Chapter 26: The road to hell is paved with good intentions…
Title: A new beginning.
Author: Nikka
Author notes: Hey everyone, If you need to know about summary, rate and all the rest it's all in chapter 1 I'll just remind you that English is not my native tongue I want to thank Kelly for all the great works she's done, and to welcome aboard Nisus who from now on will be reproofing my fic. As it is you may still find some spelling & grammar mistakes. You're more than welcome to let me know about them but remember you may find them while you read the story. Have fun.
A special thank you to Nisus for reproofing my story. As of that the upload of the chapters may take longer. And to Kelly get well soon.
Feedback: I love love love reviews and I'll be sure to mention it at the end of every chapter.
"Would you wait just a minute?" He said while trying tocatch up.
"I heard, absorbed…"
"And yet you're leaving." He cut her off.
"I have to. I know you're just trying to do your job Andrew…"
"It's more than that Buffy. You know it is." she stopped where she stood.
"I know." She turned to face him. "And I do value your opinion, but…"
"It's not just me, you know? I've spoken to Giles and he feels the same way."
"With all due respect…" She raised her voice a bit. "Giles is not here at the moment - I am. I'm the one who's dealing with this thing that I thought was gone for good."
"He is working on it. He didn't leave you alone in this." Andrew paused for a moment. "There are things you don't know Buffy."
"I know what's been going on in LA. You and Giles filed me in."
"Not on everything." Andrew quickly added. Buffy looked at him surprised. "You don't belong there, and he is not your savior."
"No he's not." Buffy replied and Andrew smiled thinking he's gotten through to her. "My savior is a pile of dust in the bottom of a crater." She grabbed her suitcases and continued on."
"Buffy…" Andrew ran after her. "Stop please." He called out and she finally stopped. "Giles said that in the event that I fail in my mission…"
"Andrew you didn't fail…"
"Any way…" He cut her off. "He asked me to give this to you." He handed her a small handbag, which was packed full.
"God, it's heavy, what's in there magic stones?" She giggled.
"Books." Andrew replied. "And some files, who may come in handy."
"Thank you." She smiled.
"He asked that you read the blue folder first and before you reach LA. After all, you do have a long flight ahead of you."
"What's in the blue file? The lunge sequence?" She chuckled but Andrew didn't seem amused. "Let me know when you get there."
"Andrew." She grabbed his arm just as he was about to leave. He turned to face her. "Thank you for everything, you are a true friend." She leaned forward and kissed him gently on the chick. "Try to stay out of trouble."
"I will." He smiled as his face blushed.
"He had to leave that part to me." Cordy said quietly as she sat on the couch. Annie sat in the sofa in front of her, across the coffee table.
"Is my father…?" Annie stopped, unsure of her question. "Is he…? I mean… I know it's not possible, but is he…?"
"Biologically no." Cordy answered already realizing the question. "But he loves you as if you were is own." Annie smiled. She knew Angel was protected of her, but it was nice hearing, he loved her like family, like a daughter.
"Then who is… or maybe was…"
"He is, at least as far as I know." Cordy replied. "He's a man I once loved very much…" she t 'In a, way I think I'll always will.' She thought to herself, not reveling that part to Annie.
"So why isn't he here?" Annie felt confused. If he's still around, and they seem to get along, why isn't he here? Why didn't he raise her? Why…?
"I know it all seem confusing, but things happened, and life took a twist, as they always do."
"You're not making any sense." Annie said angrily. She had enough secrets and lies to last her a lifetime.
"It doesn't make much sense to me either." Cordy sighed. "He was a good man, who loved me so. But when he realized, as hard as I tried, that I didn't feel the same way, he left. And I let him."
"Did he know you were pregnant?'
"No." Cordy replied. "I didn't know at the time."
"But when you knew… did you tell him?"
"No." Cordy said. "And part of me wishes I had."
"So… as far as he's concerned, I don't exist." Annie said with a hard tune of realization. She wanted to be angry with her father for abandoning her, for leaving her mother, or so she thought. The mother she looked up, the mother she thought was the best of them all. Well she wasn't, she was the worse…"
"Annie…" Cordy's voice cut her reverie. "Are you okay…?"
"I thought…" She got up and walked towards the door. Cordy followed her. "Why? He should have known me, he should have raised me!" She raised her voice.
"I don't have all the answers for you."
"If you don't then who does, cause, the rest of them are less the forthcoming." She opened the door in a swift.
"Annie, please don't leave like this. Lets talk, I'm sure…"
"But that's just it, Cordelia." She emphasized her name. "You don't know anything, and you're not sure of much."
"Annie…" Cordy placed her hand on her shoulder.
"Don't." Annie said as Cordy took her hand away. "The way I see it," She said while her back was facing Cordy. "There's a man out there, a good man, according to you, who loves you and probably would have loved me too, had he had the chance to know me. But he doesn't and why is that?" She turned. "Can you answer me that?"
Cordy looked at her, knowing she didn't have an answer. She wasn't around, what was she suppose to have done, what could she have done. "I didn't think so." Annie said quietly and walked out. Cordy didn't follow her.
"Uh for heaven sakes." She put the papers she was holding down, and called out. "Angel?" the man who was passing back and forth in front of her office door stopped half way through. He seemed surprised she noticed his presence. "Is there something you wanted?" She took her glass off and crossed her arms as she asked back in her leather armchair.
"Well, not specifically…" he mumbled.
"And yet." She smiled as he walked in.
"I know it's later, but then again for me it's kind of early, or maybe late depends on the time I…"
"Angel!" Fred stopped him. "God you're starting to sound like me, which explains why I heard my name being called out so many times. "I know it's late, but I'm still here, so if there's something you needed…"
"Do you think I should go up to her?" he said quickly as if he was afraid he'd lose the nerve to ask her again.
"And say what exactly?" Fred asked.
"I don't know. I just wanted to know how she was doing, that's all."
"I think you should do what you feel is right." Fred replied.
"That's all?" Angel said surprised.
"What did you expect me to say, sure Angel go up there." He nodded. "Well, I won't. It's your call, you know her best."
"But you're a woman." Angel replied.
"And I thank you for noticing, but she's your best friend." Fred said firmly.
"What are you doing?" Angel asked as he noticed she was packing her things.
"As you kindly mentioned, it is late…"
"But we're not finished…"
"Yes we are." She got up and walked towards her. "In my opinion, what Cordy needs now more than anything is that we treat her like we always have. Don't treat eh r like she's made out of glass and be afraid she'll brake. She's stronger than that, stronger than all of us. Look of what she's been through and she's still standing, and with a smile I might add."
"So what you're saying is…"
"Treat her as if nothing happen. If this was 2 years ago and you needed to talk to her, would you? Despite of the hour?" He just nodded. "Then I guess you got your answer. "Goodnight Angel." She said as she walked out.
"You can do this." He affirmed. He took a big unnecessary breath and knocked on the door softly. The door opened widely as he barely finished the knock.
"Annie?" Cordy said with a smile only to discover Angel standing on the other side. Great she thought to herself. Just what I needed.
"No just me." He smiled, but couldn't help but notice she wasn't smiling at all.
"What happened?" He asked as she walked away waddling towards the couch, without responding. He walked in closing the door behind him. "Did something happen with Annie?" He sat beside her. She moved to the side to create a space between them. Angel saw that, and knew she was angry with him, but wasn't sure what about. "Cordy? What's going on? Why are you angry with me, and don't say you're not, cause I know you too well."
"Do you really." She said in a snappy tone. "Then I you should know how much I like it, when people respect my wishes. Specific wishes." She emphasized.
"Wishes? When did I ever…"
"She asked me." Cordy cut him off. "She asked me why wasn't he informed, why wasn't he given the choice…?"
"Cordy I don't…"
"Groo, Angel." She said quickly. "She asked why she'd never met him? Why he wasn't told she even exists…"
"Cordy I…"
"And I couldn't answer her, Angel." She looked straight at him. "I couldn't answer her, because I don't get it either." She got up and walked towards the glass doors leading outside, to the balcony. He followed her, watching as she opened the door, soaking in the night air. She slowly walked towards the stone made handrail leaning against it. "I to rationalize your decision in my head a zillion times.' She said looking at the city lights. "And I couldn't."
"I know it's hard to understand, but I thought I was doing the best thing for Annie." He tried to explain.
"How?" She turned to face him. There wasn't anger in her voice, but disappointment. "He's her father, Angel. Her father."
"I know that." He raised his voice.
"No!" She said angrily. "You don't get to be angry and mad at me."
"I didn't mean it to come out like that." He apologized. "This was over two years ago. I thought what I did was the right thing. The only thing."
"What am I suppose to do now?" She asked not really expecting an answer. "How do I fix this?"
"Let her cool off. She'll come around." He placed his arm on her shoulder.
"And if she doesn't? I can't loss her Angel, not now."
"You won't." He said firmly. "She waited too long to meet you, she won't push you away."
"And Groo?" She asked.
"What about him?" Angel didn't follow.
"I have to tell him." she replied.
So, what? You'll hop on the next flight to Pylea?"
"Something like that." She smiled.
"Hold on." she robbed her eyes trying to find her glasses. She looked at the clock. It was late. The continuing knocking snapped her out of her zombie like state. "I'm coming." She shoved her legs unwillingly into her slippers. She stood up still half asleep. As she waddled to the door the knocking kept on. She looked through the piping hole. "Annie?" She said surprised as she opened the door.
"Jee, I thought I'd have to sleep outside tonight." Annie said as she walked in passing by Fred towards the kitchen, "I'm starving is there something to eat."
"It's 2:00 am Annie." Fred followed her with a concern expression.
"Still hungry." Annie said, her head inside the fridge scraping for leftovers. "You look surprised to see me." Annie finally looked up at Fred as she took out some bread and peanut butter. She closed the refrigerator door and headed for the counter.
"Well…." Fred stammered. After all, Annie was living with her for a while now. But still, she thought that tonight of all nights…"I guess…" Fred continued as Annie took a bite form her sandwich.
"Want some." She offered Fred a bite. Fred nodded her head. "Suit yourself."
"I guess…" Fred tried again…. "You'd… I don't know, stay over there for the night."
"Stay where?" Annie asked, knowing exactly what Fred meant.
"With Cordy, you were so eager to see her, spend time with her."
"I'm over it." Annie said while sipping juice.
"Over it?!" Fred said surprised. Now she knew something was wrong, something must have happened. Annie's not her old self, the way she acts, and the thing she says… "What happened?" She asked concerned.
"I just found out she's not the woman I thought she was." Annie replied.
"What do you mean? You have to be more specific Annie, I don't…"
"She lied to me okay." Annie pulled out one of the chair and sat down with a sad and expression.
"About what sweetie?" Fred pulled out a chair and sat beside her.
"My father." Fred didn't know what to say. She knew Annie wanted to know whose was, but Angel thought it would be best not to let her know, afraid she might do something stupid like go after him. She could still remember the argument they had over it…..
"Angel, she has a right o know."
"No." He walked back and forth burning a hole in the floor.
"Why not? He's her father, Cordy wanted…"
"Cordy's gone!" He cut her off. "I decided now, what's best for Annabel."
"And what if you're making the wrong decision? Going against Cordy's wishes…"
"I said…"
"I know what you said." Fred cut him off. "And I know she gone." She tried saying it without crying, which was pretty hard these days, "But she still asked for something in specific, she wanted Groo to know his child."
"She not a child anymore." Angel pointed out the obvious.
"Shell always their child, and She should know."
"I know Fred, and you're right, but not now. Let's give her time to settle in, to feel like she belongs somewhere."
"But…" Angel looked at her with his puppy eyes. "I guess we can wait a while… But we will tell her."
"Eventually, of course we will." Angel smiled, happy he got what he wanted.
"Fred?" Annie looked at her daydreaming. "Hello, are you still there."
"I'm sorry Honey." Fred snapped back.
"Did you know?" Annie asked. "Who he is, that is?"
Fred wasn't sure what to say. On one end she could lie, not wanting to cause her more disappointment, but lying is what brought them here in the first place. "Fred?"
"Ladies and Gentleman…" the stewardess's voice woke her up. She looked out it was night, she wasn't sure what time it was and how long the flew. She just felt tired and in need of a good, hot long bath.
"Are we there yet?" Dawn mumbled as she tried opening her eyes.
"I guess." Buffy replied. " You need to buckle up." Buffy said looking at the lit sign with the belt on.
"God, I don't remember the flight being that long." Dawn set up.
"I know." Buffy smiled. "But look at the bright side we're home."
"No. Home is a few hours by car under a giant crater." Dawn said sarcastically.
"I meant USA." Buffy said.
"Uh that." Dawn didn't seem impressed. "Wake me up when we land." She turned and closed eh eyes trying to ignore the noise surrounding her.
"She looked at the folder she was holding, the blue folder, Giles had told her to read before reaching L.A. She avoided it till now, afraid of what she might find. But now they were nearing landing and Giles must have had a good reason to ask her. She slowly opened the folder. As she started to read her body shivered, "A live" she said surprised unable to process what her eyes are reading. "A live." She paused for a moment, then she closed the file angry, "That son of a b… "Excuse me miss you need to fasted your…"
"How long before we land?" She cut the stewardess off.
"About 15 minutes, that is why you should really…"
"And what time is it? L.A. time?"
The stewardess looked at her watch, about 3:00 am." She replied bit unease by Buffy's aggressiveness'.
"Thank you." Buffy replied.
"So if you could…"
Sure…" Buffy mumbled as the stewardess kept on.
"I guess not hot, long bath for me." She said as she watched the light of the city getting bigger and bigger."
Hi ppl,
It's been a while, I know. And I want to apologize I just had a lot on my mind lately and couldn't find the time or space to write.
So I hope you're still there, reading this fic. If you are, I hope you review it, to let me know what you think and also to help me decided if there's a point writing it anymore.
Thank you and as always enjoy.
Nikka.