"Okay… I'm all packed… ready to go… now we'll just see if Buffy want's me back…"

Angel's uncertain voice brought the tears back to her eyes. She sniffed and rose, smiling brightly through her pain at her best friend.

"Of course she'll want you back. You know she's always loved you, and Riley was just a substitute, she'll be yours the moment you go to her and tell her 'Angel' is a permanent condition, it's just the way fate meant things to be," she said, her voice breaking on the last words as she threw herself into his arms. She tried to hold back the tears as she hugged him for what she was sure would be the last time. This was truly the end of a way of life. It scared her to death. But damned if she was going to let him see that.

"Delia… don't cry. You know I'm always a phone call away, and if you need anything, you call, and I'll be there, okay?" he whispered softly to her, pulling back to catch her eyes. She sniffed and held back the tears for his sake, smiling slightly up at him.

"Okay," she said softly, feeling her heart speed up as she noticed the conflict that suddenly filled his eyes as he looked down at her. But then they cleared as he gently brushed a kiss across her lips. She closed her eyes wanting nothing more than to hold onto him forever, and never let him go.

"You truly are my seer Cordelia… you always will be," he whispered as he let her go. She struggled to keep her smile as he turned and shook Wesley's hand, making the same promise to be there if needed.

Cordelia was extremely proud of her acting job as she reached over to hug Wesley good-bye, holding it together even as he whispered he'd always be there if she needed him and to keep the faith. She smiled at him in reply, then wrapped an arm around each man's waist as they headed for the door.

As they reached it, they paused for a moment, silently turning to look back at the now silent office.

"It's been good while it lasted," Angel said softly, turning to smile once more at Wesley and Cordelia as they nodded.

"Take care you two… and be happy," Cordelia whispered as they both stepped through the door.

Wesley took one more look back at the office and at Angel and Cordelia standing there, knowing he was saying good-bye to something very special. With a final jaunty wave, trying to keep his own throat clear, he turned and headed down the steps, turning only once to look back and smile before disappearing out the front door.

Cordelia watched her friend go, feeling a sudden sense of acute loss. She sighed as she turned to Angel, mustering all her defenses into a smile as she took a long last look at him.

"You be careful out there…okay?" she managed, seeing him smile and catch her eyes.

"You too, watch out for yourself among those casting agents… be yourself, it works best every time," Angel said softly, suddenly turning and pulling her into his arms.

Cordelia made a monumental effort not to cry again as she clutched her brooding Angel tightly, feeling the strength in his arms as he held her against him.

"I'm really going to miss you 'princess,'" he whispered, holding onto her even more tightly.

Hearing Doyle's pet name for her almost finished her off. Nothing like being reminded of losing the one other person besides these two she could call 'friend.'

"Me too Broody Boy… but please be happy, no one deserves it more than you," she whispered against his shoulder, unable once more to fight back the lone tear that slipped from her eyes.

They stood there like that, holding tightly to each other, neither wanting to let go of the other for what seemed like forever, though it must have only been a few minutes. Finally, Angel managed to pull himself away enough to look down into her face.

Cordelia felt her heart break yet again as she read the confusion in his gaze as he looked at her. Part of her took some satisfaction that he felt something for her, something that just might rival what he felt for Buffy. She could see it in his eyes.

But she knew it wouldn't be enough to overcome Buffy. She'd resigned herself to that fact a long time ago, but it didn't stop it from hurting less now. But she had to let him go. They weren't meant to be.

"Okay… you're really going to make me lose it now, so go… go be happy with Buffy and live a long, joyous life… you can take her to see me in my first movie when I make it to the big time," she managed, seeing him smile and catching her breath as he brushed a finger lightly across her cheek.

"I don't know what I did to deserve you Cordelia Chase… but I'll never forget you, no matter how long I live," he said, his voice deep and she could swear a film of moisture had coated his eyes.

She really couldn't handle this. But damn… at least she was going to have one memory.

Without really thinking, she reached up and pulled his head down to hers, covering his lips with hers and kissing him like there was no tomorrow.

She felt him initially stiffen against her, but within moments, had wrapped her in his arms and was kissing her back with a passion she'd never felt before in her entire life. She lost herself in his kiss, in the feeling of his strong, cool body pressed tightly to hers. She poured all her emotions into the kiss, selfishly wanting him to leave knowing what he'd left behind.

Finally, after what seemed like forever, she pulled back, knowing she couldn't take a minute more or she'd collapse in his arms, begging him to stay.

She saw the confusion and desire in his eyes as he stared down at her, still not releasing her from his embrace. She smiled up at him, trying for a witty tone as she spoke.

"See, now you'll have to remember me," she managed, pushing back the emotions his tender smile sent through her body.

"As if I could ever forget you Cordelia," he whispered.

They stared at each other for several more moments, before Angel finally let her go. She wanted to cry out at the loss of his arms, but knew she had to let him go. It was for the best. His best, if not hers.

"Good-bye princess," he said again softly, brushing a finger across her lips one more time before turning and making his way slowly down the stairs.

Cordelia stared after him, fighting back the tears. She watched as the black duster swirled around him as he turned back one final time to meet her gaze. Smiling gently, he blew her a kiss, then turned and walked out the door. Out of her life.

The sob that burst from her sent her to her knees, the tears falling faster and faster as she wept for the loss of her love and her life. She sank down to the floor, curling herself into a little ball as her body was wracked with heaving sobs. She cried and cried, feeling as if she'd never be able to stop.

She had lost everything now. She had nothing to do, and nowhere to go. No family, no job, no friends.

She cried until there was nothing left inside her, curled into a tight ball, on the floor of the empty office that until only moments ago had held her dreams of a future. And even when the tears were dry, her body was still wracked with dry heaves.

When she'd finally recovered enough to move, she painfully rose and went back into the office, shutting the door behind her. Moving carefully, she got into the elevator and rode it down to the now silent apartment. She sniffed as she got off the elevator, noticing Angel had left almost everything behind. She'd promised to box up and send off whatever he decided he wanted.

The apartment still looked as if he'd return to it any moment. But he wouldn't. He was truly gone this time.

Cordelia moved into the bedroom and lay down on the bed… feeling the soft sheets and breathing in the scent Angel had left behind. She curled up into a ball again, feeling one final tear seep down her cheek. Clutching a pillow that still bore his scent, she buried her face in it and let the oblivion of sleep carry her exhausted and aching body away.

And around her, the old building remained silent and still, once full of life, now empty as death, except for one small woman curled up into a ball, dreaming of a life she'd never know.

She clutched her head, seeing the images pounding into her brain. A small boy, an evil looking demon, what looked like a child's bedroom, then the flash of a street sign.

She came awake crying, willing the pain to go away, wishing desperately for the comfort of Angel's arms and his soothing words as he held her.

As her vision cleared, she realized she was still alone, in Angel's bed.

And she was still having visions.

Something wasn't right here.

She tried to make sense of what she'd seen, automatically reaching for a pen and paper, writing down the address and prevalent facts.

Not that she had anyone to tell them too.

So what was she supposed to do?

Surely TPB had a reason for this? She couldn't do this on her own. She needed Angel.

But that boy needed help. He was terrified. And she couldn't let him suffer.

Putting aside her pain and grief, she slowly moved from the bed, wondering what she was doing. Realizing she had no choice, she headed over to the cabinet of armor Angel had at his disposal. Looking through the weapons, she selected two lethal looking blades that she knew he attached to his arms under his shirt. Well, if he could do it so could she. She took another knife and strapped it around her waist, then another around her other leg for good measure.

She stumbled a moment as she tried to get used to the unfamiliar weight, smiling grimly as she realized she must look really stupid. What the hell was she doing?

But she didn't have time to worry about that. Her pants concealed the knives on her legs, the billowing shirt she found in Angel's closet covered the ones strapped to her arms.

There was irony in here somewhere. She just had to find it.

But she could do that later. Right now, there was a helpless little boy who needed saved. And she was the only one around to do it.

Sighing she headed out the door.

She'd sighed, and cursing herself as she did it, told them it was more than enough that she'd helped their son and she couldn't take any money. Quite a change from two years ago.

She was turning into Angel.

Again, there was irony in here. She just didn't know where to find it.

She collapsed onto the bed, dropping the weapons and shedding her clothing as she went. She curled back up into a ball, drifting back off to sleep.

As she drifted off to sleep, she realized that as long as the visions continued, she did have a purpose in life. It was a long and lonely one, but she couldn't ignore those people in need.

Cordelia Chase, Warrior Princess.

She wasn't a true Slayer, but in her own way, she had a job to do, ridding her city, Angel's city, of the baddies.

Who could have known?

She'd been alone before, she could get used to being alone again. She just hoped the pain would fade in time.

On those thoughts, she finally gave in and drifted off into a dreamless sleep.