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Love is in the Air Spoiler Value = 8/10 Ah, teen romance. Nothing like it, eh? Especially on shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and in honor of that, I've done my darndest to try and create an equally tangled (though not quite as compelling) web of love and lust as on the show that my humble fiction series is 'spun off' from. Of course, the Sunnydale in this timeline is rather different in many ways than the one on Joss Whedon's wonderful show, and the relationships reflect that. There's less success on the romance front, and much less honesty, purity and chastity(!) than there. But I'm sure lurking in here somewhere is a match made in heaven, destined to stand the test of time. Isn't there? Well, here's a quick overview of the romantic or similar relationships on my 'show'. Keep in mind that there are serious spoilers here and it is designed only as a general reminder, or if you like, my personal thoughts on a subjective (rather than objective) issue. Hey, I'm only the writer, I could be wrong about my characters you know. Anyway, if you don't want to get spoiled, don't read on!   Cordelia & Angel: May as well kick this off with the most obvious of the relationships in my series, although this can't really be called a 'romance' as such. From the beginning (Welcome to Bizarro World) it is clear that this is merely a sexual relationship, with Cordy clearly in charge of things. As time passes though, we see a slightly deeper side to it. In Wonderful Life, for instance, Cordy is somewhat hurt to discover that they are not in love - though I'm sure she had never thought they were. It's just the shock of realizing it that hurt. Her last moment with Angel in that 'episode' is much more tender than anything before. When, in Fallen Angel, the vampire loses his soul during intimate relations, Cordelia is somewhat sucked into the darkness with him. No one knows quite what happened (many theories are presented throughout, with no clear answer standing forth - likely it was a combination of many things that caused Cordy's downfall) but there was a distinct and dramatic change that lasted well after Angel's re-humanizing. In fact, she was upset at his 'betrayal' at the end of Fallen Angel and in Changes assaulted him in his apartment, forcing herself upon him. There was a tense encounter in You Can Always Come Back where she tries to apologize, although they both know it does no good. Cordelia sums up their relationship well, pointing out that it may be worth saving. But Angel had seen her kiss Wesley, and was not certain what his standing was with her now. They got back together, but what personal connection they had seems to have gone. Angel still feels more human with Cordelia than when they are apart, but in He Restoreth My Soul Angel realizes that Wesley can do a better job of caring for the Slayer than he himself can. Cordelia & Wesley: Wesley Wyndham-Pryce is Cordelia's Watcher, and it's clear from soon after the opening credits in Welcome to Bizarro World that he is immensely attracted to her. It is also easy to see that Cordy delights in flaunting herself before him, and making him sweat. They both know nothing can happen between them, don't they? But Cordelia begins to see a better part of Wesley, especially when her Watcher fails to succumb to her temptations in Changes - unlike the others she had tried this on. He saw that she was not herself, and managed to refuse his own desires to try and help her back from the emotional precipice she was balanced on. Though he was unsuccessful in the latter, it was a notable moment. At the end of said episode, when Cordelia (quite literally) falls back to Earth, she runs crying to Wesley, and stays at his house (though they do not engage in any sexual activity during her stay there). She spent a week or so there recuperating from severe physical damage, and grew very close to her Watcher, like never before. But it's not till Altered to Fit, where she consoles a devastated Wesley, that they seem to properly become an item of sorts (though she is still 'with' Angel). Their attraction has become something more, though not yet a relationship. I'm sure even they don't know quite what they have, and are taking it step by step. Cordelia & Xander: Xander harbors a hidden attraction for Cordelia, noticed in passing during Ungrateful Dead though it was ignored by him, painted over quickly. Angel spotted it, and was amused by it, in Fallen Angel. But in Changes, Cordelia was out to show everyone how they needed her, so she could reject them, and Xander was brought face to face with his feelings. Although nothing came of it (not through lack of trying on his part), he has hidden the details from Faith, not wanting to hurt her. Little does he know she is hiding much the same thing from him... Cordelia & Faith: As early as Welcome to Bizarro World, the two girls showed themselves comfortable with a kind of sexual banter, although they were not romantically engaged or anything. They merely respect one another's attractiveness and are comfortable enough with each other to make light jokes about their sexuality. It's during Cordelia's selfish quest in Changes to reject everyone personally that she openly makes advances towards Faith and, unable to resist, Faith allows Cordelia to kiss her. Cordy then retreats, leaving Faith aware that she has been used as an example. Faith refuses to tell Xander about the encounter, unaware that he also had one, though in his case there was no physical event attached. When Cordelia comes back to the group in You Can Always Come Back, Faith takes only a short while to accept her back in, though the two have trouble becoming comfortable enough again to resume the banter they shared in early days. Faith & Xander: The only 'real' relationship so far in the series, although it's hard to tell just what these two feel for each other. Through their own thoughts, we've seen that they believe themselves to actually be in love, but that's not quite the same as truly being in love. However, there is clearly a strong connection between the two - though they've only known each other for a few months at the time of Welcome to Bizarro World. They genuinely care for one another, and seem ready to protect each other at personal risk. Xander is especially dedicated, though Faith sometimes appears less so, or unsure of herself and her feelings. This is only increased by the presence of Fame Nelson in the Scooby Gang. Xander is extremely jealous of the man, who he first meets in You Can Always Come Back, when Faith leaves Xander's arm to talk to him. The young man is a sizeable spanner in the works, causing great tension between Xander and Faith. This tension increases during Altered to Fit when Xander threatens Giles' life. Faith is extremely hurt, and refuses to talk to Xander, or see him at all. She is under severe emotional distress, granted, but her behavior (and Xander's) creates a chasm between them, temporarily sealed when they forgive each other after Faith's arrival in the hospital with extensive injuries. However, Xander's increasing hostility and accusations cause Faith, in The Blood-Dimmed Tide, to leave Xander. The boy is distraught and their future is very much up in the air. Faith & Fame: Faith saved the life of a stranger called Fame Nelson in Fallen Angel, assuming they would never meet again. This assumption was proven false in Changes when he reciprocated the favor, pulling her from the snapping jaws of death. They both experienced an instant attraction, though Faith tries to ignore it. She is, after all, seriously involved with Xander. But the young man knows more than he at first let on. He knows of the Slayer, and has some limited knowledge about demons and their ways. His family has kept a ceremonial staff (called a matuui) that wards off demons, for generations. His enigmatic ways, and his charming grin and quick wit, are endearing and Faith cannot help her feelings towards this newcomer (which she admits to Cordelia in Altered to Fit). Fame seems quite interested in Faith, but has made no move to steal her from Xander. When Faith was beaten senseless, unable to even move (Ibid.), it was Fame who found her and called her an ambulance. His ability to be there when Xander cannot is what mostly drives her boyfriend crazy. She tries to dissuade him from his jealousy, but must privately admit that it has some basis. She can't deny her attraction towards Fame Nelson. After Faith (in The Blood-Dimmed Tide) broke up with Xander, the way for she and Fame was made clear, though what they will make of it is, as yet, undetermined. Faith & Angel: No relationship here - they rarely meet. However, they are fond of one another (she nicknamed Angel 'Angle', which he finds mildly amusing) and respect each other. There was a moment in Fallen Angel where a de-souled Angelus seemed very attracted to Faith, but she instantly knew something was wrong with him, and didn't show any feelings for him at all. In other circumstances, who knows? For now though, no romance on this side. Giles & Jenny: A sad one this, and one with far-reaching consequences. Miss Calendar was romantically associated with Giles until her death, some time before the series began. Unknown to all but Giles she had become a vampire. The Watcher continued his relationship with the Gypsy woman, and his soul became more and more hers as time went on. Eventually, she was able to get him to betray his friends, and his duty. Their connection is almost purely physical now, though once it was something else. Jenny is strangely fond of him, but for Giles' part, she has him under some strange grip that he cannot escape from and he is unable to refuse her (though he managed to do so after the fact in Restoration). No romance, only a sexual dependance which has enslaved Rupert Giles completely. Suitably tragic. Spike & Dru: Not one of the featured relationships, but one of the more 'true' ones in the series. They are much the same as in Buffy but Drusilla was never restored to health here. Spike obviously cares a great deal for his willowy companion, and she relies on him to take care of her, apparently loving him also. Spike loves her enough, cares for her well-being enough, that he takes her from the Anointed and seeks to join the forces of good to destroy Collin, whose quest for power will ruin everything (You Can Always Come Back). More than anything, he hates the fact that he must drag Drusilla around with him everywhere he goes. It isn't good for the sickly vampiress, though necessary to ensure her safety from Collin's vampires. In Changes, Andrew Borba nearly killed Dru, and this was the final straw that forced Spike to seek out the Slayer and her squad. Their love is greater than their (lack of) morals. That has to be worth something, yes?