her brain will go into meltdown trying to decide what to pick on first."

Spike looked Buffy over head to toe and leered at her.

"Dunno, slayer. There's something to be said for a hot, sweaty woman in spandex shorts and a sports bra. I know I wouldn't complain about the view."

Spike winked at his mate who nodded his head appreciatively.

"Gotta go with Spike on this one, Buff. You look good all hot and sweaty."

Buffy blinked and then smiled.

"You two are very good for my ego. But I smell, and I'm going to shower."

Buffy walked off toward the bathroom on the far side of the room and Spike pouted at his lover.

"She didn't even call me a pig!"

"I know, baby. Maybe next time. You'll just have to work harder."

"I'm losing my touch, Xan. She actually said I was good for her."

Xander chuckled and threw his arm around Spike’s shoulders.

"Come on, let’s go say "hi" to Daddy."

~!~

Angel looked around his room - the one Spike and Xander said they had decorated with him in mind - and sighed. It was a nice room. The bed was big, and the in-suite bathroom had a huge bathtub as well as a shower. There was a walk-in closet, a TV and DVD player set up in the corner with a plush velvet sofa to sit on. The only thing wrong was that the whole room had been done in various shades of purple. From the dark purple drapes and matching bedspread to the lilac covered walls, to the pastel purple throw pillows, to the almost pink-coloured purple towels in the bathroom. Also the sofa - which was done in a shade so dark it was almost black. Actually, he kind of liked the sofa.

He hung his clothes in the closet and went over to the entertainment centre and looked at the selection of movies that were left there. He read the title of the one on the top of the pile. "The Colour Purple". He shook his head and slumped down onto the sofa. It was going to be a long night.

~!~