Giles however picked up on it immediately.

"Angel, you do know if the visions have stopped, don't you?" he asked, feeling a bit of concern as he became sure the vampire didn't know for sure.

Angel sighed as one of his lingering worries was brought to light.

"I assume they have, after all, she doesn't need to have them since I'm not there anymore, but you know, I don't know for sure," he said, sounding worried as he ruminated to himself. "Although, I'm sure if she was still having them, she'd have let me know," he finished, still not sounding entirely sure of himself.

Giles wasn't so sure. Not if what he suspected had happened… had actually happened.

Willow had picked up on this too, and exchanged a worried glance with Giles, seeing he knew she understood the thought that had just crossed his mind.

"Well, I'm sure you're right Angel, Cordelia's a big girl, she can take care of herself, always has been able to and always will be, nothing can get past her tough outer shell," Buffy finished, moving to clear away now empty plates.

She didn't notice the flash of pain that came and went in the vampire's eyes at her words.

But the two people watching him so closely did.

Several hours later, Angel and Buffy headed out the mansion's door on patrol, followed closely by Xander and Tara, the former agreeing to walk the latter home since Willow wanted to stay and talk with Giles.

As the mansion emptied, Willow and Giles returned to the living room and settled down to discuss the situation.

"He doesn't realize he's fallen in love with her, does he?" Willow asked softly, seeing Giles sigh.

"I think part of him realizes it, but he's not ready to accept it yet. He's still connected to the idea that Buffy is his destiny. Although I suspect it won't be too long before the truth hits him," the watcher said tiredly, rubbing his eyes.

"How do you think Buffy's going to take it?" Willow asked, seeing the watcher sigh again.

"Not as bad as we think. I think she'll be upset, she's stuck on the 'destiny' idea as well, although I know she really has feelings for Riley. I think she's fighting them, trying to convince herself her future is with Angel, as she's always wanted it to be," Giles mused.

"They're both trying to recapture what they once had… but that's the key phrase, isn't it… what they 'once' had. They've both moved on, with other people, with separate lives. I just don't think they've realized that, and until they do, and let go of the past, they'll continue being unhappy and if my guess is right, making two other people extremely unhappy as well," Willow said sadly, getting a nod in reply.

"I think you're right, but there's nothing we can do except wait until everything explodes, then pick up the pieces," Giles said in reply, rubbing his temples to fight the headache he could feel growing.

"Do you really think Cordelia's okay?" Willow asked, voicing what had been worrying her all night.

Giles sighed.

"I don't know… it disturbs me that we don't know if the visions have stopped. If they haven't, she could be in real trouble, or real pain. But she's stubborn enough to face that pain alone, and that's what I'm worried about. Knowing Cordelia, she'll bottle it up, or try to deal with it herself, to prove she doesn't need anyone, that she doesn't need Angel. But she does," the watcher finished, seeing his concern mirrored in Willow's eyes.

"Should we call and try to find out?" she asked, getting another sigh in reply.

"You think she'd actually tell us?" he said dryly, seeing Willow nod slightly.

"We've got to be able to do something, I can't bear to watch these two sit here and be miserable, thinking they're happy, and knowing Riley and Cordelia are miserable," Willow almost moaned, hating the thought of any of her friends in pain.

"There's nothing else we can do Willow," Giles replied. "I can however, call in a few favors and see if anyone can get a hold of what Cordelia's up to," he finished.

"Good. Let me know if I can do anything to help," Willow replied, getting a nod in return.

They continued to discuss their friends well into the night, each feeling uneasy, but knowing they could do nothing at this moment.

The next evening found the same group of people gathered around the mansion living room again. Angel was feeling restless and edgy, but he couldn't say why. It probably didn't help that Riley was a part of the group tonight. It lent a rather awkward surreal theme to the gathering. So far, they hadn't said a word to each other, and Buffy looked rather frazzled and unsure of what to say to either of them.

It probably didn't help either that last night's patrolling effort had been awkward as well, with neither of them able to figure out why. It hadn't helped they'd run into Riley as well. That had been fun. He'd hung back, letting the two of them talk, and he'd seen how much the other man was hurting. Part of him felt some satisfaction from it… but a larger part simply felt sad for all of them. He could tell the encounter had drained Buffy as well. He'd gotten her to call it quits for the night and walked her back to her dorm, leaving her at the doorway with nothing more than a hug and kiss on her forehead.

As he'd walked out of the dorm, he'd suddenly been hit with the memory of leaving Cordelia in much the same way. Except they'd shared that earth-shattering kiss before he'd left. He closed his eyes as he let himself remember the feeling of her in his arms, her body pressed to his, her lips devouring his as they held onto each other for dear life.

He hadn't wanted to let her go. He hadn't wanted to leave her.

He shouldn't be thinking like this, not when he was with Buffy.

But was he really with her?

And was she really with him?

Confused and tired, he'd returned home, falling immediately into a deep sleep, a sad eyed brunette and a steamy kiss playing heavily into his dreams.

He'd awakened to find the Scooby Gang again gathered around the mansion living room, plotting out a strategy to kill the latest evil plague to descend upon the Hellmouth. He'd tried to join in, but couldn't seem to bring himself to pay much attention to the matter at hand. Something was eating at him, and he didn't know what it was. All he knew was that something didn't feel right. And it was driving him crazy that he couldn't figure out what.

He sighed and tried to concentrate on the plan, but had no luck.

He felt a sense of relief as he heard the phone ring, and excused himself to answer it, anything to get away for a moment. He sighed and picked up the receiver, murmuring a "hello."

The familiar voice on the other end brought his world crashing down around him.

She'd spent the day going to yet another round of auditions, and her night slaying two rather ugly and vicious demons who prayed on helpless women. She winced as she bandaged her arm where one of the monsters had managed to scrape her. It hurt like a mother, but she was used to it by now. Seemed every demon she fought left its mark on her in some way.

It was nights like these she cursed TPB for giving Angel his wish, and making her life a living hell. Not that she would really want to change it if she could. She'd seen the hurting and the hopeless, and something had been stirred inside her. Something that she couldn't just ignore or make go away like she had all the other unpleasant things in her life.

She owed it to these people, she'd sensed their pain, she'd been where they were. And she didn't like it one bit. Besides, she was powerless to do otherwise. The visions kept coming, and she kept slaying.

She smiled slightly as she thought of her new allies… the gang Angel had befriended and who had helped them out countless times. After their initial amazement that he'd left, and disbelief that she'd taken on the protector role, they'd rallied around her, and looked out for her. She had to admit, it was nice having a few people on her side. She knew they watched over her not just because she was helping rid the world of supernatural scum, but because she was female, and because of Angel. She wasn't going to complain.

In fact, she'd sort of earned herself a nickname. At least on the streets and to the people she saved.

"Warrior Princess."

Someone had been watching too much Xena, but she had to admit, it was flattering and amazing that people had taken to her and her crime fighting efforts.

But still, most nights, it was just herself and the demons. She was amazed at how used to things she'd gotten. Her chest still felt empty knowing Angel had taken her heart when he left, but not knowing what to do about it. So she buried her grief the only way she could, by continuing on with the work he'd begun. She was all that was left. She had to carry on. It wasn't like the acting was going to work out. Maybe that was the plan from the start. What Angel gave up, Cordelia carried on.

She wasn't too thrilled with TPB right about now however.

She sighed, curling up into a ball, breathing in the faint trace of Angel she could smell from the silky shirt of his she wore to sleep in. She knew it was stupid, but figured it was as close to him as she'd get. Besides, it gave her a strange sense of security, almost as if he were there, wrapped around her, keeping her safe.

The thought gave her some little form of comfort as she faced the demons and evils of the night.

Cordelia Chase, Warrior Princess.

Who could have known?

She sighed to herself as she realized another night of peaceful slumber was out the door.

Dressing quickly, she strapped on the now familiar armor, paying little attention to the weight. She was used to it, and had actually become rather adept at using it. Strange what a girl could get used to when she had to.

Sighing again, she headed out into the blackness, once again ready to take on the evil of the world. Alone again, naturally.

She'd managed to get the kids and mother out of the room, figuring at least they were safe. She cried out as the demon's claw scraped against the still healing wound on her arm. Searing pain shot through her body and she fell to the ground in agony.

She saw out of the corner of her eye, the demon prepare to charge.

It wasn't supposed to be like this! She was supposed to be a famous actress, with looks, money and a rich man on her arm. Or at least a satisfied secretary/partner to a demon hunting souled vampire. Not a demon hunting warrior herself, with not an ounce of superhuman ability in her. But as she saw the creature advance, she felt a burst of strength, knowing that no matter what, Cordelia Chase would go down fighting.

With a blood curdling scream, she launched herself at the creature, struggling in the fight for her life. She blinded herself to the pain of the talons ripping into her skin, the burning she felt across her back as the demon flayed her skin. She only fought with more fervor, managing to stab the creature over and over again, feeling it weaken slightly, but continue to fight.

She was bruised and bloody, and almost unconscious with the pain, but she knew she couldn't leave until this creature was dead. Or she was dead from trying to kill it.

Cordelia Chase didn't fail. At least not when it mattered.

With a final blood curdling cry, she thrust the knife home and felt the blade impale the creature through the heart, cringing as she heard it let out a death scream unlike any she'd ever heard. She screamed herself then as she felt the sharp pain shoot across the back of her head as the dying creature got in one final swipe with its razor sharp talons.

Through a haze, she saw the creature disintegrate in front of her eyes, thankful she'd saved the kids, but wondering faintly as she lost consciousness how Angel managed to survive so long doing this. Wondering why she'd been cursed with carrying on Angel's work. Wondering how long the pain of being without him would sear her soul.

As she let the blackness overcome her, she didn't see the faces of the concerned children and their mother, or the young man in a bandanna quickly motioning someone into the room, or the tall figure that ran in and swept her up into his arms, carrying her out the door.