Cordy couldn't take her eyes off of Angel. He looked at her with the saddest of eyes. She'd lied right to him, and she didn't know what to say now. She had to stick up for Dawn though, who was getting yelled at by Buffy.
"Buffy no!" yelled Dawn, defending herself. "I am on a mission here!"
Buffy put her hands on her hips and rolled her eyes. "So you just leave the country without even telling me? You don't know how much trouble you are in now you moron!"
Dawn stamped her feet. "Buffy you made me do this!" she yelled, "The way you spoke to me that night is what drove me to leaving and following my vision!"
Buffy started gathering Dawn's things in a bag. "You are actually blaming this on me!" she yelled. "Well I can't believe this. You can't even stand responsible for your own stupid decisions Dawn."
Buffy hadn't even noticed Cordelia sitting down in the corner yet. Dawn looked to Willow for some back up, but it was obvious that Willow was with Buffy on this one when she just looked to the floor.
"Buffy!" began Dawn, "stop packing my things I'm not going anywhere!" Dawn pushed Buffy away.
Buffy looked up at her sister, boy was she mad. "I dare you to touch me again Dawn."
Dawn got right in her sisters face, "Buffy, just because you're the Slayer don't think I'm scared of you, because I'm not."
Buffy laughed sarcastically, "Right, because you could crush me in the blink of an eye?" She again began to laugh.
In an attempt to stop what was about to happen, Cordelia jumped in between the middle of the sisters, with Dawn behind her.
"Buffy," she began, "stop this."
Buffy glared at her. "Get out of my way Cordelia."
Buffy tried to push passed Cordelia, who stopped her and again stood in her way.
"I'm not moving," she began, "Dawn has a job to do Buffy, and she can't go anywhere."
Buffy stopped edging forward. "Well I don't believe this," she began, "you actually think you can stop me, she's my sister, and I don't care about her job!"
"Buffy," said Dawn from behind Cordelia, "the mission is what matters and if you don't want to be a part of that, go home."
Dawn and Cordelia stood side by side.
"Nuh uh," began Buffy, shaking her head. She grabbed Dawn's wrist and began to pull her towards the door.
"Let go of me!" yelled Dawn, struggling to escape.
Buffy totally ignored her. "Willow we are going, Angel come on." she said, looking at them standing in the door way.
Willow had a confused look on her face, and Angel was still looking at Cordelia.
Dawn pulled her arm free from Buffy, which was a surprise in itself.
Cordelia again got in between the middle of the sisters. "Buffy, I think you should just go."
"Cordelia, Dawn is my sister and she is coming home with me now, unless you want to get hurt get the hell out of my way!" yelled Buffy.
Cordelia smiled sarcastically. "Come on. Hurt me then, because I'm not going anywhere until you do."
Quickly, Angel got in front of Cordelia. "Buffy, this is not going to happen, lets go."
Buffy couldn't believe her eyes. "You are actually siding up with her? I don't believe this Angel, now get out of my god damn way!"
"Buffy"¦ stop." he said back bluntly.
"So everyone's against me then?" she asked, looking around at everybody. "Screw this I'm leaving," she said as she walked out the door, slamming it behind her.
Willow quickly followed her, "Buffy stop!" she yelled, chasing her down the corridor.
Cordelia looked up at Angel smiling, her smile quickly faded though, he wasn't happy at all.
"We need to talk," he said.
*******
Angel sat on a crate, and Cordy stood, leaning against the wall. They had gone into the alley behind the motel to talk. The sunlight wasn't a problem, because it didn't really get in between the buildings.
"Thanks for what you did in there." said Cordelia, running her fingers through Angel's hair.
"No," Angel said, moving her hand away and shaking his head. "Why didn't you tell me about Dawn? I specifically asked you and you lied right to my face. I thought I could trust you."
"I'm sorry," she began, "but I couldn't tell you Angel. You would have told Buffy."
Angel rubbed his head. "No I wouldn't have."
Cordelia put her hand under his chin and lifted his head, she was smiling. "Angel, you know you would have told her, she's Buffy and now she's your girlfriend. Angel if you had told her this would have happened earlier; at least now Dawn's heart is in it enough to stay."
"She's not my girlfriend." stated Angel, disregarding the rest of what Cordelia had said, "She's just Buffy."
"You love her." said Cordelia softly.
Angel looked at the woman he had loved so much, for so long. He still did, a part of him always would. He knew that he and Cordelia weren't possible though, not only because she was dead, but because he and Buffy had almost gotten back together already, they'd sorted out a lot of things, and if he was to let anything happen with Cordelia, he would probably never be able to put the pieces back with Buffy again.
"Yeah," he replied softly,œI do."
Angel stood up and faced Cordelia. Soft tears began to roll down her cheeks. She smiled. She gave him a big hug and they held each other tightly.
"Angel, it's been a beautiful adventure even knowing you, goodbye." she said. She began to fade away into a purple cloud, until she disappeared altogether.
Angel was left standing still, was he really never going to see Cordelia again?
"Good bye." he said softly.